CHURCHES TOGETHER IN LICHFIELD (CTIL)
MINUTES OF THE FORUM MEETING - TUESDAY 25TH FEBRUARY 2025 - 7.30PM – LICHFIELD METHODIST CHURCH - FINAL
PRESENT: Lilas Rawling (St Chad’s) - Chair, David Mason (Cathedral) - Secretary, Liz Ridler (Wade St) – Treasurer, Michele Gerard (Society of Friends), Georgine Boyns (St Chad’s), Richard Henshaw (Catholic Churches), Linda Atkin (Christ Church), Danielle Leigh (Wade St), Diana Pearson (Lichfield Methodist), Lawrie Williams (Wade St), June Nethercot (Hopwas Methodist), Lesley Cox (Hopwas Methodist), Mary Gough (Wade St), Alan Maguire (Wade St), Kerry Poole (Lichfield Methodist), Richard Gas (Lichfield Methodist), Abbie Walsh (St Michael’s), Celia Newton (Wade St), Judith Henshaw (Catholic Churches), John Preece (Wade St), Delphine Preece (Wade St), Alan Weaver (Wade St), Hazel Rendle (Wade St), Paul Rendle (Wade St), Keith Newton (Wade St), David Clarke (St Giles’, Whittington).
- OPENING PRAYER – The Revd Abbie Walsh opened the meeting in prayer.
- APOLOGIES – Gregory Patten (Cathedral), Jo Thornton (Lichfield Methodist), Warren Bardsley (Lichfield Methodist), Hugh Ashton (Cathedral), Rob Hilyer (St Giles’, Whittington).
- PRAYER AND PRAISE FOR THE CITY – interspersed with hymns, the churches that belong to CTIL were prayed for in groups of three or four, as were the various councils – County, District, City, and the secular parish councils. Where appropriate members of the churches gave thanks for blessings and spoke about the issues they were facing. It was noted that the Quakers hold a vigil for peace every first Saturday of the month at Friary Corner.
- MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING (24.10.24) – all agreed that these were an accurate record.
- MATTERS ARISING – none.
- APPOINTMENT OF A NEW CLERGY CHAIR – Lilas Rawling asked for prayer for a member of the clergy to step forward and asked that the monthly meeting of clergy would also pray about this.
- TREASURER’S REPORT – AS AT 31.12.24
- Book
- Balance B/F 3697.27
- Income + 2688.55
- Expenditure - 2554.15
- Total 3831.70
- Statement
- Current A/C 1818.81
- Deposit A/C 2012.89
Liz Ridler reminded the Forum that CTIL is moving to simple ‘Receipts and Payments’ accounting, without accruals and liabilities, and the financial years will henceforth end on 31 March. A letter from the Rt Revd Matthew Parker, Bishop of Stafford, writing as Chair of Churches Linked Across Staffordshire and the Potteries, was referenced, requesting contributions towards the salary of the Ecumenical Officer for Staffordshire and the Black Country. It was agreed to give £200 this year.
- CHARITY ACCOUNTS AND OUR CONSTITUTION – Liz Ridler explained that application for membership of Support Staffordshire requires CTIL to determine what would be done with any residual finance should it cease to exist, and add a not-for-profit clause to the constitution. It was proposed by CTIL Enabling Group that the following be inserted in the constitution:
- NOT FOR PROFIT – ‘Churches Together in Lichfield and District operates on a not-for-profit basis. All funds raised will be used to further the aims and objects of the charity’.
- DISSOLUTION OF CTIL – ‘A motion to dissolve CTIL must be circulated in writing (both electronically and as a hard copy) to member Churches at least three months before it is considered at a special meeting of Member Churches, at which the support of at least 75% of Member Churches is required for the motion to be successful. In the event of the dissolution of the charity, any residual funds should be allocated to Christian charitable organisations at a special meeting of Member Churches, at which the support of at least 50% of Member Churches is required for the motion to be successful’.
All member churches should discuss the proposals and vote on them. David Mason would collate responses from member churches (Action: All and David Mason specifically).
- REPORT ON ‘CHRISTMAS DAY TOGETHER’
Liz Ridler reported that 44 people were fed with afternoon tea (no chef being available to cook a hot meal), plus 19 receiving ready meal deliveries. Twenty of the volunteers had attended a party recently to celebrate the success of the initiative. The event had nearly broken even financially with just £200 being made up from the general fund. Thanks were expressed to the whole team by CTIL (Action: Lilas Rawling to write and thank Gaynor and Mark Baldwin).
- NEW HOUSING AREAS – various locations were noted, including new planning applications. The question of how we bring Jesus to these areas is not new, and we need to speak in the (social) media that younger people use today. The previous Enabling Meeting had noted that John Preece, Richard Henshaw, and Pat Maguire were willing to be the foundation of a group to further this work. Lilas Rawling will advise a date to convene the first meeting, to which others will be welcome (Action: Lilas Rawling, and ‘all’ to alert their churches). Keith Newton suggested that CTIL could go into one or more of the schools servicing the new estates and invite local people/families to their nearest church’s carol service (Action: Lilas Rawling - Enabling Meeting and ‘new group’ to discuss at their next/first meetings).
- REGULAR EVENTS
- Good Friday Walk of Witness – Friday 18 April, from Whittington Co-op at 8.15am, followed by a service at Lichfield Methodist Church. It was requested that an explanatory handout be provided to give to members of the public curious about what is happening. More details will be available when Rob Hilyer returns from Australia (Action: David Mason to circulate).
- Good Friday Service at Lichfield Cathedral - Friday 18 April at 7.30pm.
- Lichfield Bower – Monday 26 May – street collection with six collectors required.
- Carols in the Market Square - Thursday 18 December.
- ANY OTHER BUSINESS - CTIL will be purchasing an effective outdoor PA system, which member churches will be able to borrow.
- MEETING DATES – The next Enabling Meeting will be on Tuesday 20 May, 2.00pm, at Well Cottage. The CTIL AGM will be on Wednesday 18 June, 7.30pm, at Holy Cross Church.
- CLOSE – the meeting concluded at 9.15pm with a blessing and the Grace.