The Annual General Meeting went well; a good number of members were present, which lead to lively discussions and opinions from the floor. Reports regarding the church committee’s work, the pastor’s work and the financial situation were well received and unanimously adopted.
A very important point was the election of office bearers and new members of the Church Committee. The previous Church Committee, comprising Mrs Kliem, Mrs du Plessis, Mr Brunke, Mr Kuehhirt and Mr Sachse have served their terms of office and stepped down. New members were elected and agreed to serve on the Church Committee, they are Mrs Gisela Prueter, Mr Ulf Dema-sius and Mr Detlev Ahlert. Mr Danie Steytler might also accept a nomination to serve in the capacity of financial consultant.
It was felt that one member of the previous Church Committee should be included, so as to maintain continuity. Mr Ernst-Guenther Brunke agreed to be co-opted. Both Mrs Ingrid Brunke and Mr Steytler have agreed to continue serving on the Kindergarten Committee.
The way forward:
Bishop Gilbert Filter reflected on the new road which our congregation embarked on and how it would affect the congregation and the pastor as well as the financial implications. Pastor Molchin’s post is fully secured until the end of May, 2016. From June till the end of October the new Church Commit-tee will have to undergo a listening process and ask the question where God wants to take the congregation. By the end of September the path forward should become clearer and constitute a comprehensive plan which will carry the full support of our congregation. Pastor Molchin added that the congrega-tion’s obligations and position remain unchanged till the end of May, 2016. He also indicated that the new English Services (multi-cultural program) could possibly commence at the beginning of April, already. He also stressed the importance of convening a missional group to assist with this process.
It was commented that the Cape Church is willing to assist our congregation from June till October, 2016 by a subsidy of R10 000 per month. The 1/3 contribution from St Petri Paarl (that had been agreed to as part of the parish agreement with the Kreuzkirche) amounted to R14 000 per month. There was consensus among the members at the meeting that the congregation of the Church of the Cross could make up the extra R4000 monthly over the interim period from June till October, 2016.
A word of sincere thanks to the Cape Church for this generous gesture was unanimously accepted.
(Summary compiled by E.-G. Brunke and U. Sachse)
