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Synod Council met on Tuesday December 10 to consider the Budget for 2025. In the absence of the bishop, Dean Doug Michael chaired the meeting.

Devotions were offered by David Selzer focusing on an Advent reading from Isaiah 40.1-11, using a hymn attributed to Dietrich Bonhoeffer ‘By Gracious Powers so Wonderfully Sheltered’ and one of the Collects for the Advent-Christmas season. David also spoke about International Human Rights Day, which is December 10.

The dean mentioned that the bishop is still recovering from his surgery. The minutes of the November 26 Synod Council meeting (amended) were approved. There was no business arising from the Minutes other than a continuation of 2025 Budget themes and concerns.

Synod Council then moved to the 2025 Budget. Prior to the actual budget there were previous actions (November 26) for consideration and three motions for consideration:

Key Factors for 2025

  • Approved 2025 Stipend & Salary Grid and Clergy Housing Allowance
  • Clergy Stipend increase of 2.0%
  • Clergy Housing Allowance increase of  4.4%
  • Salaried increase of 3.0%
  • Mileage rates as approved: $.70 for first 5k km and $.64 thereafter
  • Diocesan Centre Lease increase per lease agreement (includes utilities)
  • General Synod costs at 10% of CMM Income

Motions:

Motion 1: 

Be It Resolved that Synod Council approves the implementation of the following new Fees effective Jan 1 2025:

Payroll 1%
Pre-Authorized Giving 1%
DOORS Group Held Funds $500 per fund (initial)

Rather than increasing the CMM and also to fulfill the desires of Synod Council of balancing the budget, the establishment of user fees will be implemented int the 2025 budget.

Motion 2:

Be It Resolved that Synod Council directs that the Delegate Fee for Synod (Lay and Clerical) be set to recover the full costs of Synod. The full costs of the every other year Synod will be divided into monthly fees for each parish (clergy and delegates) so that the costs of Synod will be fully recovered.

Motion 3:

That Synod Council allocates up to $30,000 income from the Ministry Allocation Fund to be used to support New Ministry Development Grants in 2025.

Motion 4:

Be it resolved that Synod Council approves the proposed 2025 Budget as presented.

CFO Alex Pierson presented the 2025 Budget and explained the reason behind the financial   decisions.  Synod Council discussed the proposed budget and various other strategies.

After conversation and discussion on the first three motions and approving them, the fourth motion was approved, the 2025 budget. There was a $50,000 shortfall in the budget, which the Synod Office staff will work through to balance the budget.

Alex presented a fifth motion:

Motion 5:

Be it resolved that Synod Council directs that all Annual Vestry Meetings include presentation of the agreed Financial Information (Operating Income, Expenses, Deficit/Surplus and source/use of Deficit/Surplus). This is a way of saying to Vestry meetings that a thorough financial picture of the congregation is presented, as a means of transparency.

This motion also passed.

After further discussion, Synod Council closed the meeting saying the Grace together. The next Synod Council meeting is Tuesday January 28, at a place to be determined (St Mark’s will no longer be available). Canon Michael Read will lead the devotion.