Ship of Fools: Diocesan annual reporting

Thread: Diocesan annual reporting Board: Oblivion / Ship of Fools.

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Posted by Panda (# 2951) on :

In the Anglican Church, we all need to know what's going on in our diocese, and what the various organisations and committees that operate under the diocesan name are up to, and how they're getting on. We also need to see a balance sheet of the financial side of things, so that we understand where the money is coming and going.

In our diocese, a report detailing all of these things is published annually - a glossy A4 publication (8.5 x 11, cross-ponders) of around 60 pages, once each deanery has put in their tuppence-worth, and a bit from the bishop, and everyone else. About 500 copies are produced, and the whole thing is presented and accepted at the annual diocesan conference. Obviously, it's not cheap.

So I can't help wondering: is it necessary? Every year? I know that the Charities' Commission requires an annual balance sheet published, but this on its own could go into the quarterly newsletter. Then perhaps the report could be every two years instead.

Is it encouraging, to report on things every year? Does it keep things sharp, or does it encourage navel-gazing and lead to insularity?

What does your diocese do? Does it work?

Posted by Barefoot Friar (# 13100) on :

Our Annual Conference (UMC) journal is published in PDF and linked to the website. Paper copies can be had by either printing the online version or ordering (and paying for) a paper copy from the Conference office.

I think having this information is a good thing. For one thing, I can look back to past years and see what the areas of growth and decline were, which pastors were appointed to which churches/charges, who was ordained, who retired, and what the various outreach ministries of the Conference were. I've been able to assemble a list of previous pastors of my church, for instance, and track salary growth, membership, and mission giving.

Another thing is that it's one way to keep us all accountable. We can't just go off and do our own thing. We're supposed to be a connectional church; having numbers to report and seeing the numbers of other churches and the Annual Conference helps us remember we're all in this together. There are frustrations, as always -- the previous bishop was overly focused on nickels and noses, for instance -- but I think the good outweighs the bad.

Posted by Chorister (# 473) on :

I'm not sure what happens about diocesan finance reporting, but one of the more silly initiatives has been to produce a termly, professionally produced, 'Archdeacon's Antics' newsletter. I guess this is supposed to serve to make the Archdeacons seem more approachable, but has left me thinking 'Why?'

Posted by PD (# 12436) on :

1. The diocese is required by the IRS and the Canons to produce an annual report and publish it to the parishes. This happens.

2. The parishes are required by the IRS and the Canons to produce an annual financial report to the membership. This also happens.

3. Parishes are required by Canon to copy the annual financial report to the diocese, along with the broad etails of the membership, but generally don't.

According to the Canons 2 is supposed to be summarized and incorporated into the diocesan annual report, but because of 3this does not happen, and so 1 s sent out to the parishes. Therefore, in practice the annual diocesan report is a 3 to 5 page pdf file sent out somewhere around February 3rd.

One up to Episco-congregationalism!

PD

[ 15. August 2013, 00:04: Message edited by: PD ]

Posted by dj_ordinaire (# 4643) on :

As a point of clarification, do these reports relate to worship activities to any extent?

If they are purely concerned with church polity, then perhaps Purgatory would be a more appropriate board?

dj_ordinaire, Eccles host

Posted by Bishops Finger (# 5430) on :

I can't speak for the OPer, but in our Diocese we are required to submit returns as to attendance at Sunday services (usually based on figures for October), and also such things as Easter and Christmas attendances.

I have to say that at our place we try to produce as accurate a figure as possible e.g. by not counting 'twicers', but I strongly suspect that other churches practice some creative accounting....

The questions asked also home in on whether or not a parish is running 'Messy Church' or other Fresh Expressions, so yes, the results (published in something called 'Parish Spotlight' on our Diocesan website) do have something to do with worship and liturgy.

Ian J.

Posted by Albertus (# 13356) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
I'm not sure what happens about diocesan finance reporting, but one of the more silly initiatives has been to produce a termly, professionally produced, 'Archdeacon's Antics' newsletter. I guess this is supposed to serve to make the Archdeacons seem more approachable, but has left me thinking 'Why?'

Indeed. Apart from anything else, why would you want to approach an Archdeacon?

Posted by Angloid (# 159) on :

And I bet the really interesting antics are censored out.

Posted by leo (# 1458) on :

quote:
Originally posted by Albertus:

quote:
Originally posted by Chorister:
I'm not sure what happens about diocesan finance reporting, but one of the more silly initiatives has been to produce a termly, professionally produced, 'Archdeacon's Antics' newsletter. I guess this is supposed to serve to make the Archdeacons seem more approachable, but has left me thinking 'Why?'
Indeed. Apart from anything else, why would you want to approach an Archdeacon?

Because she is very friendly. And pastoral.

Posted by Thurible (# 3206) on :

Hmm. This might be the case on the surface. But she is an Archdeacon.

Thurible

Posted by Panda (# 2951) on :

dj - I think this is one of those threads slightly between Purg and Eccles. It's fairly specific to Anglicanism and other tightly-organised denominations, and not overly divisive, but nothing to do with worship either.

We certainly have to send in what are known as 'Archdeacon's Returns' annually which say everything about attendance, the various groups in the parish, and what the state of each building is like; all parishes do this.

But these figures don't go into the diocesan annual report - perhaps they should? I'm not sure I'd want to see them presented like financial tables, with one list for this year and one for last year, and a projected list for next year.

I guess I'm concerned about whether it's a wise use of money, every single year, and whether there isn't a better way of doing it.

While we're at it, does your diocese have an annual conference, with a three-line-whip for all clergy?

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