• 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.

8 responses to “Guides and God”

  1. Tim Avatar

    I like the change from `country’ to `community’ most of all.

  2. PamB Avatar
    PamB

    I still remember my Brownie and Guide promises, but think that the Chorister’s prayer takes a lot of beating.
    Bless O Lord us thy servants who minister in thy temple. Grant that what we sing with our lips we may believe in our hearts, and what we believe in our hearts we may show forth in our lives, through etc, etc.
    Don’t know why this isn’t an essential part of the Voice for life scheme, same as the Brownie/guide equivalents are to their development process.

  3. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    The only one of the above I could take (Pam’s chorister’s apart) without serious finger-crossing is the Rainbow pledge. I MIGHT want to serve my community, but it would usually be by challenging it, and that is, based on childhood experiences and why I never got to play Mary in the nativity play (despite being in every other way well qualified) that is NOT what people want from children, generally. Or adults, by and large.

  4. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    > To be true to myself and develop my beliefs,

    This is meaningless. Beliefs, in themselves, are neither good nor bad. Nor are all beliefs equally valid or moral – people can have horrible beliefs.

  5. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Indeed Robin -and similarly, on occasion setting about me with a mace would have been being true to myself, and not a good thing to do, but THINKING about what one believes, and being kind and helpful … yes, let’s stick with the Rainbows.

  6. Robin Avatar
    Robin

    Agreed. I like the Rainbow pledge.

  7. Rosemary Hannah Avatar
    Rosemary Hannah

    Yup – promise less, deliver more. Way to go.

  8. Erp Avatar
    Erp

    Don’t forget these also go with the Brownie and Guide Laws (the Rainbows don’t have a separate law)

    Brownie law
    * A Brownie Guide thinks of others before herself and does a good turn every day.

    Guide law
    A Guide is honest, reliable and can be trusted.
    A Guide is helpful and uses her time and abilities wisely.
    A Guide faces challenges and learns from her experiences.
    A Guide is a good friend and a sister to all Guides.
    A Guide is polite and considerate.
    A Guide respects all living things and takes care of the world around her.

    What I like is the organization consulted with the Guides and even the Brownies when considering changes to the promises and not just those over 18.

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