Synod Life

Terms of Reference:

1.    Enhancing the life of Synod as part of the PCANZ.

2.    Being responsible for the business of Synod, including the employment of staff *.

3.    Being responsible for liaison with the Otago Foundation Trust Board, as required by the Joint agreement with the Board *.

4.    Acting as a Commission of Synod as required by the Annual Meeting and/or the regulations of Synod.

* Staff employment and OFTB liaison are the responsibility of the Executive.

Synod Life Committee Report to the 2011 Annual Meeting

Since the 2010 Annual Meeting, the committee has met three times in Dunedin. The Executive has met four times, including three meetings with the Otago Foundation Trust Board. In addition, we corresponded by email when the need arose. It has been another busy mission focused forward looking year that we believe will bear good fruit for the church in the Synod area, now and in the future.

Annual Financial Statements
The financial statements and notes are presented for approval. They are in the process of being audited and the audit may be completed by the AGM.

In the Statement of Financial Performance Cash expenses in total increased this year due to a number of areas of expenditure increasing. Significant areas of increase included the Annual Meeting costs to fund the wonderful food and entertainment and the Salaries and expenses mainly due to the appointment of the new Kid’s Friendly Advisor. Committee costs decreased due mainly to legal advice being sought mainly for the new Community Building proposed for the Alexandra Church site not being repeated this year. Ministry Resource allocated more of its $20,000 this year so its costs were up. The Executive had some legal fees for advice on a variety of matters this year.

In the Statement of Financial Position the Faith Festival did not happen this year and Samstock was underwritten to $5,000 from the Jubilee Fund.

Auditors for the 2011 Financial Year
We recommend that the Synod again appoint the same auditors as the Otago Foundation Trust Board, Polson Higgs and Co, Dunedin.

Otago Foundation Trust Board Financial Statements
The Board kindly provides financial statements for Synod’s information, and we annually send greetings and an appreciation for the work the Trustees and staff do to earn the net income that is available to the Synod to spend. They continue to be excellent stewards of the resources entrusted to them especially in these more difficult economic times. This year funds available to the Synod increased. This means the Allocating Committees have had slightly more funds available to allocate.
Joint Meetings of the Executive and the Otago Foundation Trust Board
For a number of years the Executive and Trust Board have met several times a year to inform each other of what they have been doing, what plans they have and discuss any matters of mutual interest. They are very pleasant, amicable meetings and we conclude by having lunch together. Relationships between the two groups are excellent which makes the work of both groups and their interactions run smoothly.

Economic Outlook for 2011 Calendar Year
The Trust Board have advised us that income available for distribution may be down due to interest rates and other investments providing lower returns this year as well as the continuing economic downturn the world is experiencing at present. We again ask applicants to be mindful of this as they submit applications. Further reductions in allocations compared with this year may be inevitable.

Moderator Designate
From the initial round of Session/Parish Council voting for Moderator Designate there were four nominees recommended from six Sessions or Parish Councils. When the four nominees were approached only one was willing to accept nomination. Graham Hill accepted nomination so there was no need for a final round of Session/Parish Council voting. The committee is recommending Graham’s nomination. A brief outline of his church work is below.
Prof Graham Hill ONZM ChM MD
Current Parish: Highgate Presbyterian Church
Missionary Service: Appointed by Overseas Missions Committee May 1968 as Medical Missionary and Lecturer in Surgery. Served Hong Kong and Indonesia 1969-71
Synod responsibilities:
Ecclesiastical Fund Committee Convener since 2007
Synod Executive since 2007
Synod Life Committee since 2005

2012 Annual Meeting
The recommended date for the 2012 meeting is Saturday 21st April, which does not clash with Easter or Anzac Day … or duck shooting opening day!

Retirements from Synod Committees
No conveners retire this year. We thank those retiring committee members who have concluded their appointment terms or have resigned during their terms, for their valuable service to the Synod. We appreciate the time and effort that goes into serving the Synod and are very grateful for their contributions.
Ecclesiastical Fund: Graeme Steel.
Ministry Resource: Russell Gillions, Bruce Hamill and Peter Cheyne.
Mission and Evangelism: Keith Cameron.
Property Commission: Bob Avis, Bill Christie and Neil Livingstone.

College Fund Urgent Application
During the year the Executive received an urgent application from the Knox College Council for up to $65,000 from the College Fund for the renovation of 7 Sylvan Street. The application was approved but needs ratification by the Annual Meeting. Synod regulations give the Executive power to make these decisions in cases of urgency when a meeting of the Ecclesiastical Fund is not due to be held.

Insurance Valuation Fees
At the 2009 AGM it was approved ‘That Synod engages Macpherson Valuation Ltd of Dunedin to provide replacement insurance valuations for all parish and campsite buildings once every three years with the fees being paid in full from the Ecclesiastical Fund therefore being free of charge to parishes and campsites.’ With the Christchurch earthquakes and other events the Insurers have changed the rules and they now require a more robust valuation process and are asking for bi-annual updates. Sometimes they will be ‘desktop’ updates while other times a site visit will be required. The PCANZ have asked us whether we are going to continue to pay the insurance valuation fees for the Synod area as part of their insurance renewal process. They have now engaged Val Group which Macpherson Valuation are part of to do these insurance valuation updates so we do not now need to make separate arrangements. We do not believe we have a clear mandate to do this under the existing motion so we are recommending the motion below to seek your approval to the revised proposal.

St. James Presbyterian Church and Clark Sunday School Hall Palmerston Buildings
These historic buildings have recently gained a category 1 classification status with the New Zealand Historic Places Trust. Synod needs to approve that these buildings be added to Appendix 1 of the Heritage Fund regulations in order for them to be eligible to receive funding from the Heritage Fund.

Synod Website
The website is running very well. Much information can be found on it. Contact Bruce Fraser if you have any problems or want to put something on it. The address is: www.synod.org.nz

Parish Annual Financial Report Auditing/Reviewing
We decided to invite Presbytery to circulate the Parish Treasurer’s with a letter and response form. The idea was to ask parish treasurers to invite their auditor or reviewer to consider being on a list of people able to be approached by other parishes that need a new auditor or reviewer. So far only one person responded to the Presbytery Clerk.

Campsite Support Group
The group has not met this year because the Synod Life Committee has a review process in place. Campsites are being visited as time permits.

Synod Mission Advisor
The Executive receives regular reports from Bruce about the work he is carrying out and hears many very good reports from individuals and parishes about how helpful his work has been. Bruce is appointed to work with parishes, so please take the opportunity to make use of his expertise.

Pastoral Mediation
In the light of the Southern Presbytery covering the same area as Synod the question of which body should do this is being reviewed.

Synod Regional Youth Co-ordinator
Stephanie Redhead continues to be employed on a part time basis to develop youth work in the Synod region. She is available to help parishes with youth work so please contact her if you need any advice about youth work. A new policy she is adopting this year is approaching people to see if she can help so you might get a friendly phone call!

Synod Kids Friendly Advisor
Cheryl Harray has had a very good year working with parishes and other groups. She is very keen to help with any children’s work. Please contact her if you need her services.

National Mission Enabler
The Council of Assembly have advised the church that this position is not going to continue. John Daniel has valuable material that he has yet to write up and complete that could be of practical use to the church especially in our area. The committee is exploring possibilities as to how this might be achieved. This is reflected in the Applications for Grants from the Executive.

Samstock Music Festival
This Christian music festival needed a parent organisation as its previous ‘parent organisation’ was no longer available to fulfil that role. The Executive agreed to be the parent organisation for the next three years with a review to take place after the third year’s festival. It also agreed that the Synod Regional Youth Co-ordinator be our liaison with the Samstock organisers and that we would underwrite the Festival up to $5,000p.a. from the Jubilee Fund as a sign of support and for the security of the festival. From all accounts the festival was a great success. This year’s festival has produced a financial deficit of approximately $1,000 which the Executive have agreed to fund but out of year two’s $5,000 underwriting.

Resource Group Visits by Moderator & other Synod People
During the last year, the Moderator and other Synod people visited several of the Resource Groups. Responses received indicate these visits have been appreciated. We want to provide some tangible support for Resource Groups and also inform them about what Synod is doing. These visits will continue this year.

Synod Nominating Committee
We have set out as an appendix to this report our suggested Process for Obtaining Future Nominations for Synod Moderator Designate and new Synod Committee Members. We are publishing the proposal this year for comment and to give people time to think about it. If you have any comments please contact the Executive Officer. It is our intention to bring the proposal to next year’s AGM for approval.

Synod Representation on national church bodies
Our representatives as associate members on the Council of Assembly, and the Council’s two subcommittees, continue to provide useful input and feedback. The representatives are: Lyn Murray (Council of Assembly), the Rev Alister Smales (Leadership Sub committee) and Fergus Sime (Resource Subcommittee).

Policy on Retaining Manses
This committee has not met recently but will have another meeting soon after the AGM.

Building up the Capital of Synod Funds
Due to the current economic climate it was decided not to proceed with this at present. However, we will be publishing information shortly about how you can leave a bequest to the Synod. Further information can be obtained from the Executive Officer.

Role of Synod and the Southern Presbytery
The Synod Executive meet with the Council of the Southern Presbytery on one occasion to begin the process of clarifying the two groups respective roles and responsibilities. Further meetings will be taking place.

Thanks to Committee Members
I would like to thank all members of the Executive and Synod Life Committees for their contributions to the work of the committees this year. There are plenty of challenges and mission opportunities ahead of us as we look to the future development of the Presbyterian Church in the Synod area. Please continue to pray for the work of all Synod Committees, as we need God’s guidance for the work ahead.

In conclusion, I would like to especially thank Fergus Sime for the willing way he has does his job, including the preparation of this report. I reiterate the comments I made last year in saying that Fergus' enthusiasm for the work of the Synod is contagious and we are fortunate to have someone with his zeal and commitment to be our Parishes and the “Community at large's” first point of contact with the Synod.

Lyn Murray
Convener