Annual Assembly 2002
Reverend
Dr. David Pickering, the Co-ordinator of Eco Congregation led an entertaining
and enlightening debate at the Annual Assembly, on the things which concern
us about our environment. We were able to highlight problems, and evaluate
where we contribute to a problem, and where we are part of the solution.
He showed us how we can, as small Church communities, make a difference
to the overall problems of contamination and pollution, and the general
despoiling of creation in God's world. He reminded us we are like holiday
makers in a rented holiday home, who are encouraged to enjoy our time
here, but to leave the place as we found it clean and unspoiled.
We
widened the net by looking at the contribution made by faith communities
to the community as a whole, with the distribution of some notes, condensed
out of the government document "The Faith Dimension in the Community,"
which were focussed towards the Community Plan for Harrogate.
The initiative was clearly outlined by Kevin Douglas, Director of Leisure
Services for Harrogate Borough Council, who has overall responsibility
for the delivery of the Community Plan for Harrogate.
The
plan is in its initial stages, and your President was going to represent
you at a meeting on 14th November to create and establish a vision statement
for the plan - which she has since done. We were also invited to appoint
a representative onto the 18 member partnership which will steer the development
of the Harrogate Community Plan. By a show of hands it was decided we
would do this. This will be a key appointment and we have a number of
strong and suitable candidates. I intend to make sure that we have a clear
voice on the partnership, and that the vast resources of the Church, both
human and material are properly valued, and used well.
The
displays and exhibits from Eco-Congregation, HBC Agenda 21, Christian
Ecology Link, The Jubilee Debt Campaign, Starbeck Boys and Girls Brigade,
and the programmes for 2003 Lent Lunches, together with all the latest
correspondence notes,
gave us the opportunity to get up-to-date with news - from all the areas
who had something to tell us.
There
was a brief business meeting following refreshment time when the new tape
for the Christmas 2002 Advertising Campaign for Stray FM was played. There
is still time to contribute to the Christian message broadcast. The more
money we contribute the more air-time we can buy. If you did not collect
a leaflet please call Revd. John Carter (01423) 530369, or e-mail jhgcarter@aol.com
Jo Grande President, Autumn 2002
The Harrogate Borough Council Agenda 21 team continue to encourage good stewardship; more info about the 2004 BAFTER awards available on this CT website.