Diocesan Council Report

October 16-17, 2009

1. New Staff- Susan Naylor.

a. Started Sept 6

b. Diocesan Youth Ministry Coordinator

c. Mandate for 1^st 6 months: get to know Diocese

d. Job description on the web site

2. Bishop’s Action Appeal

a. If your congregation did not receive a package including posters, literature, etc. contact Synod Office

3. Reminder that Parish Mission and Vision Statements are to be developed by the end of this year for all Parishes.

4. Budget Sub-Committee has fabricated a survey to circulate to everyone. It will be available on-line as well as from Regional Deans. Please note the last page which graphs the allotment rate.

5. Chebucto Region Presentation: each region is expected to make a presentation to Council over the course of the year. (No word, a far as I know as to when we will be expected to make the presentation.) The presentation outlines issues/strengths of the region. Details some of what has been happening. Chebucto’s presentation had slides of an event they held involving all the churches and all ages. The Chair of their Regional Council spoke while slides ran were to run in the background.

6. Correspondence was received in support of the Hospital Chaplain position that was cut due to budget constraints.

Letter received from Archbishop Fred thanking us for our Diocese’s financial support of General Synod. However it was requested that we reconsider the cut back that we had implemented in our budget. Also offered the services of a Financial Advisor who works for General Synod. He will be invited to speak with Council.

7. Property redevelopment: Utilities and Review Board reviewed the HRM decision to not allow the redevelopment of the Diocesan property. They support the Diocese’s position . HRM has 30 days to appeal.

8. Emergency Preparedness: (Pandemic)

-work is progressing. Working on final, edited version. Will be reviewed by the Chancellor

-Relying on Diocese of Toronto resources

-There will be a Parish Checklist .

-Each Parish is to identify a Parish Pandemic Coordinator (-comment from Bishop Sue: “Hopefully not the Rector!”)

- Bishop Sue stresses that Parishes have to take ownership and responsibility.

9. Working on a Balanced Budget.
- allotment rate set at 19.25%. It had been hoped to set it at 19%, however this was not possible.

Grants to Parishes will change to Loans to Parishes, loans will be interest free with no payment in the principle for 5 years and that at the Synod of 2011 it will be proposed that these loans become grants.

If Parishes are behind in their allotment, they are to let the Diocese know when they expect to be able to pay.

10. Provincial Synod: Reverend Siteman spoke about his experiences at Provincial Synod in Newfoundland

11. Committee on Ministry:

a. We are asked to highlight Ministry Sunday, 2010 (Jan 24)

b. There will be follow-up to “Small Church-Great Church)

c. Due to the growth in the number of seniors, they are looking at developing a program to engage Seniors.

d. Stewardship Workshops have started in PEI

e. Synod 2011- some sort of sharing forum to highlight parishes that are doing things “really right”

f. Sponsorship of Refugees- Sharon McLeod is the contact

g. PWRDF- Nov 21^st, 9:30 am- all day workshop in Halifax

h. Justice Camp: Very successful. Forwarded $15,000 to Niagra as seed money to organize the next camp.

12. A & F: Investments: Consolidated Trust Funds disbursement rate will be 4% for the next year.

13. Sexual Misconduct Policy: there are consequences for misconduct.

David Harrison