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The Church Of Ireland
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REPRESENTATIVE CHURCH BODY NEWS
From the meeting of 14th March 2000
The annual report and accounts of the Representative Church Body (RCB ) for the year 1999 were approved and adopted at a meeting of the RCB on Tuesday, 14 March 2000 in Church House, Dublin.
The full report will be submitted to the General Synod in May when members will be asked to approve allocations of IR£2.971 million for support of ministry, pensions, training of ordinands and sundry other purposes. This is an increase of 13.66% notwithstanding a drop in income of circa 9% compared to 1998.
The report welcomes continued growth in investment capital values due to the strength of world economies but warns of inflationary and interest rate pressures at a time of reduced income levels (which has necessitated a withdrawal of IR£215,000 from reserves to ' balance the books ' at 31 December 1999).
The report also publishes regulations concerning the deployment of part-time stipendiary ministers as required under the provisions of Canon 34 as amended by General Synod 1999.
The RCB has approved formally the annual accounts of the Church of Ireland Pensions Fund which disclose total asset values of IR£97 million at 31 December 1999. A presentation or overview of investments was given by Mr Philip Talbot and Mr Cedric Heather of the RCB Investment Department. This covered both funds managed by external managers and by the in-house staff ; in total assets under management for general funds, pensions and parochial and diocesan trusts now exceed IR£385 million.
The RCB also approved the allocation of a grant to assist Armagh Diocese with the refurbishment and redevelopment of Church House, Armagh and a report from the Central Communications Board recommending the appointment of a Director of Communications and a Media Officer. This restructuring of communications had been proposed by a review group appointed by the Central Communications Board and chaired by the Bishop of Meath. The review group had consulted widely before reporting to the Standing Committee and the Representative Body. The new appointments will reflect the strategic challenges facing the Church in a complex and competitive communications world of high speed electronic and developing digital technologies.
The Primate paid a warm tribute to Canon J.L.B. Deane who was attending his last meeting of the Representative Body having represented the Dioceses of Cork, Cloyne and Ross continuously for more than 43 years. Canon Deane received a standing ovation from the members in recognition of his outstanding services to the RCB, the General Synod, the Pensions Board and the Church at large over such an exceptional period of time. The Chief Officer also thanked Canon Deane on behalf of past and present staff at Church House.
ROBERT SHERWOOD
Chief Officer and Secretary,
The Representative Church Body,
Rathmines,
Dublin 6
Tel: (+353 1) 497 8422 Ext 200
Fax: (+353 1) 497 8792
Email: Chief Officer