Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa New Zealand

Home » News » Bush Telegraph » Issue archive » June 2004 » News

Update

<typohead type=3>Short-term Finance Assistant appointed</typohead>

Andrew Jackson, who brings extensive financial management experience, has been appointed on a short-term contract to enable the Assembly Office to provide a high-functioning financial service.  The context for the appointment is a high level of dissatisfaction among bodies interacting with Financial Services.

<typohead type=3>Budget 2004/05</typohead>

The drafting of the 2004/2005 budget has presented major challenges in estimating likely income and in the effect of possible scenarios on employees.  The Administration and Finance Policy Group and the Service Team have been drafting scenarios for the forthcoming Council of Assembly meeting 18-20 June.  As reported elsewhere no decisions have been made, the process being at development stage.

<typohead type=3>Underlying issues</typohead>

Budget time consistently highlights questions about what functions should be performed nationally.  Council has raised these questions at Assembly many times – 1988 “In the Potter’s Hands”, 1996 proposals leading to the establishment of the National Services Fund and the Mission and Ministry Fund, 1998 Mission Project Funding and the trial of that system, 2000 Council report to Assembly on national functions.  None of these initiatives have lessened the annual challenge of marrying what the Church says it thinks needs doing with the funds that are available. Living at the edge of resourcing is the Church’s way of being.  However a balanced Assembly budget will inevitably require change to how the Assembly operates.

<typohead type=3>Pacific Islanders Synod contact</typohead>

Contact with the Synod needs to be made through the Clerk of the Synod, Rev Dr Tafatolu Filemoni, whose contact details are in the Presbyterian Yearbook and on the website.  If for some reason the Clerk is unavailable, and in exceptional circumstances, people may contact the Moderator or Treasurer.  The Synod is holding its annual conference 9-11 July, at which time it will elect a new Moderator.

<typohead type=3>Farewell to Richard Davis</typohead>

Richard Davis, Communications Advisor, has resigned to take up a position with the Voluntary Sector Office of the Ministry of Social Development.  Richard has worked in the Assembly Office since September 1996, first as Executive Officer for the then Public Questions Committee, through the change to the Churches Agency on Social Issues, and then more recently in the Communications Unit.  Richard has been an enormous help, has kept learning (he is undertaking theological education), and has contributed his extensive experience of the Church to many discussions.  Richard’s departure means the Communications team membership will have completely changed over the last four months.

E noho ra

Charities Bill/Review of Financial Reporting Act

As you are aware, the Government is seeking to introduce two pieces of legislation:

<typolist>

the Charities Bill

Review of the Financial Reporting Act

</typolist>

<typohead type=3>Charities Bill</typohead>

The Charities Bill has been introduced and referred to a Select Committee for further work. It is the culmination of the Government’s review of the charities sector that has been ongoing for some time. The Charities Bill establishes a Charities Commission and charges it with setting up a registration and reporting regime for charities.

A submission on the Charities Bill has been prepared by the Inter Church Working Party on Taxation (ICWPT), assisted by Ian Millard, QC who has long experience in drafting such papers.

There is definitely value in being informed about the proposals under the Bill as many of you will be involved in other charities as well. Further information is available on www.charities.govt.nz

<typohead type=3>Review of the Financial Reporting Act</typohead>

This is a discussion document initiated by the Ministry of Economic Development. If the proposals contained in this document become law the implications could be even more far reaching than those arising from the Charities Bill. The ICWPT has made a submission on this matter, asking that charities be excluded from the proposed changes.

The document suggests that all entities (profit seeking, government and not-for-profit) should be treated alike. This means that charities would be required to meet far more onerous financial reporting requirements than at present and large charities would be required to meet full international financial reporting standards. Such an exercise would place unsustainable burdens on our voluntary bookkeepers.

<typohead type=3>Do you need to do anything?</typohead>

No. The ICWPT has pulled together financial expertise and someone experienced in writing submissions on legislation.

<typohead type=3>Due dates</typohead>

Charities Act will be passed late 2004

Charities Commission will be established late 2004

Charities invited to register  second half 2005 to second half 2006

<typohead type=3>Updates</typohead>

If you would like to receive email updates on the progress of submissions register on www.charities.govt.nz

New Occasional Papers

Four more occasional papers to encourage conversations in the Church have been published and sent to all Committed Conversation groups and those who ordered them. Two more (Nos. 11 & 12) will complete the series when they are published in mid-June. Copies are available on request from the Assembly Office, P O Box 9049, Wellington.

The new papers are:

No. 7  "Two Convictions Debated"
An edited transcript of the interview on National Radio's Spiritual Outlook with Stuart Lange and Margaret Mayman.

No. 8 "Can Presbyterianism Cope?"
Vivian Coleman asks us to look at how we encourage and structure leadership in our local congregations, and how that might fit within a national church in a post-modern world.

No. 9 "We would rather not have another gay debate, but...."
John Roxborogh offers some notes for church and parish leaders to consider as they help people to grapple with their different perspectives.

No. 10 "A Matter of Perspective"
Clive Pearson asks if the present debate is a "big little issue" that brings out and attracts all our differences, and, if so, how should we treat each other in the midst of this debate.

No. 11. "Vision and Servant Leadership"
Ron Mils wonders what it might be take for us to become a church with a vision that energises and attracts.

No. 12 "Living with our differences - a reflection on Philppians 3"
Geoff King offers some thoughts on what still might unite us in spite of all that divides.

Broadsheet

From June 2004, the bi-monthly eight page social issues newsletter Broadsheet, published by the Churches Agency on Social Issues, will not be circulated through this mailing.

It will be available for downloading as a .pdf file from the CASI website www.casi.org.nz/broadsheet/

Parishes and ministers are welcome to have their own hard copy mailed by standard post, or a .pdf attachment emailed direct. (The usual file size is 100KB or less.)

Simply contact the CASI office by phoning 04 381 8295, emailing casi(at)casi.org.nz, faxing 04 801 6001 or writing to CASI at P O Box 9049, Wellington.

While subscriptions are free, donations to cover costs are always welcome.

<typohead type=3>The next issue (June 2004) includes:</typohead>

The Budget – what’s in it for poorer people?
Problem gambling – the issue that won’t go away
Taking on the local councils – reports from North Shore and Manawatu
Easter Sunday Trading – a small victory
Resources for Refugee Sunday (20 June)
Immigration – a new study series from CASI
Euthanasia – a dialogue and discussion paper from the Inter Church Bioethics Council

Publication date: 7 June