Guiseley Methodist Church
Minutes of the Church Council Meeting 4th February 2025
1 – 2 – 3 – 4 As chair of the meeting Revd Roger opened with prayer, welcomed all attendees and received apologies. There were no matters arising from the previous Church Council so the minutes were signed as correct.
5 MULTISITE CHURCH PROPOSAL
a Clarification: Proposal will not alter any weekly activities or need any building work,but will reduce the need for Trustee bodies in each church and will free congregations to be the church in their own areas.
There will be one Church Council for each group of churches and one for Christchurch. The number of church members is more or less equal in each group, counting Christchurch.
Timetable: It is expected there will be a new way of working within a year from September 2025 or maybe a little longer. Five churches have already agreed to go forward.
b The way forward for Guiseley Methodist Church
Q: Can we manage with only one Church Council? A: There will still be finance and property meetings in each church, and any other meetings necessary with the opportunity to go to the main Church Council for help if needed. This will be of benefit to smaller churches which have less manpower, because resources and experience can be pooled. The details can be addressed during the year to come.
Q: Does Guiseley money stay within Guiseley congregation? A: Money left specifically to a church will stay there. Other expenditure will be decided on by the multi-site Church Council.
Q: For some individual churches, pastoral and safeguarding leaders etc are becoming a big practical challenge. We in Guiseley are fortunate that at the moment we have enough personnel to cover such aspects of our church life. A: With a multi-church council such posts may be covered by an individual person to be responsible for all congregations.
NB: This is not about closing buildings, it is about sharing resources fairly. Nothing in the proposal threatens any individual church’s style. Similar action has been undertaken throughout the Connexion and Districts are now much bigger than they used to be.
C Ballot The vote was taken on the ‘In principle’ proposal on the agenda (and see below) and the proposal was agreed to, by 14 votes for and one against.
In principle proposal to amalgamate into a local multi-site church.
Provided that the other trustee bodies involved pass similar resolutions pursuant to Standing Orders 605A(2) and 942(1) to adopt the Local Church scheme to be set out in full in a resolution to come to our next Church Council meeting, the Guiseley Methodist Church Council hereby resolves in principle to merge with the other Methodist Churches willing so to do to form a single multi-site Local Church under the trusteeship of a single Church Council.
6 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
a Council agreed to the Annual Return being approved and sent off earlier.
b Ministerial changes. Revd Roger will retire at the end of August and become a Supernumary minister. As a replacement for Roger, we hope to be matched with a MOCC (Minister from Other Churches and Conferences) to become lead minister for Guiseley and Yeadon. Revd Wendy Walker has joined our Circuit in a part time role until the end of July, working alongside Revd Cameron in Otley and Pool, before becoming lead minister through the stationing process from September 1st in Bramhope and Pool on a 30% basis.
c Bequests. RG’s brother D has carried out R’s wishes and donated £100.000 to our church, in memory of R and their mother N who were both devoted members. A meeting must be held to discuss this generous legacy with a view to using it for youth and young children. At SM’s suggestion It was agreed that the bequest of £10,000 from her mother JC be used principally for the elderly and is also to be discussed.
d Safeguarding SM advised that more training will be available in May/June.
7 FUTURE MEETINGS
Annual Church Meeting: Sunday 18th May after morning worship
Church Council : Tuesday 24th June at 7.00