Reform of parochial assessment welcomed; Cross community project funding withdrawn; Link with Sudan diocese renewed
Reform of parochial assessment welcomed
A reform of the Diocesan General Fund Assessment was agreed by Connor Synod on October 4.
Speaking to the motion to enable this, Diocesan Accountant David Cromie advised all parishes to go home and ‘give your honorary treasurer a hug.’ He added: “These guys do a massive amount of work.” David outlined proposed changes to assessments. He and his department were congratulated on their work by Victor Cole, treasurer at Cloughfern parish who said many people did not seem to realise parishes needed money as well as prayer. “I am delighted with this new accounting procedure and I think it will be a way forward,” he said. The changes were also backed by Alan Hibbert, treasurer in Kilroot, who said this was a ‘much better way’ of doing assessments.
The proposer of the motion, Ken Gibson said he was pleased with the discussion that had taken place. “It is a topic that we are rarely comfortable debating,” he said. Outlining the benefits of the new assessment procedure, Ken said that parishes who are paying too much would find the situation sorted out more quickly; parishes who are not paying enough would be brought back into line rather than being unaware and building up debt; and the process would keep parishes and the accounts department in touch and so pre–empt problems.
Cross community project funding withdrawn
The Diocesan Council report also revealed that an offer of grant assistance in the region of £900,000 from the International Fund for Ireland to the Open Hands project proposed for the now closed St Luke’s Parish Church between the Falls and the Shankill in Belfast had to be withdrawn.
The report states that the project had not met all conditions that had been set by the deadline of June this year.
Agnes Young, a synod member for 40 years, and a member of St Stephen and St Luke, told Synod that this was ‘the hardest speech’ she ever had to make. Addressing some of the issues that had resulted in the withdrawal of the grant offer, Agnes said the committee had not had the experience to put everything in place to meet the funding body’s deadline. “It was a wonderful project bringing people from the Falls and the Shankill together but it has not taken off,” Agnes said. She revealed that an appeal to the IFI had also been unsuccessful, but said the parish of St Stephen and St Luke still had a vision for the Open Hands project. Bishop Alan Abernethy said he promised the project his continued support.
Partnership with Yei renewed for five more years
Connor’s partnership with Yei Diocese in South Sudan, which commenced in 2007, has been renewed for a further five year period from 2013.
Canon Sam Wright, Lisburn Cathedral, proposed a Notice of Motion to this effect at Diocesan Synod on October 4. He recalled his journey to the village of Mongo when he and a team from Connor went to Yei Diocese to officially open Mongo Primary School, funded by Connor Diocese. “Although that road was only 15 miles, there were so many ruts and divots it took two hours to get there,” he said.
“When we arrived an impressive crowd of children and people from the community was there to greet us and the opening of that school lasted all day.
“It has made a real difference to people in South Sudan. We are seeing lives transformed and made new by the work that is being done there.”
He said the group had also led training for pastors and church leaders during that visit to Yei in July 2010. “They were so hungry to learn,” he said.
Referring to South Sudan’s independence and a recent peace agreement, Sam urged Synod to support the motion for continuing partnership with Yei. “This is something that should really be touching all our hearts,” he said. The motion was passed unanimously.
The Bishop of Connor, the Rt Rev Alan Abernethy, said: “It is lovely that I can take that good news to Yei when I visit in January.” He extended his thanks to Archdeacon Stephen Forde, chair of Connor Council for Mission, for his work on the partnership between Yei and Connor.