What is in Kelvin's Head?

  • Annual Accounts

    The annual accounts are being considered by Synod Members. David Palmer proposes the accounts. There will be a lot more later on Pensions.

    The St Serf’s trust is to be wound up and its finances dispersed to several charities which help older people.

    Finances – David Palmer notes that income has been slightly higher than expected. Expenditure is £117K below budget. There is a surplus that is higher than expected – over £200K.

    Expenditure by boards was underspent due to grants not being spent and boards reigning in their expenditure.

    Lower than expected take up of ministry funds and some surplus because some curacies have ended sooner than expected.

    Accounts are reasonably healthy but still needs careful management. Standing Committee will be focusing on Whole Church Mission and Ministry Policy.

    Budgets – Boards and Committees have considered their budgets and made submissions to Standing Committee. Boards have been asked to critically review budget proposals. Legacies are capitalized and not used to fund current operating funds. General Synod is heavily dependent on investment income. Falls in stock market have been significant. £200 K a year lost. Note also the increase in pension contributions needed.

    Small surplus budgeted for in coming year.

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3 responses to “Brexit – Five First Quick Thoughts”

  1. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Almost everybody I meet on a regular basis, except my family and one educated friend, were voting out. and that in Scotland. I am shattered but unsurprised. My partner reports that, in her office, those with a degree and under 35 all intended to vote remain, and those without and over 35 to leave.

    Reply
  2. Ruth Gillett Avatar
    Ruth Gillett

    Some people I know didn’t vote at all because they were annoyed that their ‘first ever in their fairly long lives’ voting experience (Independence) didn’t go the correct way. Strangely two friends who spend half the year living in Europe (and benefit from the reciprocal healthcare arrangements) voted leave and I’m bewildered by a dear friend of 60 years who unexpectedly climbed angrily aboard the anti immigration juggernaut. I’d dared to hope (and ignore the signs online) because everyone else I knew seemed to be voting remain…

    Reply
  3. Guy Whitehouse Avatar
    Guy Whitehouse

    I fear ultimately that Brexit won in part because the EU became a rather soulless bureaucracy to which people could not emotionally attach. Financial benefit does not always secure attachment on a large-scale and if enough people start to perceive themselves to suffer and not participate in those benefits then the inevitable happens.

    I fear the UK is going the same way but for different reasons. Since the 80s there has been a tendency amongst those seeking power to focus on groups and not the country as a whole; remember election night and the swingometer and the presenter saying things like “such and such an area has gone red but in order to win the Conservatives just need to win over Essex man and Worcester woman….”? Of course Labour did something similar in 1997 and in later elections.

    So any uniting sentiments have been undermined which means that the problem is no longer just with politicians but with the electorates also.

    I liked what Kelvin said in his referendum sermon, and more than ever the churches need to discover their ministry of reconciliation and think about what it means to try to offer everyone a spiritual home. It would be ironic if the church became the main place that differences could be dropped. but I have to confess I’m rather gloomy about even that looking at the way other controversial issues within the church have been dealt with.

    Reply

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