Report from Convocation 2009

 

The big improvement for Convocation this year was that it started at 2:00pm.  Registration started at 1:30pm so this meant we didn’t need to leave until gone 12, but we left a bit earlier so we could find somewhere for lunch.  After food serving pub finding failure in previous years, this year we took sandwiches.  We bought the beer though.

So, the business got underway at just after 2pm.  The roll call followed registration and Convocation this was attended by 15 clergy, 38 lay members and 7 visitors.  After Paul was appointed Convocation and General Secretary, the Rules of Procedure were read, and listened to intently.  We then had letters to various people, memorials and acceptance of reports.  It’s the same routine every year, and it’s still very interesting stuff.

Next was the election of officers and Bishop Powell was once again elected Bishop Primus, but he did state that this would be his last year.  Following the election of the remaining officers, pretty much the same as the year before, we finished the session at around 3pm and all went off to settle into our rooms.  We were in a different part this year and I had a twin room.  Eric could have had a bed all to himself, but he didn’t want to.

After a refreshing cup of tea, we got back to business.  Oddly enough, the visitors decided not to join us this time.  Not sure why.  The last of the afternoon was spent trawling our way through the reports.  The sign-off sheet to establish each church’s congregation as a charity was probably at the bottom of someone’s in tray.  The good news was that two ministers from the US would be joining us as Presbyters-in-Charge, and there was a possibility of several churches leaving the Church of England in the next few years.  We wanted to head them our way.

Following a tea of pork steaks, we had Evening Prayer and the Convocation Charge from Bishop Powell. I then had a short session in the bar and the words green, pink and yellow will go down in history.  I was knackered so I went off to bed.  And got woken up at 3 in the morning by the fire alarm but we got back to bed about 20 minutes later.  To be woken up by the fire alarm again.  This time, everyone else on site decided they were missing out and wanted to join in.  It seemed like ages before we got back to bed this time, but at least we got to see some firemen!

The next day was met with a slide show of some pictures taken the night before.  Apart from all of us looking a bit sleepy, there was some interesting nightwear on show.  Bishop Powell mentioned he thought the fire alarms were similar to the air raid sirens during the war. 

Our visitors were then invited to speak and Revd Gerald Kirsch again sent greetings from the Countess of Huntington’s Connection and mentioned that Paul had visited their church wearing full robes which was quite unusual for them.  Bishop Meyer also sent greetings from Germany and said the fire alarm went off not for German reasons!

Following a brief discussion on what the Constitution and Cannons committee should be doing, the remaining reports were accepted.  We then broke up for a cup of tea and went back for Dad’s bit.  Just when you thought things couldn’t get worse…  After we voted to send the collection money to the Malabar Independent Syrian Church instead of Lalitpur and changing the REC Missionary Fund’s name to the Missionary Fund, we voted to keep the quota at £600.  All good stuff!  We then moved onto electing the Committees, which were also pretty much the same as last year.  It leads to a sense of déjà vu…

Then followed the motions.  I though this would take a while as we had a lot of changes to review and vote on.  Surprisingly, after a break for a baked potato lunch, these were concluded remarkably quickly with hardly any discussion.  They were all passed and thus concluded the day. 

After some funny chicken for tea I returned to the bar and had an interesting discussion with Gerald Kirsch.  The subject moved from the Bible to knees to pain sensitivity.  Go figure.  Instead of going to bed, cause it was quite late, I went and played pool with Jessica, Gerhard’s daughter.  She also was a quick study but I still beat her.  Twice.

All that was left to do the next morning was the minutes, Convocation costs and date of next meeting.  Costs were slightly up from last year, the next Convocation will be 24-26 May 2010 and the minutes were approved.  Oh, and there was a vote of thanks too.  After close of business, we had Holy Communion, the annual photo call, lunch, and then most of us went home, leaving Central Trust members behind.  Ah well!  Once again, a most convivial Convocation!

Report from Convocation 2008

 

Convocation was a bit different this year, only going on for three days (for most of us) rather than four.  It was an early start too and we got underway before we were actually allowed into our rooms.  Being fairly local we were okay, but I don’t think the people from the far south and north were too pleased.  I think that will be changed next year.

So, having nowhere else to go, everyone piled into the small conference room, including the visitors, and everyone signed in, including the visitors.  The roll call was next and the attendance was 16 clergy, 31 lay member and 7 visitors.  We moved swiftly through the opening items and we were then introduced to our visitor from Germany, Bischof Gerhard Meyer, who said a few words of greeting and described how much work was going on in Germany.   We then took a break for lunch which was, as ever, quite tasty.   Back into business and we flew through the reports.  We had a bit of discussion about our website, who can edit it and how to make it look more professional.  The matter needed tending to as soon as possible.  It was then time for another break.

It was while we were all milling around drinking tea and eating biscuits that the word got around the afternoon session was cancelled.  A whole afternoon off!  Well, nearly.  I  think most of us spent the time settling into our rooms and having a wander around the grounds before dinner.  Evening Payer took place after dinner, along with the Convocation Charge, given by Bishop Powell,.

I was just leaving my room after the service to make my way to the bar for the evening when I bumped into our German visitor.  Somehow, I have no idea how, we got talking about English beer.  He was willing to experiment.  So when Gerhard joined us in the bar, Dad bought him a pint of bitter, which he liked very much, and we got talking about his English camp in Austria.

Business the next day got underway with a short talk from Revd Gerald Kirsch of the Countess of Huntingdon’s Connexion.  He said he thought it was sad we had been separated over the last 100 years but was looking forward to a closer relationship in the future.  We then blasted our way through the remaining reports and even the Treasurer was prepared in time.  For the first time ever the accounts had been audited and returned before Convocation, so handouts were available well in advance.  Good news!  The quota has been reduced to £600.

After the lunch break and annual photo call we turned to the election of officers.  Bishop Powell was once again elected Bishop Primus and there was not much change in the other offices.  After another break for tea and biscuits we moved onto the motions.  After a short discussion, we voted to amend Cannon 70.  That was the end of the motions.  Next year’s Convocation would be held 1-3 June 2009 and there was a short discussion about reducing Convocation further, as this meeting had gone smoothly and there was lots of free time.  It was decided to keep it the same for now as in other years there could well be more motions and the Cannon’s were due to be reviewed which would take a lot of discussion time.  There also needed to be time to socialise.

Our destination after dinner was the bar.  To socialise, of course.  After missing out on pool playing the previous evening, I took it upon myself to teach Gerhard how to play.  He said he had never played before but he was a quick student.  It was close, but I still beat him.

The next morning saw the presentation of the costs.  Due to the shorter Convocation, there was a saving of around £2000.  Great stuff.  There were some finishing touches, the minutes were signed and that was the end of Convocation business.  Gosh!  Just over two days to do what normally takes four.  Well, there was still the Home Mission Fund and Central Trust meetings, but I had left by then.  It was one of the easiest Convocations I have ever been to. 

The business was followed by the Holy Communion Service and the Convocation sermon was given by Revd Robert Wilson.  There was another collection taken, bringing the total to £232.34 and $5.  “Go figure!”  Then we had lunch and most of us went home.  The afternoon saw the Home Mission Fund meeting take place and the start of the Central Trust meeting which finished the next day but as I said, I had already left and was home by the time the next meeting started.

Report from Convocation 2007

Convocation started this year with a very important question.  Did we have time to find a pub for lunch before the first meeting started?  The answer was just barely.

            We eventually arrived at Swanwick Conference Centre with enough time to sign in and sit down.  This year, there were 15 clergy and 36 lay delegates in attendance.  We then got through the first session (covering registration, roll call, rules and formal letters) with no problems, had a cup of tea and a nice shortbread biscuit, then got back to business and got a long way through the reports for the year book, to which a few amendments had to be made.  Luckily for us, we then broke early for dinner to give us time to settle in to our rooms before our next supply of food.  So far, so good.
            Dinner was roast beef and Yorkshire Pudding.  According to John, one of the best meals we’ve ever had here.  I didn’t like the vegetables…  There was a service of Evening Prayer after dinner, which included the Convocation Charge by Bishop Ken, where we were charged to climb ladders, and check we were all headed in the right direction.  This was followed by a trip to the bar where we all had a chance to socialise and catch up with people we hadn’t seen since last year.  It was also a chance for me to beat Dad 2-1 at pool.
            The next day, morning prayers were held at 7:45am.  I did not go.  Breakfast was followed by more business; during this session we elected Bishop Ken as Primus again, Bishop Paul was almost made Treasurer but Dad was instead (before he told us what the quotas would be this year…) and all the other officers were also elected.  Various other committees were also built.  Dad started going through the accounts just before lunch, where he emphasised the need to cut costs where possible.  It wasn’t until after lunch, when we all had some sustenance in us and we were all sitting down, when Dad told us the quota had to be increased from £500 to £900.  Surprisingly, the new quota was passed with only four people voting against.
            Following Dad’s speech, the remaining year book reports were agreed and we were informed that there would be training sessions to look at in more detail what people actually wanted from their services and to explain which bits were necessary.  This would lead in time to the production of a range of traditional and contemporary liturgical services.
            This session was followed by a teaching session entitled Iraq: Land of the Bible, Land of the Church.  Unfortunately, I didn’t make this as I was too busy talking.  Instead, I took the time to bring my report from Convocation up to date.
            After the break came another lovely dinner, the best bit being the pudding.  I had Mom’s too.  This was followed by the Holy Communion service, the honour of preaching the Convocation Sermon this year falling to Rev Dr Gordon Wearing and was based on 1 Corinthians.
            There was time after the service to once more retire to the bar, to socialise.  This time Dad had the pleasure of beating me 2-0 at pool.  Apart from that, it was quite a fun evening.  Then, to bed.
            Not much happened on the Wednesday.  We got through the rest of the reports, elections and even finished the motions.  The only thing left was to approve the final minutes, which would be done Thursday morning.  Job done!  There  was another good meal, then the evening service was lead by Rev George McGeagh.  Sadly, I didn’t make the service, I was too busy talking in the bar…
            On Thursday, we just had the costs of Convocation presented followed by a short devotional service, then just the minutes to check before having our photo taken.  If only I had a toga…
            We then went for lunch before saying our goodbyes.  Again, another Convocation that could be the best yet.  There may be fewer of us, but it’s quality that counts.