Uniting Resources

Uniting ResourcesExecutive Director John KitchenerApril 2013

Uniting Resources 2013 2

The Synod Budget

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Synod Funds Management Committee (SFMC)

• Section 9.9 of the By-Laws

• Establishes the Synod Fund

• Determines the purpose/components of the Synod Fund

• Outlines SFMC’s responsibilities

(a) presenting to the Synod Standing Committee a

comprehensive Synod Budget in line with Synod priorities.

Uniting Resources 2013

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The 2012 - 201313 Financial Year

The Synod Fund $12,325,000

UFS $9,500,000

Living is Giving $1,800,000

Sales Proceeds Levy $825,000

Other $200,000

Total Distributions $12,697,000

A deficit of: ($372,000)


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The Synod Fund trend since 2008


16%

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The Synod Fund is not the Synod Budget

• The Synod Fund represents only part of the Synod’s revenue

• The Synod Fund is allocated by formula and negotiation

• Budgeting occurs independently by beneficiaries

• No single body has been responsible for a Synod budget


A few changes for 2013 - 2014

• Include all income/costs of Secretariat, UME, UR and functions

• “Zero Base Budget” with explicit assumptions for each cost

• All cost areas are subject to review without exception

• There are no “entitlements” or guarantees of funding

• Cash management centralised from July 1, 2013

• A surplus for 2014 assuming a sustainable level of income


Given limited resources, choices must be made

• Recognise the past practices are unsustainable

• Be clear on priorities

• Re-assess Synod costs

• Challenge the “sacred cows”

• Evaluate our role as stewards of the Church’s assets


Preparing the FY14 Budget

An iterative process starting from “Business as Usual”

• Templates and guidelines provided

• Minimise inter entity charges

• Budget on a Business as Usual basis

• Challenge and review each line item, document assumptions

• Review of cash accounts – understand then consolidate

•Review and Oversight - SFMC, UME, UTC, UR, ED’s


Reducing the Deficit

• Review of all costs areas by finance teams and ED’s

• In depth organisational review

• Consideration of Regulations and By-Laws

• Review of past processes

• Identifying adjustments

• Review and approval by SFMC



The FY14 Synod Budget: $3.2M deficit

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Synod Income: $16.5M

Top 10 Expenses

Synod Expenses: $19.7M

2013/14 Budget

D

1,800,000

Redn % 4,800,000

59% 200,000

6,800,000

96,794

105,6816,597,525

Assembly 2012/13

Synod Operating

Fund 2012/13

Synod Mission

Resource Fund 2012/13

Presbytery Resource

Grants 2012/13

Total Budget 2012/13

12 55 19 14 100

12 64 10 14 100

791,703 4,222,416 659,753 923,654 6,597,525

791,703 4,222,416 659,753 923,654 6,597,525

PRG is budgeted at $930,000 for FY14

Presbytery Original Less 10% Old % ProposedCanberra $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Macquarie Darling $150,080 $135,072 $72,769 $78,198Far North Coast $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Georges River $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Illawarra $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Ku-ring-gai $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Mid North Coast $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567New England North West $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Riverina $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Sydney North $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Hunter $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567Parramatta Nepean $156,958 $141,262 $76,104 $81,782Sydney $156,958 $141,262 $76,104 $81,782Korean Commission $120,080 $108,072 $58,223 $62,567UAICC $120,080

Total $1,904,962 $1,606,393 $865,430 $930,000

Addback UAICC $58,223

Total $1,904,962 $1,606,393 $923,654 $930,000


Costs

• Entities are affected

• People are impacted

• Jobs will go

• Reviews will create uncertainty

• These reviews might result in further costs


Transitional Budget

• A deficit is proposed – this is not sustainable

• Income expected to increase in FY15, which provides options

• Projects/reviews are required and they take time

• Unpopular measures are necessary

• Supports the Church to determine its future directions

• A long way to go


Debt to be repaid

• The Property Trust to borrow $100M to recapitalise UFS

• The Synod’s overall debt facilities reduce from $225M to $150M

• Average borrowings over last three years were $171M

• Reduces risks, supports distributions, ensures compliance


Marketing and Communications Review


Deliver inspiring messages to build faith and a vibrant community

A unified story about what we bring to our members and society

A way of connecting with people who need, and want to know, who we are and what we’re doing

A clear direction for the way the church tells our story


Faith or Mission


Calendar

1 The timing, frequency and key content of the Communications Calendar - to help ensure maximum impact for effort and resources.

• Review timing, frequency and content plan of all Synod publications

• Develop synergies including across UFS and UnitingCare publications

• Establish events calendar for congregations and Presbyteries

• Provide support e.g. Webinars, Toolkits

• Leverage communications channels in other Synods and Assembly


Media

2• Review media and issues and risks management

• Develop synergies including across UFS, UnitingCare and Assembly

• Develop issues management plan for Business Continuity, Disaster Recovery and for reputation management

• Leverage communications channels in other Synods and Assembly

Media and Issues Management


Internet

3• Redesign and rebuild internet as a source for news, information and a

community platform for members and future members of the Church

• Rationalise the content structure and information of the site for cost, effort and impact improvements

• Simplify the technical structure of the many sites of the Synod of NSW and the ACT

Build a consistent, up-to-date, well-organised and active online presence and community


Fundraising

4• Appeal strategy and implementation including a review of Living is Giving

• Bequest strategy and implementation

Fundraising


Intranet

5 Build a consistent, up-to-date, well-organised and active online presence and community

• Relaunch as service portal to congregations and Presbyteries – a source for news and toolkits

• Update and refresh manuals and procedures so they are easy to access, understand and use

• Create tools and templates once so they can be used many times


Contact database

6• Create Church contact database for a single view of Synod members

and entities

Build a consistent, up-to-date, well-organised and active online presence and community


What’s Happening

• Four Synod workshops on the Website

• Collaborate with UnitingCare on Communications

• Marketing & Communications plan to SSC in August 2013

• Insights continues … May edition will cover Synod 2013


Property Project


A Theology of Property for a pilgrim people“We are entering a new era of challenge across the church. Attendances are declining

and buildings are deteriorating. Properties are often an emotional and financial burden

rather than resources for mission. Building maintenance is now the third largest budget

item for local congregations across the church. Decisions about property are often

restricted by what we can afford. And we must comply with complex state and federal

laws.” Synod of Victoria and Tasmania, 2008


The Property Project

Key Themes

•The Theology of Property

•Common Wealth

•Property and Stewardship

•Resourcing


Focus Areas

•Strategic Principles

•Mission Proceeds Policy

•Development Opportunities

•Property Committees

Next workshop … June 2013

The Australian Charities and Not for profit Commission (ACNC)


The decision making body regarding charities

• All ABN organisations with a charity or benevolent institution status

must register with the ACNC

• No registration > No charitable status > No tax benefit

• A basic religious charity is exempt from reporting

• Reported information is in the public domain

• There is a high level of uncertainty at present


Men’s Sheds


Men’s Sheds - Important, but high risk activity

• The structure used to establish and operate a Men’s Shed is important

• A supervised functioning activity of the Church

• Separately constituted committee

• Incorporated association, not an activity/entity of the Church

• Participants or Volunteers?

• PCBU

• Insurance


Questions

Uniting Resources

Documents

Transcript of Uniting Resources