Ottawa Alpha Conference Pre-Launch Meeting
Conference dates: 26, 27 October 2001
MINUTES and ACTIONS ARISING
Attenders: OAPC Elaine Young, Alpha Canada Bob Horsey, OAPC Chair - Events Co-ordinator, Eastern Canada Dave Atkins, Assistant ARA Eric Angel, Conference Co-Chair Tony Copple, Secretary Nick Lee, Chair of Organizing Committee Laurie-Ann Copple, Recording secretary Atha Kelly, Prayer Team Head Jenny Moore, Registration Team HeadAlpha - "An in-depth overview of the Christian faith"
Elaine encouraged us that there will be a job for everyone wishing to be involved. She would like lots of different denominations to cover as wide an area as possible for our Conference.
Chair of conference
- Co-Chairs: Rt. Rev. Peter Coffin, Eric Angel
Networking Committee Chair - Eric Angel
Eric shared that he had volunteered to do ‘anything’ because of previous involvement in Alpha, which included helping with registration at the 1997 conference. Committee chairs are in the process of learning what their tasks are (from the detailed handbooks supplied on-line by Alpha Canada.)
We would need to send out a major mailing to 700 churches, and to hold a kick-off meeting in about six weeks time when we had secured the support of "sponsor churches."
Elaine mentioned that it is essential that we enlist for the networking committee any movers and shakers in their own denominations and congregations to help promote the Alpha conference. Also noted was promotion through different mailings and magazines.
Elaine also suggested that the networking committee can involve outlying areas (ie: Arnprior) in this committee so people from that area are more involved. Conferences are made by the networking, which gets the word out and gets people to the conference. Each conference is unique - and is important to not make this a Nicky Gumbel or Sandy Millar "thing."
Organizing Committee Chair - Nick Lee
Nick reported that being a chair can be demanding, but easier if you have the right team behind you. He was pleased with the Alpha Canada’s conference organization structure, which facilitates the allocation of volunteers. Nick will call people and coordinate. The role of organization is making sure the conference runs smoothly.
Prayer Team Head - Atha Kelly
Atha will co-ordinate a team of intercessors who will pray us through the complete process up to the conference. Indeed, she had arranged prayer cover from six prayer colleagues for this meeting. Prayer Team is separate from Ministry Team, which operates during the conference. The Ministry Team Leader is not yet announced.
Administration Team Head (Treasurer) - Chris Allen
Chris has agreed to be the administration head (incl. treasurer), and has worked with Jenny in registration in the last conference.
Registration Team Head - Jenny Moore
Jenny had volunteered at our previous meeting December 8, 2000, in time for registration details and the conference date 26,27 October 2001 to be included in the Alpha Canada Conference Brochure 2001 (of which we have a stock of 5,250, most of which are currently at Tony & Laurie-Ann Copple’s house in Kanata)
Hospitality Team Head: TBA; Task Force Team Head: TBA; Stewarding Team Head: TBA; Sound/Visual Team Head: TBA; Ministry Team Leader: TBA
Elaine suggested that the chair and team of hospitality should be from the conference venue. The stewarding committee should also be from the same congregation.
The task force team can be from all churches. The intercessory team should be from all churches, as well as the prayer ministry team. However, the ministry team needs to be hand-picked, with training and experience in the Holy Spirit. The ministry team leader must be recommended by others and have the covering and blessing of their own pastor and congregation.
[At the time of the meeting there was some doubt about the availability of Dominion Chalmers. By February 8 we heard that a possible conflict had been resolved. We are extremely grateful to Dominion Chalmers for agreeing to be our conference site, and particularly to Rev Brian Wilke, a faithful attender at our meetings.]
There will be a total of eight information-packed talks by different key-note speakers. Seminars would be available for smaller groups. The audience was asked for suggestions on possible seminars, such as the different para-church ministries running Alpha.
There was unresolved discussion of how many meals would be served, and which would be included in the ticket price. This will be a budgeting decision.
Level 1 conferences imitate Alpha courses - including small groups, ministry, question and answer periods, pastoral care, and specific seminars (rural Alpha, administration, worship, prayer, youth, etc.).
Seminars are run by Alpha Canada reps and local people. Elaine, for example leads an Alpha administration seminar.
Level Two conferences, rare outside the UK as yet, are for leaders who are now ready for more. Holy Trinity Brompton is currently formalizing a Level 2 program. However, there are still many churches in this region who don’t know about Alpha, or know about it but don’t run it, so a level 1 conference is best for the Ottawa area.
One seminar leader is already chosen - Vernon Robertson, the Alpha Canada Roman Catholic advisor. Other speakers are TBA. Vernon would also co-ordinate marketing the conference to the local Catholic community.
[Feb 8: Sadly, we just heard that Vernon is ill with a tumor in his stomach. Please hold him, and his wife Maureen, up in prayer, that his recovery be fast.]
There was a time of suggestions for seminars by those present. Some suggestions included: evangelism training seminars (Ray Brule), healing (Bert Hopkins), the Holy Spirit (Brian Wilkie), intercessory prayer workshop (Harry Baker), seminars on what’s beyond Alpha (Mike Rushton), administration and youth.
Elaine also offered advice in other areas. On the issue of evangelism, Elaine suggested the idea of home group settings for Alpha, to grow Alpha into the community (perhaps a more comfortable venue for the unchurched). In answer to a question on intercessory prayer teaching, she mentioned that there is a seminar called "Prayer on Alpha." To the question of Alpha follow-up (other than the popular "A Life Worth Living"), Elaine suggested a home group. She also reminded us that at times there are ‘Alpha groupies’ who want to attend the course over and over (Alpha prefers they take some form of helping / leadership role if repeating a course. She felt that there was currently a scarcity of resources to training for youth Alpha.
Minutes taken by Laurie-Ann Copple
Written up February 8, 2001