Residential and AMM - important update!

For the CiC staff team, this week feels markedly different, in a really positive way!

Normally, the commencement of the final academic term of the year, signals the final push in preparation for the annual residential in November. However, as part of our strategic plan to emerge from the pandemic with new and improved ways of working, I'm excited to share a significant development that will benefit all our member organisations. In fact, it's quite radical, so find a comfy seat, sit back and prepare yourself for the news that follows.

Goodbye old. Hello new.
The annual residential, which combined conference and annual members meeting (AMM), is no more!

For those of you who attended in 2019, that was the finale! After a thorough review and prayerful consideration, the event is being replaced with an annual online members meeting, and a bi-annual CiC conference.

Why change?
This new approach to two key aspects of CiC, helps to solve a challenge that has existed for many years: how do we run a fantastic event that offers a conference, which meets the needs of our ever growing and increasingly diverse membership, as well as an interactive AMM, that enables ministers to participate, hold the Board to account and vote on important decisions.

On reflection, we recognise that the previous, combined approach, was restrictive, not allowing us to do either as excellently as we would like. Separating the residential from the AMM will allow us to significantly improve both and provide a much better experience for our members.

How will it work?
Having witnessed the success of the online AMM last year, we intend to use Zoom to host this on an annual basis, starting on 18th November, 2021. As we are now all no doubt familiar, this online platform makes it easy for members to comment, ask questions and vote on key issues - helping us to fulfil our obligations to one another.

Furthermore, the entire meeting can be recorded, making it easy for us to store the helpful information shared. In addition to providing a much better means of participation, Zoom will also make the AMM much more accessible to our members. With member organisations now spread throughout the UK and overseas, the time and cost to attend a gathered meeting was quite prohibitive. Given that attendance at the AMM is compulsory, we hope the change will make it much easier for our members to meet this requirement, and remain in membership of CiC.

With the AMM taking place virtually, the residential can now evolve into a two-day CiC conference, complete with worship team, a diverse line-up of speakers and increased time for prayer ministry, fellowship, as well as space for members to advertise their services and resources.

More importantly, the conference will be open for the wider teams and individuals in member organisations, as well as those who are interested in joining CiC but want to find out more. In the anticipation that attendance will dramatically increase as a result, in faith, we have secured exclusive use of High Leigh on 3rd - 4th May 2022.

Next steps
Our ability to plan and prepare will be greatly enhanced if members can book early onto the AMM and start to advertise the conference to their wider teams and peers. To secure your place, please use the following links.

Annual Members' Meeting | 18th November 2021

CiC Conference | 3rd - 4th May 2022

If you have already submitted a deposit for the postponed 2021 residential, and would like to attend the conference in 2022, please contact Jeremy Tagg, who will arrange this.

I do hope you are encouraged by this significant development in CiC and I look forward to keeping you informed about the AMM and conference throughout the year.

Yours in Christ,

Paul Garratt
International Coordinator