Feb 2024:
- Where a group of people are working together in the church community undertaking a particular task, the culture is for the group to take account of the overall ethos of the church community, and to work out amongst themselves how to undertake the task. The Coordinator reports to the church meeting any changes made to the group, where questions can be asked and prayers offered.
- The role of the rest of the church community is to pray for, encourage and act as a critical friend, only intervening if there is a sense that what is taking place does not sit comfortably with the church community. Each group has a slot in the morning service intercessions at least once a year where the group is prayed for. Information about the group is included in the Annual General Meeting’s Deacons’ Report
- Each group has a coordinator who is generally selected from the helpers and a formal church member and appointed by the Deacons. Coordinators take a lead in the mundane jobs. Coordinators seek out and listen to voices who would like changes to the group, and ask for feedback on at least an annual basis. Coordinators have pastoral care of the helpers.
- There is at least one formal church member on the organising committee and there is a link deacon, who is either on the organising committee or who has regular contact with them.
- People offering to help in a group are generally welcomed to help once and then, if they have the backing of the Coordinator and one other helper, are added to the list of helpers which is submitted to the Safeguarding Deacon who ensures that all requirements are met (generally 2 references if joined the church in the last 2 years, assent to code of conduct and DBS when required)
- Groups are not charged for the use of the Family Centre, but make a financial contribution to the church, using as a guide the amount that it would have been charged for the use of the Family Centre as an external user. While most church groups do not charge people to attend, relying on voluntary donations, some charge people to attend, so this decision is the group helpers to make.
- The purpose of all groups is to nurture and promote Christian faith while addressing social needs. How the group nurtures and promotes Christian faith is up to the working group. In addition to one-to-one conversation, different groups do different things.
- All groups publicise relevant church services and activities