'Facing the Future' - after listening to what you said ...
Synod votes for fewer cuts

Southwark's Diocesan Synod on 9 March voted by an overwhelming majority to reduce its planned expenditure cuts to a little over £1 million and raise an extra £500,000 from the parishes in the next five years.

This decision follows wide consultations throughout the parishes and detailed work by the Board of Finance and the Bishop's Council. Following the meeting Bishop Tom said: "I am delighted that the parishes of the Diocese have felt able to try to find this extra money to fund our mission. It will not be an easy task but I am sure that it is one which is possible if we are all committed to seeing God's work grow and expand here in Southwark".

Following the publication of the report of the Medium Term Financial Outlook Group, six consultations had taken place around the Areas. The consultation document recommended that, over a five-year period, cuts of £1.5 million should be made from the Diocesan budget.

Each parish was asked whether all the cuts identified should be implemented in full. If they said 'no', they were asked to choose between three alternatives for annual increases above 5%. It was clear that there was particular opposition to cutting support for WelCare, OLM training or CRERC. Phasing out the Gift Aid Scheme was opposed as was reducing the number of Archdeacons, whose work was much appreciated.

Following the consultations - and representations from the parishes and groups - the message appears to be that parishes are willing to find the extra funds to reduce the cuts to £1,075,000 over the next five years. As a result the Board of Finance and Bishop's Council agreed a revised set of proposals which were put to Synod. It is hoped that the extra resources can be achieved by increasing parish contributions by around 6% per annum compared with the predicted 5% if all the cuts had been agreed.

Andrew Britton went on to stress that the success of the strategy will depend upon the generosity of individual giving to the churches and commended the work of Communications and Resources to any parish who felt in need of help with stewardship issues.

Debate

Brian Warnes, Chair of the Fairer Shares Committee and Vice-Chair of the Board of Finance spoke of the encouraging trends in individual giving.

In the debate, Sir Peter Harrop (Richmond & Barnes Deanery) wondered whether 5% over three years was just too much. Sarath Weerasinghe (Kingston Deanery) believed that the motion should not be passed until the Diocese had a clearer strategic direction, one in which dreams were dreamt and the focus of attention was on the harvest. Ray Skinner spoke of the proposal to maintain six archdeacons and suggested that they should be given a small parish responsibility too.

Kim Hitch moved an amendment which would have reinstated the £16,000 to be cut from the OLM budget. After a vigorous debate this amendment was lost.

Several other members gave their views before Andrew Britton drew the debate to a close and the motion was put - and passed with 94 for, 10 against and seven abstentions.

A full list of the reductions - and the rest of Synod - can be found on here.