Wardens and Treasurers Training Day 2018

Approximately 75 wardens, treasurers and priests in charge representing a significant percentage of diocesan parishes gathered for the 2018 edition of the Wardens and Treasurers Training Day at the Synod Office in Shaughnessy, Saturday, April 28.

When MC, the Reverend Tellison Glover, Director for Mission and Ministry Development asked by a show of hands, who in the room were new parish officers, the majority of hands went up. All involved agreed that it is heartening to see so many people new to parish governance making commitments to leadership.

Synod Staff leaders were joined by Synod Staff members in welcoming the group and thanking them for their support and commitment to their parishes by taking on these challenging roles.

The day began with worship led by the Executive Archdeacon of the diocese of New Westminster, the Venerable Douglas Fenton. Following worship, the Reverend Tellison Glover, Director for Mission and Ministry Development took to the podium to begin the program. He welcomed the group and asked Missioner for Parish Development, Tasha Carrothers to join him on the platform to record questions that the group may have that they would like to address during the day. A request for questions had also gone out prior to the event during the post-registration process to assist the Synod Office staff responsible for programming the day to offer the most useful information possible.

After recording some additional questions, Rev. Glover introduced Bishop Skelton who asked each member of Synod Staff present to approach one of the room microphones and say a few words to the plenary as a way of introduction and also to add additional information to the role descriptions included in the “How May We Help You” leaflet  contained in the wardens and treasurers training day file of printed materials.  The bishop then led the plenary through a presentation on the roles of parish officers and how those roles compliment the roles of ordained leaders, with the desired result of having both cohorts of leadership (always in collaboration with members of the parish) coalesce into a team.

Archdeacon Fenton added some historical information about the role of wardens as “protectors” in days gone by and how the warden’s wands were not just symbolic, but were used to poke obstreperous or sleepy congregants during worship in order that they focus their full attention on worship.

Interim Indigenous Justice Ministry Coordinator, Jerry Adams spoke for 20 minutes about his developing role in the diocese and asked that the wardens feel free to contact him with ideas, questions or concerns. He also presented a brief promo of the July 25 event that is currently in the planning stages. This informal get together will be an opportunity for representatives of First Nations to gather at the Synod Office and spend some time with folks from the diocese.

The first of two joint sessions for wardens and treasurers took place before the lunch break. Rob Dickson, Director of Finance and Property led the session that explored: property management, rentals, user groups, leases, risk management, insurance, payroll and the diocesan pre-authorized donation (PAD) program that is now being used by 60 of the diocese’s 69 worshipping communities and has increased from $4,000 per month in 2004 to $252,000 per month currently.  He stressed the importance of meeting the Synod financial office deadlines for remittances and submissions and backing up files. A recurring theme of the day was the wardens and treasurers desire to have access to training services for software like “PowerChurch”.

A “brownbag” lunch was supplied by the Banqueting Table, a catering company which is also a social enterprise offering employment opportunities to single mothers and women who wish to re-enter the workforce. The sandwiches were really good! Check out the Banqueting Table.

Following the meal, the wardens and treasurers broke up into two groups with the wardens receiving information about: Screening in Faith from Phil Colvin; Human Resources/Canonical issues from the Ven. Douglas Fenton; Archives information and protocols and processes from Marche Riley; Synod Office reports; a good look at Mutual Ministry Reviews led by Tasha Carrothers and Bishop Skelton presenting information about the Clergy Commitments document compiled under her leadership and put into circulation in 2018.

While the wardens were in their session the treasurers under the leadership of diocesan controller, Shailene Caparas and Rob Dickson looked at: monetary gifts and receipting; receipting practices; reporting requirements; guidelines for completing CRA ‘s T3010 forms; parish operating receipts; how to submit and process donations of stocks and securities; more on data backup.

Both the wardens and the treasurers dedicated sessions reserved some time for Q&A and discussion.

At 2:30 pm, the second joint session with the treasurers returning to the main conference room, rejoining the wardens included: dealing with government mail (always open government mail and respond to any directions or requests contained in those mailings); privacy policy including use of photographs; parish insurance; workshops on the diocesan sexual misconduct policy; and the anti-racism training days offered by the diocese 6 times each year. Anti-racism training and attendance at a sexual misconduct policy workshop are mandatory for clergy, staff and lay leaders of the diocese.

The day ended with more Q&A, an evaluation of the day and sending prayers. Early reports from Phil Colvin, Administrative Assistant, Reception and Screening in Faith Facilitator is that the written evaluations are very positive, with the vast majority of wardens and treasurers who submitted forms extremely satisfied with the material that they were presented with and the manner in which it was presented by Synod staff.

IMAGES

• The Reverend Tellison Glover begins the program
• Tasha has completed recording the list of questions from the plenary
• Bishop Skelton's opening presentation
• The plenary
• Shailene Caparas introduces herself
• Tasha Carrothers
• Rob Dickson during the first joint session
• Wardens and Treasurers take notes
• Shailene and Rob speak to the treasurers
• Marche Riley shares information about the diocesan privacy policy.