Report of Diocesan Synod on 3 June 2006

Resourcing mission

Rosie Tallowin, community outreach worker, reported the successes of the past six years at Christ Church Colchester.  She worked with baptism families and set up a pram service and a mother support group. The pram service had brought in fathers, grandparents and other people in the community. Attendance had grown to over 100, with even more attending in school holidays.

Chief executive Steven Webb said that the church strove to be ‘mission-shaped’ and reach those who needed to hear the gospel message. The proposed new ‘mission opportunities’ fund would support manage risk taking.

Synod carried a motion to establish the fund and an assessment committee.

Social responsibility

The bishop of Chelmsford, Rt Revd John Gladwin, said that the diocese had a long history of working in the field of social responsibility. He had invited Ruth Badger to review this area, report her findings and make recommendations. He expressed his thanks for her work.

Bishop’s council had agreed a process to gather together an advisory group, work on gospel themes, carry out a mapping exercise and suggest ways of achieving greater efficiency. Synod gave its support to this process.

An announcement was made that the Fartrade Foundation had awarded the diocese Fairtrade status for its commitment to promote awareness of Fairtrade and use Fairtrade products. 

Budget process for 2007

The chairman of the Chelmsford diocesan board of finance, Robert Berry, reported on process improvements aimed at increased accuracy and understanding. The increase in ‘deanery share’ was likely to be in the range of 5 to 7%. In order to avoid a double-digit increase, the provision for shortfall would be reduced. The increase due to pensions was £437,000 or 3% on the share.

The increase was also due to measures previously agreed by Synod. Other new initiatives would affect on future budgets. More stipendiary posts had been filled in 2005; so numbers were higher than anticipated. The shortfall required attention, and various improvements were being actively pursued. 

A preliminary discussion took place pending a full debate at the meeting of in November.

Clergy pension scheme

Steven Webb said that the Church of England pensions board had reported actuarial advice to increase contributions by 6% which would mean an increase of about £430,000 a year for the diocese. The issue was due to changes in actuarial criteria and financial regulations.

Contributions to the discussion included the following suggestions:

• Change to a ‘pension purchase’ scheme from a ‘final salary’ scheme for new priests
• Link increases to RPI, rather than stipends.
• Look after priests properly in their retirement.
• Communicate the issues effectively to congregations.
• Open up a discussion on the remuneration of clergy.

Views would be fed into the national debate during the year.

Reports

Reports were received from Bishops Council and the Finance Committee as were the annual reports to Synod.

Responses to questions

Bishop John said the curates’ programme in Kenya had been funded through the continuing ministerial education budget to which each curate had made a contribution.

He had asked Canon Andrew Knowles to bring together a group with different views on human sexual relationships for a discussion as a first step towards a debate at Synod.

Diocesan Board of Finance Annual General Meeting

The motion was carried that the financial statements for the year ended 31 December 2005 be received .The proposal that Mazars be re-appointed as auditors was carried.

Thanks

Bishop John placed on record Synod’s appreciation to Hiranthi Fernando for all she had done in her time as Finance Director. 

Dates of future meetings

11 November 2006
10 March 2007
16 June 2007
10 November 2007

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