st faith s, burwood annual parish meeting 29 november 2020

St Faith’s Annual Parish Meeting Sunday 29 November 2020

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St Faith’s, Burwood Annual Parish Meeting 29 November 2020 at 2.00pm in the Labyrinth

AGENDA

1. Opening Prayers

2. The minutes of the Annual Parish Meeting 2019

3. The reception of the Parish Electoral Roll

4. Annual Reports

i. Locum Vicar’s Report

ii. Parish Council Report

iii. Churchwardens’ Report

iv. Treasurer’s Report, Accounts and Financial Statements

5. The Budget for 2020-2021

6. Other Reports

7. Election of churchwardens and members of the parish council

8. The election of an auditor or independent examiner

9. The election of lay representatives to the parish incumbency committee

10. Any other matters

11. Meeting close


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2. Minutes of St. Faith’s Annual Parish Meeting held 17 November 2019

1. WELCOME

The meeting opened at 10.40 am with prayer.

2. APOLOGIES:

The Reverend Ray Cleary, Jo-Anne Hurley, Geoff Brewer, Marg and Ted Nicker, Lorraine Kelly, Sue and Keith

Walls, Warwick Tobin, Ian Gibson, Tim Kilham

3. PRESENT:

The Revd Emily Payne (Chair), Helen Eckersley (Parish Secretary) Joan Scott, Mary Buckingham, Jack

Buckingham, Barbara Gronn, Peter Gronn, Margaret Waterhouse, Alison Grindrod, Christine Hall, Bruce

Hinchliffe, Ian Morton, John Sloman, Jean Sloman, Shirley Ternes, Heather Edlin, Judi Cleary, Naomi

Sellman, Dean Sellman, Kay Kilham, Esma Kelso, Phyllis West, Cassandra Hurley, Robin Pitt, Janice

Kennedy, Jill Batterbury

4. MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING

The minutes of the previous Annual Parochial Meeting held on 18 November, 2018 were taken as read.

Moved by Jean Sloman and seconded by Alison Grindrod that the minutes be accepted. Carried

5. RECEPTION OF THE PARISH ELECTORAL ROLL

The updated Parish Electoral Roll was received.

A video on building up churches which had been shown at the recent meeting of Synod was shown.

6. REPORTS

6.1 Vicar’s Report

The Vicar’s Report included a record of entries in the registers of the Parish (required by the Archbishop in Council). The Vicar commented that she and the Parish Council had found the parish survey and resulting discussions to be a valuable insight; they have attempted to take on board the many useful suggestions. After reading of Intentional Ministry in a Not-so-mega Church: Becoming a Missional Community, Parish Council had agreed that it was necessary to revise our Mission Action Plan with a view to building a much more intentional connection with an identified “target audience” and this would be a priority next year.

Administration and our technological infrastructure had also been an important area of work: a new system to track agreed work tasks and action items had been instituted.

A Marketing Plan produced by a group of students who were completing their Masters of Marketing at Monash was received and while not all the recommendations were helpful it was obvious that the parish needed to update and strengthen our online presence. We have launched a FaceBook page and continued to work on a new website. The Vicar pointed out that the biggest obstacle to getting things done was simply not having enough people with the time and willingness to do them. Finding ways to share the load will be necessary if we are to be more effective. The Vicar outlined the distribution of funds from the Emergency Relief Fund, record of which commenced in June, 2019.The Vicar expressed her appreciation to the Wardens and Parish Council for their work during the year. The Vicar also thanked various leaders of the parish for their work during the year.


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6.2 Parish Council Report

An annual report on the proceedings of the parish council and a report by parish council on the pastoral care, evangelism, social and ecumenical programmes of the parish and on future plans for the parish was presented by the Parish Secretary. 6.3 Wardens’ Report The churchwardens’ report on the fabric, goods and ornaments of the worship centre, vicarage and other buildings of the parish was presented. Having three wardens this year has made the workload and responsibilities more manageable.

The condition of the entire property continues to be sound, although there have been minor and major maintenance matters which have required attention. There are several major maintenance items eg the paths and concrete around property which will require careful management by the incoming Parish Council. The wardens thanked the parishioners who constantly drew their attention to items that required attention and this ensures the smooth running of the parish and minimises the possibility of oversight and neglect.

Moved by Peter Gronn and seconded by Robin Pitt that the Vicar’s report, Parish Council report and the Wardens’ report be received.

Carried 6.4 Treasurer’s Report The Acting Treasurer presented the audited accounts and financial statements. The 2019 year resulted a small profit due in large part to a generous gift from Andrew Esplan in memory of Joan Esplan. It is hoped that this will contribute towards improving the audio-visual system.

The budget for 2019/2020 as approved by Parish Council was presented. A deficit of $37,393 has been budgeted for which is higher than was budgeted in the previous year. It was pointed out that for the coming year our pledged income has dropped by $3,400.

The Acting Treasurer thanked Mary Buckingham for her co-ordination of the hall hiring as well as the successful monthly cake stall. Heather Edlin was also thanked for her co-ordination of the Games Afternoon resulting in $210 being donated to CamCare. A vote of thanks for the hard work of Jillian Batterbury as Acting Treasurer was expressed by the meeting. Moved by Jillian Batterbury and seconded by Alison Grindrod that the audited accounts and financial statements be received.

Carried 6.5 Other Parish Groups The reports from Mother’s Union, Altar Guild, Archives Group and Ministry to Seniors were received. Moved by Cassandra Hurley and seconded by Alison Grindrod that the reports be received.

Carried 7. ELECTIONS 7.1 Parish Council No election was required for Parish Council. The churchwardens elected were Jillian Batterbury and Chris Hall. Joan Scott was appointed as Vicar’s Warden. Parish Council members elected were Helen Eckersley, Judi Cleary and Kay Kilham. The Vicar also announced that, following his reception into the Anglican Church on Sunday, 24 November, 2019, Dean Sellman would be a vicar’s appointment to Parish Council. Alison Grindrod and Cassandra Hurley were thanked for their years of service on Parish Council. 7.2 Election of Auditor Moved by Jillian Batterbury and seconded by Joan Scott that David Sharrock be appointed auditor for the forthcoming year. Carried


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7.3 Election of Incumbency Committee There being no other candidates Ian Gibson and Joan Scott were elected to the Incumbency Committee. Christine Hall was appointed by the Wardens. Alison Grindrod and Margaret Waterhouse were to be the reserves. 8. MATTERS OF PAROCHIAL BUSINESS 8.1 Parish Mission Action Plan The following motion was put to the meeting:

The Annual Parish Meeting asks the Parish Council to revise the Parish’s Mission Action Plan with a view to having a new plan by 30th March, 2020, adopting the following principles: 1. The existing vision, mission and format be retained 2. The plan reflect an honest appraisal of what is achievable and the parish’s current circumstances

(including its finances). 3. The plan to enable the Parish Council and all parishioners to have a clear sense of where their

missional endeavours are to be directed. 4. External facilitation to be considered. 5. All parishioners to be given an opportunity to contribute to the choice of priorities and directions.

Peter Gronn on behalf of Ian Gibson spoke to the motion. Jill Batterbury read out a letter from Ian Gibson also speaking to the motion. Moved by Peter Gronn and seconded by Margaret Waterhouse that the motion be accepted. Carried The Vicar advised the meeting that the Parish Council was not bound by the request. 8.2 Intinction Policy Peter Gronn requested clarification on the policy and practice of Intinction at Communion. The Vicar advised that the policy of the Diocese was that if someone didn’t wish to partake from the chalice then intincted wafers were to be available and that no-one should dip their wafer into the chalice. However, the Vicar believed that there should be some flexibility and that if this occurred the person should be allowed to do so but later taken aside and advised of the policy 8.3 Booroondara Asylum Seeker Network Margaret Waterhouse reported on a Network meeting she had attended and the need for groceries to assist asylum seekers settling into the area. It was proposed by Cassandra Hurley and seconded by Margaret Waterhouse that a basket be provided on the first Sunday of each month to collect groceries for a trial period of six months.

Carried 8.4 Thank You to Director of Music The Music Director, Ian Gibson, was thanked in his absence by the Vicar’s Warden, for his tireless work in producing the music each week. There being no further business, the meeting closed at 12.15pm with the grace.

4.i Locum Vicar’s Report 2019-20

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

The past year has been one of significant change and adjustment for St. Faith’s. At the last APM a commitment was made to revise the Mission Action Plan and the parish council began that work


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at the beginning of the year. Bishop Paul Barker arranged that I would act as mission consultant and planning meetings were held with the vicar, wardens, parish council and parish in February and March. Good progress was made in identifying the parish’s charisms and calling, but our intended process was interrupted by the COVID19 outbreaks. As we emerge from the pandemic we look forward to resuming that thinking, planning and praying.

The Reverend Emily Payne left the parish at the end of June and was farewelled through Zoom, in our community prayers and with a gift from the parish. At the end of October Emily commenced as priest-in-charge of the parish of Northern Albury in Wangaratta Diocese.

COVID lockdowns of course brought about a significant change to church life and worship as in-person services were suspended in March. Facebook and then Zoom Sunday Morning Prayer have been a way for some people to continue fellowship, as well as the circulation of the weekly pew sheet. As we travelled with the people of Israel through the wilderness we perhaps had a new appreciation of the insights of our ancestors! I am very grateful for all those who have contributed to parish life in these challenging times. Our wardens Chris, Joan and Jill (also as treasurer) have worked diligently and flexibly at all times, trying to keep connection with as many people as possible. Ian Gibson has given much time and thoughtfulness to the selection of music and preparation of services. Helen Eckersley has provided valuable support through rosters and Parish Council papers and the wider Parish Council have been engaged and diligent in their ministry. Many more people have supported the parish through actively keeping in touch with others and looking after buildings. I have been impressed by the love and care I have seen, and also the welcome extended to newcomers in what have been unusual and often difficult times. We also hold in our thoughts and prayers those in our community who lost loved ones this year.

The statistics for the parish were as follows:

1 Memorial Service 2 Funeral Services

1 Thanksgiving for the birth of a child 3 people received into the Anglican Church

1 Marriage Ceremony

I did not anticipate at the beginning of this year that I would have the opportunity to undertake a locum ministry for several months (in truth, there are many things about 2020 that I did not anticipate) but I am very grateful that it has been my privilege to journey with you at this time. I am sure that 2021 will bring many blessings for St. Faith’s as we continue to do all we can to witness to the risen Christ in our midst.

Reverend Judith Atkinson

4.ii Parish Council Report 2019-2020

2020 began with a Parish Council Planning Day which was facilitated by the Revd. Judith Atkinson to consider the items for consideration which came out of the Parish Survey in October, 2019. A parish meeting was held on March 1st, again facilitated by the Revd Judith Atkinson, to report to the parish on the outcomes of the Planning Day. Sub Committees were formed under the headings of 1) Big Picture, 2) Short Term and 3) Partnership with other parishes. Helen Eckersley was reappointed Parish Secretary. Permission was given by the Diocese for Jillian Batterbury to continue as Warden and Treasurer with Tim Kilham assisting her.


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A very successful bushfire appeal concert was held on 23 February and $4,800 was raised. This was sent to the Diocese of Gippsland who would ensure that it went where it was most needed. In late March, with onset of the COVID19 Pandemic, all church services were suspended. However, the wonders of technology meant that the parish was able to continue to be connected through virtual morning teas via Zoom. This was an excellent way of keeping in touch with each other as well as checking on how other parishioners were coping who were unable to attend via Zoom. In July these were expanded to include a Service of Morning Prayer. At the beginning of July our Priest in Charge, the Revd. Emily Payne completed her three year appointment and subsequently took up an appointment in the Diocese of Wangaratta. Unfortunately, due to the Covid restrictions, the parish was unable to farewell her and her family in the usual manner, but parishioners very generously donated to a farewell fund and a very substantial monetary gift was given to her. The Revd. Judith Atkinson was appointed Locum. In July, Kay Kilham was appointed Child Safety Officer and Christine Hall and Joan Scott were appointed the Covid Safe Officers. During the year we saw the passing away of Rupert and Janet Welch and Ian Eckersley as well as two parishioners moving into permanent care. Although it has been a difficult year Parish Council has continued to meet each month via Zoom. One of the most difficult things has been dealing with the very fast changing restrictions and this continues as severe restrictions are lifted in Melbourne.

Helen Eckersley Parish Council Secretary

4.iii St. Faith’s Churchwardens’ Report (A report on the fabric, goods and ornaments of the church, vicarage and other buildings.)

The 2019-20 parish year began as normal, with the three wardens continuing in their roles. Parishioners continued to give of their time and talents, contributing to many aspects of parish life. From early in 2020, COVID19 presented a new set of challenges; by Easter services were suspended and hall hire ceased. A small number of parishioners still managed to tend to the gardens when this was permitted under COVID protocols. Some works held over from the previous year have not been completed, mainly due to Covid restrictions.

Before the church closure, the usual rosters were maintained and for that we thank parishioners. Those to be thanked principally and most sincerely for their efforts are: Marge & Ted Nicker, Ian Morton, Leigh Brown, Janice & Harold Kennedy, Jean & John Sloman, Carmen Roach, Helen Eckersley, Joanne Hurley, Bruce Hinchliffe, Geoff Brewer, Robin and Leigh Pitt, Peter and Barbara Gronn, Mary Buckingham and Keith and Sue Walls.

Works undertaken during 2019-20:

Parish Centre

• Minor step levelling at the entrance to allow for easier access

• Locking bolt on entrance door repaired

• Repair to a toilet door

• Globe replacements


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• Bifold door repair

• Inspection and servicing of gas heaters completed

• The external hot water service was permanently raised to prevent the pilot light from continually being extinguished

Vicarage • An inspection of vicarage was completed by the wardens, at the time of Rev Emily Payne

leaving the parish • The vicarage was professionally cleaned; quotes have been sought for further cleaning of the

carpet • The stove has been checked and will need to be replaced • The downstairs split system has been serviced • The gas ducted heating system has been checked

• Repairs have been carried out on both toilet walls

• New smoke detectors have been installed

• Minor repairs to cupboards and drawers have been completed

• The rear screen doors are being repaired.

• Window cleaning and gutter clearing is booked for completion in December

• The gate from the driveway into the vicarage garden has been repaired

Courtyard

• After storm damage early in 2020, the roof above the barbeque was replaced

• Loose asbestos panels above the Parish Centre porch were re-secured and painted

• The sound system was upgraded allowing computer audio, clavinova input and recording capacity. A new portable speaker and microphone were purchased for use in the parish centre

• Signage at the front of church has been updated

• The bench seat in the Memorial garden was repaired and refurbished; thanks to ex-parishioner Garry Male

This has been a difficult year for parish maintenance, but several small projects have been completed, including necessary maintenance to the vicarage after it was vacated on September 18, by the Revd Emily Payne and family.

From June 21, as the parish entered a period of interregnum, complicated by the pandemic, the wardens appreciated working with our locum, Judith Atkinson, to maintain connections with parishioners, and to ensure that as many people as possible were able to join in weekly Zoom services and other opportunities for fellowship. We are also grateful for Ian Gibson’s work, in collaboration with Judith, to produce Sunday Zoom services and to prepare weekly pew sheets. Ian has also continued to add music as a further dimension to our worship, with his inclusion of appropriate hymns and other music (from around the world!). These opportunities to meet for worship and fellowship via Zoom have been greatly valued by all attending.

Two wardens were unable to be onsite for much of the period of COVID 19 restriction; we thank Chris Hall for her diligence in attending to many of the practical matters that needed attention over that time, and in checking on the welfare of parishioners. Chris and Joan would like to highlight the work that Jill Batterbury has undertaken, to ensure that the pew sheet was circulated, and that those in need of pastoral care were identified and followed up. Jill also assisted with preparation for the Zoom services; her persistence with the technology, to ensure that as many parishioners as possible could join in, was greatly appreciated. A number of parishioners have also worked to ensure that those in aged care or in hospital, have remained connected to the parish over the past trying months of isolation.


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The wardens would like to thank Judith for her continuing oversight of the parish as our locum; we all appreciate her thoughtful approach in directing our thinking towards what the future may hold for St Faith’s.

2019-20 has been a time of focusing on maintaining connections and on pastoral care, with some more practical aspects of wardens’ oversight having less attention. When we can more fully occupy and engage with the buildings of the parish, these matters will once more become a focus of attention and financial commitment.

Jill Batterbury Christine Hall Joan Scott

6. REPORTS FROM PARISH GROUPS

MINISTRY TO SENIORS The Committee met in February for a planning day. Unfortunately, our March meeting was cancelled due to illness and then, because of the COVID lockdown we have been unable to meet for the rest of the year.

Barbara Gronn

MOTHERS UNION Mothers Union has been unable to meet all year due to the COVID lockdown. However, some of our members have continued knitting squares and Shirley Ternes has continued to make them into blankets. A big thank you to Shirley for her work on the project. Unfortunately, this year, because of the lockdown we have been unable to deliver our blankets to Anglicare. Our branch has been kept up to date on what is happening with Mothers Union groups both here and around the world so we have managed to remain connected.

Helen Eckersley


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4.iv TREASURER’S REPORT 2019-20

As it turned out, the 2019-2020 financial year was not nearly as bad as we had expected. We budgeted for a deficit of $37k and eventually ended up breaking even. That is a cause for great gratitude to God.

We were very fortunate to receive over $16k from the government during the lockdown – through both JobKeeper and a business grant of $10k.

Total giving (both pledged and open) was down by only about $3k on the budgeted $77.8k – a wonderful outcome under the circumstances! (It is interesting to note that the Diocese has found that parishes that have come to rely on returns from property have been less resilient in the crisis than those reliant on live giving.)

The greatest drop was in hall hire income - it was less than half what was budgeted. Parishioners may recall that at the consultation meeting earlier this year there was support for trying to achieve a better financial return on our buildings (e.g. leasing the office), and that work needs to be resumed and actively pursued.

Both the lockdown (which reduced the cost of utilities, cleaning, printing) and the loss of a full-time vicar (with salary, benefits, superannuation and associated insurances) meant that costs were reduced considerably too. The Diocese of Melbourne has not required the same level of assessment payment from parishes during the latter months, which was another cost reduction. The main items of expenditure that did not change during the year were the cost of property insurance and the lease of the photocopier.

Although the concert and retiring collections in January/February raised over $4k for bushfire victims, the parish did not make any payments to relief or mission agencies in the year just gone. Doing so early in the coming months might be something we should discuss at the APM.

In our current circumstances we may be able to continue to save a little more, particularly in clergy costs, while we put considerable time and thought into discerning details of our future. Our turnover is well short of what would be expected of a full-time parish.

My special thanks to Dean Sellman for frequent questions at PC meetings, and to Tim Kilham for collecting, recording and banking moneys, and for making sophisticated amendments to the financial documents in readiness for presentation to this meeting.

Jill Batterbury Treasurer and Churchwarden


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FUNDS MOVEMENT - 1 OCTOBER 2019 TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2020

NEW BUILDING FUND CHARLES CHALMERS

FUND

CANTOR FUND SURPLICE FUND

OPENING BALANCE 1 OCT 2019 $0.00 $34,274.59 $1,400.00 $153.00

INCOME

Funerals $560.00 $560.00

Donations $16,816.12 $250.00

Interest $75.86 $1,129.59

Cake Sales $461.00

$17,352.98 $35,404.18 $2,210.00 $713.00

EXPENDITURE

Donations -$250.00

Repairs & Maintenance -$3,740.50

Sound Equipment -$4,939.00

CLOSING BALANCE 30 SEPT 2020 $8,673.48 $35,404.18 $2,210.00 $463.00

Parish council allocates some items of income and expenditure to the various funds shown in the equity section of the balance sheet.

The allocation of these items is as shown above. All of these items are disclosed in the profit and loss.


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ST FAITHS BUDGET 2020-21

ACCOUNTBUDGET

2019

ACTUAL

2019

BUDGET

2020

ACTUAL

2020

BUDGET

2021IncomeDirect credit pledges $45,000 $46,568 $38,484 $45,968 $45,000Open Collection $4,000 $3,696 $3,000 $2,736 $2,000Pledges $38,000 $37,506 $36,392 $26,432 $25,000Fund raising/lunches $3,000 $694 $1,325 $600Second Sunday Cakes $1,000 $1,096 $1,080 $544 $600General Donations $500 $4,844 $4,800 $1,016 $4,000Bequests $5,000 $20,000 $10,000Morning tea $50 $62 $97 $100Building Fund Donations $1,500 $1,614 $6,257 $2,000Vicarage lease $20,000Hall etc hire $17,000 $16,192 $16,992 $8,048 $10,000Jobkeeper $6,376Weddings and funerals $4,440Government grant $10,000Memorial window etching $600 $1,236Interest received $1,650 $804 $378 $1,355 $1,200BFundMissionTotal Income $117,300 $134,312 $101,126 $124,594 $110,500

ExpensesAccounting/audit costs $800 $703 $852 $737 $875Advertising $500 $194 $1,020 $200Stewardship $200 $187 $204 $176 $200Diocesan Assessment $17,000 $12,764 $12,000 $11,116 $10,000Mission giving $3,000 $5,306 $3,000 $3,000Wages & Salaries ExpensesStipend $29,300 $29,553 $31,494 $24,719 $53,000Superannuation total $15,000 $15,013 $15,300 $11,471Long Service Leave Fund $1,600 $1,548 $1,560 $1,578Benefit expenses $29,000 $25,978 $25,977 $24,326Relief clergy $1,200 $1,378 $1,404 $1,028 $1,200Relief organist $1,200 $340 $1,200 $800InsuranceProperty Ins $7,500 $10,548 $10,020 $12,061 $12,000property valuatn levy $720Workcover $1,350 $609 $828 $311 $700Sickness & Accident ins $600 $572 $588 $399Stipend ins $1,000 $780 $780 $544Equipment/supplies $4,527Church supplies $650 $241 $768 $109 $250TMA $350 $236 $360 $236 $300misc $350 $620 $1,008 $410 $1,000Parish Centre amenities $500 $714 $720 $477 $1,000UtilitiesElectricity/gasChurch elec $1,500 $1,830 $2,004 $2,157 $2,400Church gas $3,500 $3,221 $3,600 $3,090 $3,600Water $2,500 $3,107 $3,120 $2,598 $2,800TelephoneOffice Landline $360 $331 $360 $343 $400Internet $960 $272 $960 $327 $300Repairs & MaintenanceCleaning $3,840 $3,954 $4,080 $2,400 $4,100Fire equipt $170 $408 $480 $515 $500Vicarage R&M $1,000 $271 $163 $1,000Parish Centre R&M $1,000 $1,373 $3,002 $3,000Grounds R&M $2,000 $2,095 $1,445 $2,000Locks and keys $180 $48 $60 $200Council rates/charges $1,600 $2,263 $2,400 $329 $1,320Educational $480 $20 $100Subs/registrns $500 $380Clergy conference regn $365 $648OfficePhotocopier lease $2,400 $2,376 $2,400 $2,376 $2,400

Printing charges $1,000 $789 $792 $173 $500

Stamps $100 $33 $36 $100

copyright music $250 $235 $240 $350

Stipend travel allowance $4,560Outreach $1,020Vehicle insurance $2,208Total Expenses $133,780 $131,487 $138,519 $113,223 $109,595Net Profit/(Loss) -$16,480 $2,825 -$37,393 $11,371 $905

st faith s, burwood annual parish meeting 29 november 2020

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