Conference Report November 1998
News from the AOCM Conference at Oak Hill Theological College, 7-8 November 1998
Welcome
Welcome from College Principal
Celebration
We marked AOCM’s 30th birthday. The Venerable Gordon Kuhrt spoke about “Ministry and the Challenge of the Future” - both amusing and informative.
Three former chairs attended the party and the Rev. Paul Newman cut the birthday cake.
Website
Patrick Nethercot launched the website. Thanks to Patrick for doing all the technical stuff and to the Society of Archbishop Justus for webspace and the domain name. It takes champagne to launch a website!
Courses Rep on the Executive
Jennie Cappleman from St Alban’s & Oxford Ministerial Course was appointed.
Agenda Items
- Harrassment Policy: Marion Morgan will draft guidelines for discussion at the February meeting.
- AOCM Handbook for 1999/2000 - possible themes and content. Any ideas to your AOCM rep or to the chair.
- Students training at the Church Army College became full members of AOCM - previously the Church Army had observer status.
- Training for Ministry - Dan Clark from Wycliffe led a fruitful discussion on this.
Selection of issues raised by AOCM reps
- Agreed that future incumbents should be discouraged from asking to see penultimate reports.
- Spouses of ordinands - a number of issues were raised relating to requirements on spouses to have paid employment, consideration of childcare costs as part of budget calculations, funding for accommodation.
- Need for professional facilities for child care.
- Need for information about facilities in Theological Colleges for ordinands with disabilities.
News
ABM will cease to exist from the end of the year, but the Ministry Division will come in to being in the New Year. We hope that AOCM will have an important role to play in one of the four committees and in other areas of work.
Future Conferences
February 1999, Trinity College Bristol
- Discussion of finance matters, e.g. single student pooling system, married students finance: if there are issues that you would like to put on the agenda, please raise them with your AOCM rep or with the chair.
- Election of the new executive.
Saturday 5 June 1999, Mercer House, Exeter
6-7 November 1999, Mirfield, West Yorkshire