Our Ministers

Rev Jenny Dyer BA MTh
Home telephone: 01582 712431
Rest day: Monday
e-mail: jenny.dyer@methodist.org.uk

Deacon Chris Greening
Home telephone: 01582 713773
Rest day: Saturday
e-mail: chris_greeningpe@yahoo.co.uk

Rev Jenny Dyer
Minister

Chris Greening
Deacon

Rev Jenny Dyer

"When I left University, I became first a solicitor specialising in charity law, and then a full-time mum. It was when my children started school and I was looking to return to my legal career that I felt that God was calling me into the ministry. We were living in Liverpool at the time, and I trained on a course based in Manchester. I was a minister for six years on the Wirral and then for seven years in Coventry, where I was also Free Church Chaplain at Warwick University.

"My family consists of three students! My husband, Nigel, had a career in telecoms, but is now studying for a PhD in Biology at Warwick University. My daughter, Naomi, is reading Art and English Literature at Aberystwyth. And my son, Jacob, is waiting for A-level results and hopes to be studying Natural Sciences at Cambridge, or Physics at Warwick.

"I enjoy running to keep fit, cycling to get around and climbing mountains any chance I get. Among my less active spare time activities (what spare time?) I am exploring my family history and trying to get my mind around New Testament Greek."

Deacon Chris Greening

My husband Pete and our daughters Jo and Susie come from Matlock in Derbyshire where we love to return for holidays when we have the opportunity. We also enjoy going with friends to Spring Harvest every Easter, which is a large Christian event.

Since becoming a Methodist Deacon, we have lived at Barnsley for 6 years where I was involved in Church and Community work in a very deprived area. Now at Harpenden I am involved in Outreach particularly among young families and with an Outreach team running Alpha groups. From September our Church will be linked with Batford Methodist Church to support their growing ‘Messy Church’ initiative and to develop new opportunities for Outreach in the community.

My favourite charity is ‘Living Hope’ which runs some successful projects in Cape Town among families affected by AIDS and I was able to spend a month of my sabbatical last year working there, which was an amazing experience.

Stewards

Becoming a Church Steward
Frequently Asked Questions

1. What sort of person becomes a Church Steward and what sort of qualities are needed?

Church Stewards come from all backgrounds, ages and races. In addition to having a strong Christian faith, common personal qualities are; enthusiasm and friendliness, a commitment to the values of trust and confidentiality, a commitment to pray, worship and encourage gifts in others. No previous experience of being in a similar role is required. You simply need to be a Church member.

2. What does the job involve?

There are the practical arrangements for Church services which involve preparing the Church for the service, liaising with the minister/preacher, readers and choir, welcoming the congregation and generally assisting the minister/preacher where necessary, for example in the distribution of the elements at a communion service. The Stewards Team meets once every six weeks to discuss matters of common interest and in addition the Stewards attend Church Council Meetings and General Church Meetings and are asked to be a steward representative on one of the other church Teams. Stewards meetings take place in the evening, usually at 7:30pm and last for approximately two hours. Stewards find no difficulty in combining the role with family life and other commitments and work together in scheduling duties. A three month rota is put together and everyone has the opportunity to nominate available dates and in unforeseen circumstances, find a Steward to swap a duty with them.

Stewards also have the opportunity to be on duty at weddings if they are available

3. How many Stewards are there?

A full team of Stewards comprises nine people.

4. How long does the appointment last?

The appointment of a Church Steward lasts for three years.

5. Can the role of Steward be combined with other roles in the Church?

Yes; a number of stewards have, for example, been in the choir

6. How are Church Stewards appointed?

Informal conversations usually kick off the process; these may be initiated by members expressing an interest or an approach by an existing Steward. Prospective stewards are encouraged to speak with others and with the ministry team. A practice of pre-selection takes place amongst the existing Stewards and ministry team. However, the post remains open to all those eligible within the church and not just those the existing Stewards know well. Once a potential church steward has agreed that they are ready and willing to take up the role, a written nomination is given to the minister who then takes it to the General Church Meeting. It is there that the formal process of appointment happens when the members of the General Church Meeting vote.

7. Do I have to be a Church Member to be a Steward?

Yes.

8. Will I receive training?

Yes. Initially when you take up the appointment of Steward, you will have a mentor who will guide you in the early days. You will also be provided with materials which will assist your learning process and Stewards will have annual "away day" which acts as a further training resource.

9. Will I have to do duties alone?

No. With the exception of the monthly 8am service, all of the services have two or more Stewards present. When a caretaker is not there, normally on Sunday evenings, Stewards are required to unlock the Church and lock it again following the service, but always work in pairs.

10. Do I have to read the lessons?

Normally, the reading of lessons is considered part of the Stewards duties, but there is a separate readers’ rota and therefore for the main 10.30am services, Stewards are not required to read lessons.

11. Do I ever have to lead worship?

In practical terms the answer is no, but in the extremely unlikely event of a local preacher not turning up, then the duty of organising an alternative service would fall on the Stewards or any other local preacher in the congregation!

12. Am I responsible for money?

No. The Stewards are not responsible for the finances of the Church and there is a separate finance committee and, of course, the Church treasurer. In practical terms, Stewards ensure that a weekly collection is placed in the safe, but are not responsible for counting money following services.

13. What will I get out of it?

When first approached potential candidates sometimes feel that becoming a Steward is a daunting prospect. They swiftly realise the job of steward is in fact very rewarding. Past Stewards who have served in this role have a greatly enriched experience and have benefitted from their appointment. We are all part of a Church family. You get to meet many more people and develop new and rewarding relationships with a wide cross section of the Church community.

14. How do I get further information?

Full details of Church Steward's duties are set out in the Constitution of the Methodist Church, the "Constitution Practice and Discipline", which is known as the CPD can be found through the website www.methodist.org.uk . You should also speak to others who have undertaken the role in the past and the present Stewards and Ministry Team who will be only too happy to discuss things and share their experience.