North Canterbury, NZ
From the Bishop’s Warden…
Bishop Victoria has requested that the Kaiapoi Parish consider whether it is in a position to commence the recruiting process for a permanent vicar appointment at 80% stipend (including allowances and travel) rather than our previous indication of 70%.The finance committee has reconsidered the 2010 and 2011 budgets in the light of the request.
The indication from the 2009 Stewardship programme was that pledged giving would be $44,000 for 2010. This equates to approximately 78% if the full travel budget of $3,000 is included. However, the travel budget was based on the requirements of a priest-in-charge rather than a resident vicar. So we are close. Further analysis of the operating expenditure required to meet the other fixed costs (Wages, other ministry & outreach costs, administration, property expenses, repairs & maintenance) showed them to be fixed at current levels, but subject to inflation nonetheless.
Likewise an examination of the full income stream reveals two major features. Firstly, half of the budgeted proceeds from the plant sale ($7,500) are required for operating expenses for 2010 and the remaining ($12,500) would be required for 2011. It could be interpreted that we are investing the proceeds from the 2010 plant sale in the pastoral well-being of the parish. Secondly, based on the assumption that the 2010 stewardship will successfully raise at least a further $4,000, sufficient income would exist to run a balanced budget for 2011.
Confronting the Bishop’s request takes us outside our comfort zone. Our planned pathway for 2010 was to consolidate the position that the stewardship programme has delivered and to address some of our outstanding property maintenance issues. There are increasing demands being placed on part-time employees and parishioners appointed to hold office because of the nature of an interregnum. This request tests where our priorities lie – are they in “spiritual well-being’ or ‘bricks and mortar’?
On balance, vestry resolved to ask the Bishop to commence the recruitment process on the basis of an 80% stipend.
Ray Maw