Spring 2012                                              Annual General Report 2011/12

                

As I sit down to write my annual report for 2011 it is with very mixed feelings that I look back over the last twelve months.

Chair and Treasurer

It was with great regret that Ruth East stepped down as Chair of Broken Rites at the end of September last year due to her work commitments. Ruth has a great vision for Broken Rites and particularly for strengthening its role as an organisation serving all Christian denominations in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and the Diocese in Europe.  Ruth hopes to be able to offer her active support again in the future when her personal life permits; meanwhile we wish her all the best in her professional life.

In addition, Jean Huxley, who has been acting as Treasurer for the last two years, indicated that she would be stepping down from this role at the 2012 AGM.  Jean previously had served as Newsletter Editor for five years and embraced both of these roles.  Jean learnt to use Microsoft Publisher on her computer in order to compile, edit, print, collate and post Rite Lines and the Annual Reports to all on the various circulations lists.  This is no mean task and Jean did this task in a conscientious and professional way.  In the same way Jean took on the role of Treasurer and undertook this role in the same efficient and effective way.  This has been confirmed by the Auditor’s comments during their annual audit of the accounts.  I know you all will want to wish Jean all the very best in her retirement from an active role within Broken Rites. 

I will have been in the role of Secretary of Broken Rites for four years at the 2012 AGM and had intended to step down.  However, in view of the circumstances, I am putting myself forward for election for a further year to provide continuity in supporting the Committee.  We are, of course, looking for a new Chair and Treasurer to be nominated and elected at our AGM on the 12 May 2012.   Over the past few years it seems to have become harder and harder to encourage different members to come forward to take on the various roles within Broken Rites.   It is important for us all to encourage and support members to play an active role within Broken Rites to ensure it can continue to support clergy spouses whose marriage is in crisis.  Over the past 29 years many Broken Rites members have learnt new skills and improved their confidence by becoming involved with the Committee.  So please think about whether you or someone you know could take on one of the vacant roles within the Committee – it is vital that we fill these posts in order to continue to function as a support organisation.

Enquiries received during 2011

Enquiries from wives of clergy, whose marriage is currently in crisis, have continued to trickle in during 2011.  However I have also seen an increase of enquiries from wives whose marriage broke down 20 or 30 years ago and whom have now turned to Broken Rites for help and support on housing or financial matters.  Other enquiries that come via the web site are from friends or family of clergy wives, seeking help on their behalf, and also a wide range of non marriage related issues.  The web site is now the principle way of receiving communications and requests for help.

Most of the enquiries received from clergy wives are passed onto the regional Representative or Link, where these exist, so that local support can be offered, failing that, a member or Link from another area is asked to provide support.  Our current structure of regional Representatives and Links works well in some areas of the country but we have had difficulties over the past few years to have these in place through the United Kingdom.

Many of the clergy wives who contact us are very grateful for the Information Pack we send but often do not want to join Broken Rites straight away.  The pack has recently been updated and now the Committee is looking at how and when this information is supplied and also at ways to encourage enquirers to become members.

The future of Broken Rites

The current committee agreed to continue with the challenge set us last year by The Rt Hon Frank Field.  It was felt that the time had come to review the role and structure of Broken Rites to ensure that it is relevant to the needs of clergy spouses in 2012 and beyond and also to enable it to continue to function within its current resources. 

There have been huge changes in our society over the last 29 years and in many aspects of our lives.  In particular, the way many of us communicate with each other and obtain information via the internet has dramatically changed, and this is reflected in the way clergy spouses make contact and communicate with Broken Rites.  In addition committee members now communicate mainly via e-mail and the way we distribute Rite Lines is also gradually changing as more and more members, associate members and Church Leaders now receive this via e-mail, thus saving Broken Rites considerable costs in printing and postage. 

Broken Rites has achieved so much over the last 29 years and should rightly be proud of what it has achieved and how far is has come.

However society continues to change, so then must Broken Rites in order to stay in touch and be relevant to the needs of the people we are here to support.  

As part of this journey the committee asked the author Michele Guinness (one of our associate members), to attend our committee meeting in February to facilitate the day and steer our discussions in an objective and focussed way.  

The focus of these discussions was centred around:-

1. •Where we are we now and what resources do we have?
   

2. •What should be our future focus in the light of where we, society and the church are now?
   

3. •What should our future activities, structure, and membership look like?
   

4. •Review of the achievements of the day and actions
   

The Committee agreed that we should share the outcome of these discussions with the membership at the AGM.  Therefore the key points of that day will provide the focus of discussion groups to be held at the AGM.  The committee can then take away the views, ideas and opinions of the membership and use these to mould Broken Rites for the future.

It would be fantastic to have a celebration of our achievements over the last 30 years at our 30th AGM in 2013 and launch our aspirations for the future of how Broken Rites will continue to support clergy spouses whose marriages have broken down. 

It is therefore important that as many members as possible attend our 29th AGM and join in these discussions so that all members have a voice at this important time.  We would also welcome input from our associate members to these discussions as their support over the years has been very much valued and appreciated.

So..................   

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