CHURCHES TOGETHER IN LICHFIELD AND DISTRICT ANNUAL REPORT for the year ended 31 December 2022
Organisational Name: Churches Together in Lichfield and District, also known as CTiL.
Governing Document: CTiL is an unregistered charitable organisation governed by a Constitution adopted on 30 April 2014. The Enabling Group is considering the implications of charity registration.
Management Group: The churches shall appoint an Enabling Group whose functions shall be to enable the member churches to make decisions in common. The Enabling Group shall comprise the officers of the Forum, up to four lay representatives, and up to four clergy or ministers appointed by the member churches with regard to an appropriate representation of the various Christian traditions and denominations in membership. The Forum shall meet not less than three times annually and all members of member churches are welcome to attend the Forum. Officers shall be elected/re-elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Forum.
Officers serving during the period: Clergy Co- chair: Rev'd Canon Patricia Maguire Lay Co-chair: Richard Hill to 9/2/2022 David Mason from 9/2/2022 Honorary Secretary: David Mason Honorary Treasurer: Elizabeth Ridler Minute Secetary: E. Lilas Rawling
Members of Enabling Group: Richard Henshaw Diana Pearson Hugh Ashton from 20/6/2022 John Preece from 20/6/2022
Objects of the organisation: (a) to enable the churches, as pilgrims together, to explore the Christian faith together, to develop mutual relationships, to seek a common mind, and to make decisions together; (b) To encourage churches to worship, pray and reflect together on the nature and purpose of the church in the light of its mission - each church sharing with others the treasures of its tradition; (c) To enable the churches to live and share the Gospel, to evangelise together and to take further steps towards fuller unity; (d) To enable the churches to respond to the needs of society and to witness to the Gospel together.
Address: C/O Wade Street Church Wade Street Lichfield WS13 6HL
In particular Churches Together in Lichfield and District shall seek to - i) Serve as a means of communication between churches and other Christian groups within its area; ii) Provide a focus for relating to the local authority and other statutory or voluntary bodies; iii) Co-ordinate church involvement in town twinning schemes; iv) Co-ordinate mission and evangelism as appropriate across its area of operation; (v) Develop further links with other faith communities within its area.
Achievements during the year: i) Most activities resumed following the pandemic, and Enabling Group and Forum meetings were held in person. ii) On Christmas Day, volunteers delivered oven-ready Christmas meals and seasonal gift bags to those isolated or living alone, and chatted to the recipients. An in-person meal was also held at Wade Street Church. iii) 20 people took part in Lent Groups. iv) Good Friday Walk of Witness and the service at the Methodist Church were well attended, as was the evening service in the Cathedral. v) Several were stewards at the Greenhill Bower Day, collecting donations, resulting in a gift of £150 for Christmas Day Together. vi) Late Night Listeners re-commenced, with a new team, and CTiL holds the funds for this group. vii) Lichfield Christian Schools Work Trust were granted up to £350 for two banners to be used at publicity events. viii) St Michael's received support of £50 for their "Opening the Book" training day.
Financial Review: Total income during the year was £2,608, the major income being membership subscriptions. Restricted fund income during the year was £1,290. Total Expenditure for the year was £3,036 of which £461 related to expediture of Late Night Listeners and £1,300 for Christmas Day Together. Unrestricted expenditure for the year totalled £1,275. A further £630 was transferred from General Funds to cover Christmas Day Together expenditure. At the end of the year, the total funds available were General Unrestricted Funds of £2,212 and Restricted Funds of £159 for Late Night Listeners.
Public Benefit: The Enabling Group has had due regard to the relevant public benefit guidance when exercising its powers and duties.