CTWD Exec Committee – Officers at October 2022
President: Deacon Gary Hoare
Secretary: Myrtle Trubody
Treasurer: Emily Cumberbatch
Members: Joan Beer, Andy Page
A list of member churches is at www.ctwd.org.uk
President’s Report
At the start of this report, I would like to thank all of our current and previous officers, church reps and Exec Team members for their service and dedication to Churches Together in Weston and District. You have each contributed your time and skills generously to enable CTWD to serve the local Church so effectively. Thank you.
Without passion there wouldn’t be CT. It takes passion and the Holy Spirit to listen and discern as to what is needed and to respond. Whilst Covid meant churches and CT couldn’t meet together, there was a desire to ensure when we came out of it, we were able to function again.
This year has been excellent, for us going out where people are. Three things to highlight!
First, in March, we had the opportunity and the compulsion to invite the local churches and community to gather at the Italian Gardens for an act of solidarity with the suffering of the people of Ukraine, following the Russian invasion.
Millions of people were escaping the war, some to our own town, as we will hear from Malcolm Bowen from HT Weston, tonight. Alongside Redeeming Our Communities and CLIF, we were able to host this town centre event with 400 people in attendance - this has to be the best attended event we have been part of for a while. We have held a number of follow-up vigils at churches around WSM praying for peace in Ukraine and covering other crises in the world. Thank you to all of the local churches who hosted these gatherings.
Secondly, we had our Walk of Witness through WSM ending with a service on the plinth at the Italian Gardens. Then the Sunrise Service on the seafront on Easter morning, all showing that people wanted to be there, it helps if we are blessed with good weather, to make it more inviting to attend! These events were not possible in 2020 due to covid. It was so good to be back!
Third, we look to help churches to respond unitedly to national and international issues. Most recently, just before Tom Yacomeni moved to Bath, he led prayers on the occasion of the death of Queen Elizabeth II and the swearing in of the new King. Many people came to LC for this, which was also marked 200 days since the hostilities began in Ukraine. We felt it was important to remember our domestic situation as well.
We marked the departure of Reverend Tom Yacomeni to Bath. He has been a great help and friend to CT. He was also a person of great wisdom - respected by fellow leaders across Weston and beyond for his leadership, spotting gifts and assisting future ministers to find and fulfil their calling.
Churches Together supports and partners with many other activities and community focused initiatives such as ROC. We also collaborate in various strategic conversations.
Do continue to let us know about any events that you are planning! Some may be covered by our Events Insurance policy.
We look forward to the next few months to see where God is leading us as CT and all our member churches - so that together we can push forward urgently the Kingdom of God right where we are!
Thank you all for your support.
Deacon Gary Hoare – President
Churches Together in Weston-super-Mare & District
Financial Report
A summary report of the last three years accounts is printed below.
We would like to thank Sue Baldwin for her valued assistance as Treasurer of CTWD up to 2021.
Subscriptions were not collected for the years to March 2021 and March 2022. A revised suggested subscription rate of £50 per church, per year has been introduced for 2022-23.
Some event and media costs were held over to the current year due to the change in Treasurer and a delay in sorting the new account signatories.
The balance in hand this October is just over £300 once the various outstanding commitments have been cleared. This highlights the importance of catching up on member church contributions! Update your church listings and subscriptions info form HERE
Emily Cumberbatch - Treasurer
