Communication # 7 From the Strategic Plan Implementation Group

The Strategic Plan Implementation Group met on May 24, 2012 to continue its work. The SPIG received a report from the Director for Mission and Mnistry about his work and spent the morning reviewing matters in that report. A draft of a Diocesan Position Paper responding to principles regarding the organization of parishes expressed in the 'Who is My Neighbour' Report was reviewed and sent on to the Archdeacons and Executive Stwff for their acceptance or amendment. Once the paper is adopted it will provide guidelines for the Archdeacons working with parishes in need of reorganization. An assessment of the first year's implementation of the Strategic Plan, and a outline for the second year's work were reviewed and accepted. Both the assessment and the future plans are based directly on the original outline of goals and objectives found in the Strategic Plan. These documents will be presented to the Diocesan Council at its June meeting. Following lunch the SPIG presentation to Synod was reviewed and then a report was received from a sub-group working on the competencies and attributes needed by clergy. The report was adopted and sent on to the Bishop and Executive Staff for their deliberation. The Group will next meet in September.

Waterloo Lay Leaders Day

Approximately 60 lay leaders gathered in Waterloo yesterday for a day of reflection on what it means to be a lay leader in church today and to discuss strategic planning in the parish. I thought it a great day and invite those who participated to leave their comments on this blog. Click the comment button below. There were so many conversations about the need to use social media that I will be very interested to see how many use this vehicle to converse. Your comment will not show up immediately but will after a time delay.

Blessings.

Richard

Draft Clergy Day Schedule (April 26, 2012)

9:30.    Coffee

10:00.   Worship

10:15.   Bible Study on Christian Heritage of Stewardship
              (Rev. Canon Bill Cliff)

10:45.   RENEW - Our Diocesan Campaign 2012-2017 - Guiding
               Principles and Work to Date
                Q & A

11:15.   Break out groups.

11:45.   Amanda Gellman - The Joy of Fundraising

12:00.   Lunch

12:45.    Strategic Planning in a Parish (The Ven. Richard Salt)

1:15.      Break Out Goups.

1:45.      Developing Your Case for Support
               What is a Parish Fund Development Plan?
                (Amanda Gellman)

2:15.        Break Out Groups. 

2:45.       A word from our Bishops.

3:00.       Depart for home

London's Lay Leadship Day

Approximately 180 lay leaders gathered in London yesterday for a day of reflection on what it means to be a lay leader in church today and to discuss strategic planning in the parish. I thought it a great day and invite those who participated to leave their comments on this blog. Click the comment button below. Your comment will not show up immediately but will after a time delay.

Blessings.

Richard

Communication #6 from the Strategic Plan Implementation Group

The Strategic Plan Implementation Group met for it's March meeting on Thursday March 22, 2012.  The group heard a report from the Director for Mission and Ministry – The Venerable Richard Salt.  Highlights of that report included:

·         A message from the Diocesan Executive Staff stating that it had received the two documents prepared by the SPIG regarding Human Resources and that the Executive Staff would study the documents and formulate, over the next period of time, a reply and next steps.

·         The Rev. Canon Rich Jones has been appointed a member of the SPIG with the intent that he be a liaison between the group and the Diocesan Coaches.

·         The registration for the Lay Leadership Day in London has reached its maximum capacity of 180 persons.  Those who were unable to be registered have been encouraged to attend the day in Waterloo in April.

·         Work continues with a number of parishes or groups of parishes around the Diocese.

The Group heard a presentation about the RENEW campaign from Bishop Terry.  Archdeacon Richard reported that 37 parishes have received a visit from a bishop to date. Everyone is pleased with the progress of the quiet phase and with the momentum that is developing.  It is exciting to see how RENEW is dovetailing into the rest of the Strategic Plan’s implementation as it is providing both incentive for congregations to become involved in local strategic planning and financial resources to implement those plans. 

The group sent the following communication to the A & F committee:  The Strategic Plan Implementation Group wishes to express its concern to A & F about the practice of including the income from the Revolving Loan Fund and from the Huron Development Fund in the Annual Diocesan Budget.  While recognizing that this practice is within the regulations laid out in the canons of the Diocese, SPIG is concerned that this is not the best stewardship practice.  It believes that any income from these funds should be reinvested in the funds in order that they might be built up to better serve the strategic needs of the Diocese.  We therefore request that A & F reconsider this practice.  If it would seem unwise or impractical to end this practice in a single year then it is suggested that A & F consider phasing out this practice over a period of three to four years.  The SPIG looks forward to the response of A & F regarding this matter.

The Group did some work on its Synod 2012 presentation, appointed a sub-committee to report back regarding the skills that might be further developed by clergy and ordinands, and continued its work on plans for year 2 of the implementation of the Strategic Plan.  The group recommended that many of the vehicles of communication used during the first year of implementation be continued.  These programs included (but were not limited to) another diocesan wide study, more clergy days and more lay leaders day. 

The Group will not meet in April as the regular meeting date conflicts with the April Clergy Day.  It will meet at the regularly scheduled time in May.

Report of SPIG Considering the Matter of: New Scattering Grounds and Columbaria

The sub-group was called together by A & F and SPIG to consider the wisdom of allowing parishes/congregations to establish new scattering grounds and columbaria, creating certain perpetual obligations and commitments of property, in an age where the long-term viability of so many of our churches is uncertain. 

According to government regulation long term obligations include:

·         Scattering grounds must remain consecrated ground for ever as it is impossible to prove that you have removed all of the remains – unless perhaps they were only scattered inside of a concrete box or structure

·         The structure of a columbarium must be maintained intact for perpetuity.  This prohibits the organization from removing the contents to another location although the structure itself could be moved.

·         In both cases money – 15% of the selling price – must be put aside for perpetual care and that care must be provided for whether or not there are sufficient funds.

Another point of interest is that a cemetery can operate at different locations and be required to only place one $100,000 bond with the government to cover multiple locations.

It should also be noted that there is concern that with new government legislation a columbarium may be viewed as a for-profit enterprise and that this might place the church’s non-profit status at risk – particularly in the matter of property tax. 

While a “safe” way forward would be to not allow further development of scattering grounds and columbaria there were pastoral considerations that caused us to look for ways forward.

Recommendations:

·         That Diocesan Council not authorize and new scattering ground or columbarium unless they are attached to a well-established cemetery that is believed to have long-term viability.  Under no circumstances should a church building or property without a current cemetery establish a scattering ground or columbarium on its own.

·         That the Diocese through the Lands and Property Sub-Committee of A & F consider establishing, in various locations around the Diocese, parent sites that are already well-established cemeteries to act as locations where columbaria could be moved in the event that a church with a columbarium attached should be closed/sold.

·         That any church establishing a columbarium must have an agreement with one of these parent sites stating that their columbarium could be moved to the parent site in the event of the church being closed or sold.

·         That any ashes placed in these columbariums only be done so after the family involved has signed an agreement that gives permission for the columbarium to be moved should the church be closed/sold.

·         That all columbaria established be of such a size and nature that they are moveable.

·         That a parish wishing to establish a columbarium deposit with the diocese sufficient funds to cover the move of the columbarium should the church be closed/sold.

·         That all parishes establishing a columbarium deposit with the diocese, the money to be set aside for perpetual care.

·         That due to the difficult nature of attempting to decommission a scattering ground that no new scattering grounds be authorized, unless they are a part of the grounds of a well established cemetery.

·         That all of the above be administered by the Lands and Property Sub-committee of the A & F.

Proposed Motion to Diocesan Council:

Moved by:  The Venerable Richard Salt

Seconded by: The Venerable Kim Van Allen

That this Diocesan Council adopt as policy the recommendations of the Report of the SPIG considering the matter of new scattering grounds and columbaria and request The Administration and Finance Committee to implement the recommendations as most practical.

Communication #5 from the Strategic Plan Implementation Group

The Strategic Plan Implementation Group met once again on Thursday February 23, 2012.  The Group heard a report from the Director for Mission and Ministry.  They were excited about the reports of an energizing Lay Leaders Day that was held at All Saints in Windsor on February 11^th and about the fact that at the time of the meeting there were already 76 persons signed up for the London Day March 24^th.  The group was also pleased to see some of the initiatives of the Strategic Plan starting to come to fruition with two developments at the Diocesan Council Meeting.  First, the Diocesan Council approved the report of the SPIG regarding scattering grounds and columbaria and established its recommendations as Diocesan policy.  This report is being posted as a separate post on this blog.  Secondly, the Diocesan Council received motions regarding the relocation of trust funds of two former parishes from the newly organized Council of Advice and passed motions based on that advice.  The SPIG believes following these procedures in the future will give rise to a more thoughtful relocation of such funds. 

The Group put some final touches on two papers it is presenting to the Diocesan Executive Staff regarding the recruitment and formation of clergy and the wise matching of clergy with congregations during the selection process.  These papers will form a basis for conversation with the Executive Staff and Bishops about these matters.  More detail will be published as the process continues.  In the meantime it can be said that the SPIG felt that the Diocese needs to do more to adequately prepare new clerics for their role.  The Group spent some time identifying the skills that they felt needed to be imparted both to new and to more seasoned clerics.  That work will continue as the Group meets again.

Recognizing that the first year of the implementation of the Strategic Plan is quickly coming to a close the Group spent some time discussing the value of some of the initial initiatives and what initiatives might take place during the second year. While details of a new year are still in the formative stage the Group felt that initiatives taken in the first year needed to be reinforced and carried through in the second year.  It did not see a major shift in direction for the plan.

Finally the Group spent time discussing its presentation to Synod.