Accounting deadline approaches for parishes

Annual vestry meetings were held across the Diocese in February and March and parishes are now preparing to submit their annual financial statements and annual financial returns. The deadline for financial statements is seven days after the vestry meeting, while annual returns are due on April 15. Last year the Synod noted that only 37 per cent of Sydney parishes submitted their annual returns on time. Corporate Secretary John Chapman suggested the delay reflects the complexities of financial administration today. In response, the Secretariat sent a circular last year to parishes containing formats designed to make reporting easier for parishes.

Diocesan CEOs and bishops talk Connect

At their first biannual meeting on March 5, Archbishop Peter Jensen, all five regional bishops and CEOs of diocesan organisations met to discuss Connect 09. Anglican Retirement Villages’ CEO, Ken Barber said the meeting was “an extremely positive environment”. “It’s just great that we have a meeting like that where everyone is in the one place to talk about their contribution to the mission of the Diocese,” Mr Barber said. ARV is already working on Connect 09 strategies for its villages, with prayer a key for its 6000 residents and clients, over 60 per cent of whom are Christian.