Following agreement by attendees at the January 22^nd SEP Church Meeting, the decision that will go forward to SEC, then Deanery Synod in February and then the Diocese and Baptist Region is as follows:

2023: advertise for a full-time Anglican post available from August/September 2023, the expectation being that they would be appointed to take on the role of team leader, with a focus on mission and could be Team Rector following Paul’s retirement.

2024: early in this year appoint a full-time Baptist Minister with a focus on Vision Enabling. (these roles could be swopped round).

It would be hoped that by 2025 there would be 1 full-time ordained Anglican minister, 1 full-time ordained Baptist minister, 1 or 2 house for duty and 1 non-Stipendiary Anglican ministers and 0.2 Methodist minister. The Methodist Circuit has agreed to our request to reduce support from .25 to .2 on the new appointment to replace Nicola Martyn-Beck when she retires in late 2023.

When we can get external agreement to go ahead with this plan we need volunteers to help amend the current Profile, Role and Person Specifications with Adrian and Paul Brookman to help. Please volunteer you are interested in helping write this up.

Details of this decision plus other news is contained in the February edition of the SEP newsletter which can be downloaded here.

Milton Keynes Food Bank is setting up various mobile top up shops across the city and require more volunteers. There will be one based at the Conniburrow Community Centre on Tuesdays from 10am until 12noon and it is looking for extra people before it can start.

This would be added on to the already popular Conniburrow Social Space project, which includes a Wellbeing Café, bi-weekly Citizens Advice sessions, Conniburrow Childrens Centre Activities, St Marks Meals, Girl Packs, and other advice services form HealthWatch, NHS Talking Therapies, WorkforUs, Key-Business-Skills, MK City Council Housing, Meers, Diabetes UKMK, Age UKMK and others coming on-board.
Of course, if Tuesday is not possible for any volunteer there are other opportunities for Food Bank projects on other days.

Please contact MK Food Bank directly at:  office@foodbank.org.uk or Lisa.Marsh@mkfoodbank.org.uk. Conniburrow Community Centre, 37-39 Conniburrow Blvd, Conniburrow, MK14 7DX.

The Stantonbury Ecumenical Partnership is appealing for people who are passionate about climate change to become involved in CitizenMK’s climate change group.

It has been decided that the campaign will be to promote retro fitting insulation into private rentals. The SEP and CitizenMK needs either private landlords or private renters who would come to our meeting to talk about how this would help them and the obstacles in their way.

If you can help can you contact Mary Kennedy at kennedmd@aol.com. The next meeting is at the Quaker Centre on February at 6pm. Please let Mary know if you are going.