AGM Information Sheet
Sunday 7th of March 2010 - At 12.15 pm

Download a copy of all the information on this page: HERE

Below you will find a comparison between last year’s (2009) actual figures and the 2009 budget, and this year’s (2010) budget.  This is a consolidated report, but if you have any inquiries please do not hesitate to contact the treasurer for in depth information.

As of 31st December 2009

Assets                                                                          Liabilities

Current Assets (Cash)              $       5.667.00             GST paid on Purchases  $     -303.00
Property                                   $   205,000.00
Other (Car, office assets)            $   2,500.00              Equity
                                                                                    Capital reserves              $ 14,125.00
                                                  ___________              (Vehicle, Building, Youth, Assets, Vestry & Professional Development)
                                                $  213,167.00 
Notes:

**** We have changed the costs to include all the fringe benefits, which were carried in telephone, petrol and water up until now.

The Christian Community in South Australia - AGM Agenda - March 7th 2010 at 12.15pm

- Welcome, Apologies and Confirmation of AGM minutes 2009. Minutes are available prior to the meeting from Martin Samson on request (8339 6466) and will be available at the meeting on the day.

- Finalizing the finances from last year and looking ahead for this year including treasurer’s report.

- Confirmation of the committee members, Lucy Crawford, Brenda Joy, Wendy Pryor as chair, Saralee Aufderheide, Sven Zehle as public officer, Gunther Andersson as treasurer and Martin Samson.  If you would like to nominate someone (other than yourself) to be on the committee please let one of the committee members know before the AGM.

- Discussion around the themes arising out of the treasurer’s letter and further reports; the vision for the future and ideas around and independent external source of income. Hopefully we will discuss the themes in the treasurer’s letter below.

WAY  FORWARD  FOR  THE  ADELAIDE  CHRISTIAN  COMMUNITY?

When I joined the Christian Community in 1997 participated in the sacraments in a very beautiful, sacred space.  This lovely building was found and transformed with a $90,000 debt that needed to be repaid within ten years.  As time ran out I wondered how on earth we were going to repay that money on top of the running of the church. The answer came when it (and more) was gifted to the church by a wonderful old man, Jeremy Gray who had attended regularly.  We paid our debt and it also allowed us to be generous to other groups – it is a great feeling to enable other people’s creativity.

In the next period of time the committee focused on a pathway of fund-raising events to meet our budget.  We hoped that if many people in the community ran one event things would significantly change. Events such as formal dinners, musical cultural nights, sausage sizzles, raffles, the Christmas plays, the Advent market, the Twilight market, lectures, workshops, the Place of Wisdom, the Melting Pot Learning Centre, Film nights, labyrinth walks and meditation groups amongst other things.  This meant living with the tension that one of the purposes to do spiritual creativity was to raise funds so that we could be a financially viable organisation. 

This path of fund-raising and having to pay to do spiritual work together hasn’t I believe been successful.  Firstly, we haven’t achieved meeting the budget, secondly, it has been quite exhausting and pressured for those on this pathway, and thirdly, our cultural reality of “not enough time” is very significant in our times. Along with this biographical picture we became a part-time community last year, and then we met the possibility that we would lose our priest residing here in Adelaide. Many were dismayed at the thought of not having the priest imbuing South Australia with the sacramental work out of the strength of his connection to this land.   What would that mean geographically and the people?

Our concerns were generously listened to.  Many people were very relieved to hear that the priest could still reside here – there was also the feeling of “I don’t come very often but it is nice to know that it is available.”  Still, we come to the same financial question! I would like to suggest another framework or pathway for the community and wider community to think about.  We tell a story in the confirmation preparation for the children called ‘Pay it forward.’  This is different concept of paying something back.  `Paying it forward’ means that when we receive we give for the future – for future generations and also for the potential people that haven’t yet met the Christian Community.  So:

If we could find another 60 families (whether they attend or not) who would like to ensure the spiritual importance of having a Christian Community for others in the future, by giving $50/month we would ensure a financially viable community.  If monthly donations were larger we wouldn’t even need 60 families.  We could run creative initiatives without having to charge, call community gatherings for anyone who would like to come, as often or infrequent as suits one in the stage of life.  This pathway would provide a higher degree of freedom in its creativity.  I would like to suggest that we all think deeply about what we want for the future for others.  For me this is a picture of heart thinking of a new consciousness. The best way for you to participate is set up a regular monthly donation paid electronically from your account. No amount is too small. By a larger number of people contribution together we can ensure a stable presence here in South Australia for our sacramental spiritual work together.                       

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