The Rt. Rev. Fraser Lawton and Ms. Cynthia Haines-Turner presented two resolutions that pertained to the 2018 budget. Before members voted by consensus, Bishop Lawton noted that the motion from the Financial Management Committee Report (#007-04-17-11) had been amended into two motions.
Text
That this Council of General Synod approve the 2018 Budget with a surplus of $29, 853.
The Rt. Rev. Fraser Lawton and Ms. Cynthia Haines-Turner presented two resolutions that pertained to the 2018 budget. Before members voted by consensus, Bishop Lawton noted that the motion from the Financial Management Committee Report (#007-04-17-11) had been amended into two motions.
Text
That this Council of General Synod encourage and support a conversation about a shared strategy between Indigenous Ministries and Council of the North Diocesan leaders as to how to allocate the new money for Suicide Prevention provided in the 2018 budget and 2019-2022 forecasts.
- A. Delete the following words in entirety from section 1 Term of Office for the NIAB [National Indigenous Anglican Bishop]: The term of office for the NIAB is nine years from the date of installation. The NIAB whose term has been completed is eligible to stand for election for a further term.
- B. Reword the following paragraph in section 2 by adding the words shown in bold:
[In electronic database, "bolded" text is indicated by > brackets.]
-- Except for the NIAB, the terms of ACIP members will end at the conclusion of the Sacred Circle after their election, . Where a vacancy occurs ACIP may appoint a replacement for a person who was elected by the Sacred Circle, and the NIAB may appoint a replacement for a person whom the NIAB had appointed. A person who has served on ACIP is eligible for re-election.
2. Request ACIP to determine which of its current members will have terms ending at the conclusion of the next Sacred Circle (2018) and which will have terms ending at the conclusion of the second next Sacred Circle (2021).
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS #007-05-17-06 to 10-17-06
The Treasurer and CFO of General Synod, Ms. Hanna Goschy, and the Rt. Rev. Fraser Lawton presented the audited financial statements for The Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corporation, The Anglican Church of Canada Consolidated Trust Fund, and the General Synod of The Anglican Church of Canada, along with the report from the Financial Management Committee. Bishop Lawton, Council’s representative on the Committee, presented the statements and included the following in his commentary.
- The role of the Financial Management Committee is to monitor actual performance against the budget.
- The audit process for 2016 was delayed for the Audit Committee’s review of responses received to a Request for Proposal for Audit Services. Grant Thornton LLP was recommended and subsequently approved by Council through an electronic vote. The 2017 audit process will begin on June 24, 2017.
- Membership for the Audit Committee includes: the Most. Rev. Colin Johnson (Chair), Mr. Philip Arthur, Mr. Peter Lewis, Mr. Paul Singleton, and Mr. James Sweeney.
- The Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corporation originally included funds for the Settlement Fund (expended by end of 2016) and the Anglican Fund for Healing and Reconciliation. Funds are administered by the General Synod.
- The Investment Sub-Committee provides investment oversight.
- General Synod is already saving for General Synod 2019.
The following resolutions were put before Council:
Text
That the Council of General Synod approve the audited financial statements of the Consolidated Trust Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS #007-16-18-06 to 007-22-18-06
Chair of the Financial Management Committee (FMC), Mr. Robert Saffrey, and the Most. Rev. Colin Johnson, Chair of the Audit Committee, presented FMC’s report and the audited financial statements for The Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corporation, The Anglican Church of Canada Consolidated Trust Fund, and the General Synod of The Anglican Church of Canada. Ms. Hanna Goschy, Treasurer and CFO, was on hand to address questions from Council. Highlights from the presentation included the following:
- Archbishop Johnson reviewed the process for the audited financial statements and reminded Council that they approved the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as auditor for General Synod fiscal 2017 at their June 23-25, 2017 meeting (see document #004-01-17-11, page 12). FMC recommends reappointment of Grant Thornton LLP for General Synod fiscal 2018.
- The audited financial statements were reviewed in detail and Council had the opportunity to ask questions.
- The overall revenue for General Synod of The Anglican Church of Canada for 2017 was $11,938,059, which is a decrease of $449,487 from 2016. Overall expenses totaled $11,416,845, which is $1,245,961 less than 2016. The resulting surplus of core revenues over expenses was $521,214.
- The operating fund surplus (before transfers to reserves) is $1,519,736. While the total investment income was $998,523, realized and unrealized capital gains amounted to $729,057 and do not form part of the operating budget as they fluctuate from year to year based on financial market returns. The surplus was still $790,639 after factoring out these gains. Staff vacancies have been filled and as a result, it is expected that the 2018 actual expenditures will be in line with budget and it is not expected a significant surplus will be seen again in 2018.
- Proportional giving from dioceses was slightly higher than budgeted, but $70,000 lower than 2016. Council was reminded that proportional giving is the largest source of revenue for General Synod.
- The Investment Sub-Committee has reviewed investment performance, as well as the asset mix, ranges, and benchmark indices within the current Statement of Investment Policy. Overall performance for the year ended December 31, 2017 was 8.1% versus a benchmark of 7.2%.
Questions and comments were welcomed. Among the questions asked, Council members inquired about: how many dioceses are net contributors (twenty); whether the Anglican Fund for Healing and Reconciliation and the Ministry Investment Funds are part of the totals for internally designated net assets in the Consolidated Trust Fund (they are not); the difference between governance and administration (governance includes CoGS, boards, committees, councils, and Council of the North while administration includes salaries and benefits); and General Synod’s administrative cost (thirteen percent, a very low cost for not-for-profit organizations).
The following resolutions were placed before Council.
Refer to document # 007-18-18-06
Text
THAT the Council of General Synod approve the audited financial statements of The Anglican Church of Canada Consolidated Trust Fund for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS #007-05-17-06 to 10-17-06
The Treasurer and CFO of General Synod, Ms. Hanna Goschy, and the Rt. Rev. Fraser Lawton presented the audited financial statements for The Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corporation, The Anglican Church of Canada Consolidated Trust Fund, and the General Synod of The Anglican Church of Canada, along with the report from the Financial Management Committee. Bishop Lawton, Council’s representative on the Committee, presented the statements and included the following in his commentary.
- The role of the Financial Management Committee is to monitor actual performance against the budget.
- The audit process for 2016 was delayed for the Audit Committee’s review of responses received to a Request for Proposal for Audit Services. Grant Thornton LLP was recommended and subsequently approved by Council through an electronic vote. The 2017 audit process will begin on June 24, 2017.
- Membership for the Audit Committee includes: the Most. Rev. Colin Johnson (Chair), Mr. Philp Arthur, Mr. Peter Lewis, Mr. Paul Singleton, and Mr. James Sweeney.
- The Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corporation originally included funds for the Settlement Fund (expended by end of 2016) and the Anglican Fund for Healing and Reconciliation. Funds are administered by the General Synod.
- The Investment Sub-Committee provides investment oversight.
- General Synod is already saving for General Synod 2019.
The following resolutions were put before Council:
Text
That the Council of General Synod approve the audited financial statements of the Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corporation for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2016.
AUDITED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS #007-16-18-06 to 007-22-18-06
Chair of the Financial Management Committee (FMC), Mr. Robert Saffrey, and the Most. Rev. Colin Johnson, Chair of the Audit Committee, presented FMC’s report and the audited financial statements for The Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corporation, The Anglican Church of Canada Consolidated Trust Fund, and the General Synod of The Anglican Church of Canada. Ms. Hanna Goschy, Treasurer and CFO, was on hand to address questions from Council. Highlights from the presentation included the following:
- Archbishop Johnson reviewed the process for the audited financial statements and reminded Council that they approved the appointment of Grant Thornton LLP as auditor for General Synod fiscal 2017 at their June 23-25, 2017 meeting (see document #004-01-17-11, page 12). FMC recommends reappointment of Grant Thornton LLP for General Synod fiscal 2018.
- The audited financial statements were reviewed in detail and Council had the opportunity to ask questions.
- The overall revenue for General Synod of The Anglican Church of Canada for 2017 was $11,938,059, which is a decrease of $449,487 from 2016. Overall expenses totaled $11,416,845, which is $1,245,961 less than 2016. The resulting surplus of core revenues over expenses was $521,214.
- The operating fund surplus (before transfers to reserves) is $1,519,736. While the total investment income was $998,523, realized and unrealized capital gains amounted to $729,057 and do not form part of the operating budget as they fluctuate from year to year based on financial market returns. The surplus was still $790,639 after factoring out these gains. Staff vacancies have been filled and as a result, it is expected that the 2018 actual expenditures will be in line with budget and it is not expected a significant surplus will be seen again in 2018.
- Proportional giving from dioceses was slightly higher than budgeted, but $70,000 lower than 2016. Council was reminded that proportional giving is the largest source of revenue for General Synod.
- The Investment Sub-Committee has reviewed investment performance, as well as the asset mix, ranges, and benchmark indices within the current Statement of Investment Policy. Overall performance for the year ended December 31, 2017 was 8.1% versus a benchmark of 7.2%.
Questions and comments were welcomed. Among the questions asked, Council members inquired about: how many dioceses are net contributors (twenty); whether the Anglican Fund for Healing and Reconciliation and the Ministry Investment Funds are part of the totals for internally designated net assets in the Consolidated Trust Fund (they are not); the difference between governance and administration (governance includes CoGS, boards, committees, councils, and Council of the North while administration includes salaries and benefits); and General Synod’s administrative cost (thirteen percent, a very low cost for not-for-profit organizations).
The following resolutions were placed before Council.
Refer to document # 007-19-18-06
Text
THAT the Council of General Synod approve the audited financial statements of The Anglican Church of Canada Resolution Corporation for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2017.
The Prolocutor, Ms. Cynthia Haines-Turner, reported the results of the four email ballots conducted since the November 2016 meeting.
Text
That this Council of General Synod
- 1. Affirm the intention to focus the 2017 annual campaign, “Giving with Grace” on renewing the capital of the Anglican Fund for Healing and Reconciliation, and
- 2. Approve the transfer of up to $507,000 from Contingency Reserve to operating funds, if required, to replace funds not received from Giving with Grace in 2017.”
Chair of the Communications and Information Resources Coordinating Committee, the Rev. Dr. Karen Egan, and the Rt. Rev. William Cliff, Chair of the Anglican Journal Coordinating Committee, presented the final report from the joint working group on print publications. Before speaking to the report’s key recommendations, Dr. Egan reminded Council why the joint working group was formed, of its mandate, the approach taken to the work, and the findings of their research (see document #004-05-18-06, pages 6-7, and document #004-06-18-11, pages 3-4).
Text
Be it resolved:
That this Council of General Synod recommend to General Synod the adoption of the transition strategy for national and diocesan print publications during the coming triennium, as proposed in the report of the Joint Working Group on Print Publications.
ADOPTED #CoGS 03-11-18
Notes
Bishop Cliff spoke to the key recommendations from three areas in the report:
The future of print publications (see document #007-05-18-11, page 5),
The mandate and governance of the Anglican Journal (see document #007-05-18-11, page 6), and
The mandate and structure of coordinating committees (see document #007-05-18-11, page 6).
At the end of the presentation, which was one of two this day, Council members received a preview of the questions they would be asked in the next presentation. Canon Ian Alexander, member of the joint working group, previewed the following questions:
1. Print Transition Strategy:
What are the pros and cons?
What will be necessary for success?
2. AJ Mandate:
Suggested changes to the draft mandate?
(See document #007-05-18-11, page 15)
Additions to the journalistic guidelines?
(See document #007-05-18-11, page 16)
3. Governance Structure:
Comments on the committee mandate?
(See document #007-05-18-11, page 19)
Editorial Board: Pros and cons? Keys to successful implementation?
In the second part of the Anglican Journal and Communications and Information Resources Joint Working Group presentation, Council members had the opportunity to respond to the questions previewed at the end of the first presentation.
Discussion followed in table groups and responses shared with Council. See Appendix A. Each table’s written responses were turned in to Canon Ian Alexander to share with the joint working group.
The motions from the joint working group’s report were presented.
During the consensus process, it was determined additional discussion on the first motion was required. Council members shared concerns with Canon Alexander who in turn stressed that the motion is not a ruling that print publications stop.