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The Congregational Board met in
the Church Hall at 7.30 p.m. on Wednesday 16th. January. After
reading and prayer, noting apologies for absence, and reading and
approving the minutes, board members got down to the business of the
evening which was to draw up the budget for 2002. Karen, our
treasurer, began by taking the meeting through the accounts for last
year. Although these will not be formally approved until our next
meeting, she already had them in a form which we could understand and
see what kind of a year last year had been. And very good it had
been! Last year we had budgeted for an income of £11,700 but in
fact our income had increased from £11,022 last year to
£15,082 this year. Small beer compared to many big Churches, but
for a small congregation just coming together after such a long time
in the wilderness this was good news indeed, particularly as our
expenditure had been kept to £10,624 ensuring that we actually
generated a surplus of £4,458 last year. Congratulations to all
involved were obviously in order, but before anyone got too carried
away by what was obviously good news, the Board was reminded that
each year would get progressively more strenuous as our aid from
central funds was gradually cut until, in two years time, our Church
will receive only £1 in aid. In fact an exercise had been
carried out which showed that this past year, had we had to stand
entirely on our own feet, paying half of the stipend in full (our
partner congregation in Luss paying the other half), and paying a
full share of all of the expenses we should have had an annual
deficit of just under £3,000. That then is our task, through
Stewardship to add a further £3,000 to our givings by increasing
our weekly offering by £60. But who would have thought that we
would have got so close to being self-sufficient so soon? And Karen
reminded us that we now had £18,000 in our bank account,
something unheard of in the annals of our congregation! So it was
down to work to produce a budget for 2002. Karen had given this a
great deal of thought. On the basis of the figures for last year, she
budgeted an income of £14,600 from Offerings and Fund Raising.
That would be the base on which we would build, seeking to increase
this figure through stewardship. Our expenditure budget reached the
figure of £14,591 (taking into account our additional expenses
as we move towards self-sufficiency) with money set aside both to
allow special work with children during this 'Year of the Child' and
for Christian Education. Our savings already mentioned above and our
stewardship plans, convinced us that under these circumstances it was
not a major concern only to be projecting a surplus of £9 over
the year. This year, the funds of the Sunday School will also be
administered through the General Account and the Board appointed
Karen to be treasurer of the Sunday School. It was noted that Jean
Dawson had now retired from more than twenty years looking after the
congregation's Deeds of Covenant - the Board recorded its thanks to
her for all of her work on the congregation's behalf. Before leaving
matters of finance, Eric reported to the Board on the problems which
he was experiencing with Scottish Gas who supplied the Church with
electricity. Although Scottish Gas had provided the Church with a
document to show that there would be a great saving if we moved to
have them as our supplier, the bill which they had supplied to us
bore no similarity at all to their indicative estimate and the rates
charged were considerably above the rates which they had quoted to
us. Eric had successfully had our VAT rate reduced to the proper
rate, had got the 'Climate Change Levy' removed and would continue to
try to resolve matters with Scottish Gas. The Board agreed to ask the
Church of Scotland Energy Consultant for advice; to continue to
debate with Scottish Gas and, failing agreement, to seek a new
supplier of electricity following discussion at the next meeting of
the Board.
Moving from finance, the Board
discussed property, listening to a report from Jimmy. The
installation of new fire-extinguishers was in hand, as was the
provision of a new first-aid kit. However, the light-fittings had not
yet been installed in Church. These were ready to go; the
lamp-holders had been fitted and chains attached. They would be in
place very soon. There was nothing to report at this stage about the
creation of disabled access to the Church. The Planning Department
had been on holiday but plans will be brought to a future meeting of
the Board as it was agreed by all to be a priority.
In the absence of Retta, Margaret
gave the housekeeping report. Cleaning rotas would be adjusted next
Christmas to take account of all of the extra Christmas services!
There had obviously been a great deal of cleaning done and it was
agreed to refurbish the vacuum cleaner at a cost of £79 (with a
six-month guarantee) and to buy (at the special price of £79) a
new vacuum and carpet shampooing machine! A bigger table had been put
out to cope with Sunday teas and, as a result, there would be an
extra person each Sunday on the tea rota. Finally, it was reported
that the hall was now fully booked each evening from Sunday to
Thursday with spaces on available on Friday and Saturday evenings.
Fund-raising was reported on by
Gill. First she up-dated the Board on her final two ventures of last
year. The Memory Stars had raised £495 and the carol-singing
£65 making a grand total of £3,416 .48 which, Gill wryly
observed, was pretty much the target she had been set for this coming
year. Her committee would meet next Wednesday to produce their
programme for the year.
Mary's stewardship report centred
round a discussion on the monthly reports which she issued to all
members of the congregation. It was agreed that these served a very
useful function and they will continue. The thrust of this
committee's work this year will be a stewardship campaign. Initially
stewardship news will be spread by the minister in publications and
through services but this will lead up to a real campaign around the
time of our annual 'birthday celebration' and it is hoped that a
member of the Church of Scotland Stewardship staff will come to spend
some time with us to help us to prepare for this. There will also be
an attempt to target people to sign up for Gift Aid in the coming
weeks. At present twenty of our members have already signed the
appropriate declaration.
Finally the Board discussed plans
to raise funds for the Restoration Fund. Although not strictly part
of the Board's remit, the Board was anxious to do all that it could
to help those who do the important work of raising money for the
on-going restoration of the Church. It was pleased to learn more of
the plans to launch 'The Friends of Arrochar Parish Church'; to
establish a Bequest Tree and to reclaim VAT paid on the refurbishment
programme to date.
After noting that future meetings
have been agreed for Thursday 14th. March, Wednesday 17th. April,
Wednesday 12th. June, Wednesday 11th. September and Wednesday 11th.
December, the Board closed by saying the Grace together. It was
exactly 9 o'clock! |