Nomination as an elected member of the Ecumenical Council

Joy Chapman

I have been a member of Christ the Cornerstone since shortly after moving to Milton Keynes and getting married to David in October 1986. That was before the current building went up and the church still met in a room off MK Library. On Saturdays once a month I volunteered in the Café, helping to raise money for the new building, I was on the rota to play the piano for Sunday services (also about once a month), and I was in the Cornerstone Choir – as I still am.

For the first three years I commuted to London, where I worked in IT systems management and development for Christian Aid, but opted not to return after the birth of our elder son Alex. This presented the opportunity to become more involved in the life of the Milton Keynes community generally and Christ the Cornerstone in particular, and was the start of my earlier involvement with Cornerstone Toddlers which had been formed by Georgina Brookes around 18 months earlier. It was run at that time by a committee of parents on which I served for several years, taking along our own children and others I cared for as a registered childminder.

Until recently I have always felt it my calling to contribute to the life of Christ the Cornerstone in hands-on practical ways, such as looking after the Fair Trade shop. However the unprecedented events of the last few months have closed down some old paths and opened up new ones; we must all think and pray about which paths to take now!

Nominated by Liz Ruthven and seconded by Fidele Mutwarasibo

Denominational make-up of the Council

The Cornerstone constitution requires the Clerk to make a formal written report on the denominational make-up of the EC whenever there are new appointment.

Joy is an Anglican, and if she is appointed denominations of the council members will be as follows: 8 Anglicans, 3 Baptists, 2 Methodists, 1 URC and 1 Roman Catholic.

We are not required to have a council which precisely matches the make-up of our membership, though it is of course desirable.