Encl mentioned in the minutes are not at the website.
Present: about 85 members
§ 1 Welcome
Chairman Marco Helles welcomed everyone and prayed for the meeting.
§ 2 Opening of the meeting
The chairman declared the meeting open.
§ 3 Election of verifiers
Samuel Åsgård and Karin Pettersson were elected to verify the minutes.
§ 4 Approval of the agenda
The agenda was approved.
§ 5 Election of representatives for annual meetings and conferences
Chairman of the nominating committee Kjell Walfridsson presented the nominating committee’s proposal for Immanuel church’ representatives that will attend annual meetings and conferences held by partners during 2017, listed here in order of date:
Elected for the Council of free churches in Stockholm on 23 March:
Pastor Anna Berndes.
Elected for the organisation “Hela Människan” in Stockholm’s province:
Agneta Dalemark and Inga Johansson. Reserve: Deacon Agneta Selander and Ingmar Bergman.
Elected for the organisation “Sociala Missionen” on 20 April:
Deacon Anders Segersson, Lars-Ingmar Jerkeby, Monica Ahlberg, Anna-Carin Persson Stenbeck and Johannes Nilsson.
Elected for the annual meeting of Equmenia church, 25–27 May:
Gunilla Hjelmåker as convenor, Anders Andersson, Dan Svanell, Emily Tatlow, Johan Ahlberg, Johnny Jonsson, Mikael Ivarsson, Mirjam Olsson, Tobias Olsson and Pastor Ulla Marie Gunner.
Reserves: Debora Sugiaman Trapman, Malin Emmoth and Tobias Andersson.
These representatives will also represent our church at the annual meeting of the Swedish Covenant church.
Equmenia church´ Council of trustees for the Stockholm region:
Gunilla Hjelmåker
(The organisation “Bilda” region east has meetings every other year, the next one being in 2018.)
§ 6 Decision on a temporary contract for pastor Karin Fritzson, one year.
The chairman referred to the information shared on the church’ website regarding the possibility of hiring pastor Karin Fritzson on a 50% basis for one year. The cost of employment for her position is covered by Sweden´s Public Employment Agency and Equmenia church and will therefore not affect our church’ finance.
Karin was already a deacon and has recently been ordained as pastor. Karin is used to working with youth. The idea is that she will focus on leadership development, volunteering opportunities and educative work. She will also be at Equmenia church’ disposal for preaching assignments. She will be able to start her new position on 1 February 2017.
The church decided to hire Karin Fritzson at 50% for one (1) year.
§ 7 Conversations around the ministry plan, enclosure 1
Stephen James introduced the next step in the process of working toward a ministry plan. He referred to his presentation at the last congregational meeting. At today’s meeting, a new method called “world café” was introduced, allowing each and every one to discuss the themes of the ministry plan that felt important to them. The Board finds it essential that everyone contributes with ideas and thoughts in order to advance the work on the ministry plan.
The world café was set up with five tables, each headed by a representative of the Board who facilitated discussions. The following themes were featured:
• Children, youth, families and young adults
• Diaconal work, people in vulnerable situations
• Increased fellowship between fellowship groups
• Leadership development and volunteering opportunities
• Future needs, areas that will need our attention going forward
The Board gathered notes from the discussions and will use these as input for elaborating the ministry plan. The Board believes that it can present a first draft to the congregation at the congregational meeting on 19 March 2017. The idea is that the congregation can give its last feedback during that meeting and will be ready to take a formal decision on the ministry plan at the annual meeting.
§ 8 Youth association “Equmenia” in the process of being set up
Maria Linder is part of a planning group working on setting up an “Equmenia association” in Immanuel church. Maria informed the congregation about what this association is and how far they have come in the process.
An Equmenia association is there to give children and youth a clear voice in the congregation. An additional goal is to get an overview and common perspective of all the children and youth ministry happening in the different fellowship groups of our church.
By setting up a local Equmenia association, the children and youth of the church have more contact with the regional, national and international layers of the association and will be able to participate in retreats, conferences and exchanges that Equmenia offers to bring young people from different congregations together.
On Sunday 5 March at 1.30 p.m. a first meeting will be held to – in addition to other
formalities – appoint a board that during the first year shall find ways in which the
association can function and govern, in co-operation with the Congregational Board, the
staff and the youth and children’s groups. The congregation was very positive toward the
setting up of an Equmenia association.
If you would like to nominate candidates for the Equmenia board, please contact Marco Helles who will forward suggestions to the planning group. Everyone was asked to spread information about the Equmenia association and to encourage people to come to the meeting on 5 March.
§ 9 Any other business
There was no other business.
§ 10 Conclusion
The chairman declared the meeting closed.
Secretary: Cathrin Sjöström
Minutes verified by: Marco Helles (chairman), Karin Pettersson and Samuel Åsgård.