Questions and Comments from Information Night on 9 February 2010

FINANCE   Question: Has the insurance for the roof collapse been paid in full? Response: Yes.     Question: Were expenses less in January to enable the catch up in the figures? Response: Yes, January expenses are always lower because there are no missionary payments and also Before & After School Care rent for the hall by for the year is paid in full in January.     Question: What would the congregation need to give per head per week to cover additional $2,000 to pay back $1m loan over 25 years? Response: Approximately $10 per week per head.     Comment: The percentage of staff expenditure for two days a week for a Children's Pastor is minimal.     Question: We are currently spending $37,000 per year on rent – how much of this is to pay for the SDA site and what is the period of the lease for the Church Offices? Response: $280 per week to SDA.  Offices are leased for two years plus a two year option.     Question: Is the building fund tax deductible? Response: No, the NVBC has no tax deductibility – Owen was knocked back when he applied for CoastCare a couple of years ago.     Question: Which budget will be presented at the Budget Focus Meeting? Response: Owen will be recommending the budget with the payments on a $1m loan.     Question: Is a $1m loan realistic to commence building? Response: We believe this will be enough commence work, together with the insurance money making $1400000 in total.     Question: What is the current balance of the future fund? Response: $9,237.     Question: What is the objective of suggesting the $1m loan? Response: To encourage the congregation to start increasing their giving to cover a loan.     Question: Do we need to demonstrate an ability to pay a loan prior to getting a loan? Response: Yes – we need to show we can cover the repayments.       top               CHILDREN'S PASTOR UPDATE     Question: Is there going to be provision made for people who are sick or unable to attend the Focus Meeting to vote on the Children’s Pastor as absentees? Response: Yes, proxy votes, which have always been available, but proxy votes will be explained and encouraged in more detail.     Question: What are the dates for voting and what is the process? Response: Budget Focus Meeting to be held on 28 February and Children’s Pastor Focus Meeting to be held on 28 March.  Board/Elders are recommending that the Budget be approved first with the salary for a Children’s Pastor and then request for the position to be filled (with a 75% majority vote).     Question: What is the reasoning that we need a paid Children's Pastor? Response: The role has changed over the years, particularly with increased child protection laws and OH & S processes.  Board/Elders feel that the Children's Pastor should be remunerated for their effort and it places the Children's Pastor on the Pastors/Staff team which gives them a voice to advocate for children’s ministry and puts value on the role of the Children's Pastor.      Question: The Church recognised the need for a paid Children's Pastor awhile ago – can we afford to pay the salary? Response: If the budget is approved, then we as a Church are committed to paying this salary.     Question: If the budget gets approved, will the position automatically be offered to Carolyn? Response: It is recommended that the interview process has already been adhered to so the Board/Elders would suggest that Carolyn's name be put to the vote.     Question: If Matt Rosee had not resigned – would this have been an issue? Response: No, it would have been a discussion about how behind in the budget we were and the Board/Elders would have had to look at other ways of improving the position.     Question: Is Carolyn still willing to stand? Response: She still has a passion for children's ministry and is currently assisting in Kid's Church and would be willing to put up her hand again.     Comment: If the Church decides to have a Children's Pastor and someone has a gift in this area it should not be governed by finances. Response: This is a matter for the Church to decide.     Comment: The Children's Pastor role was in 2009 budget but our giving was not up to scratch.  If we vote on budget – we have made a commitment to increase our giving.  We need to personalise it, not sit back and let someone else do it!     Question: Do we need an education process so people who come to the Focus Meetings will know what they are voting on? Response: Yes, it will be going on the website, handouts will be available at Church for the next 2 weeks and it will be explained again at the Focus Meetings.     Comment: Suggested advising that people would need to give an additional percentage of their giving (eg. 20% per family on top of what they already give – ie. if they currently give $20 then it would mean an increase of $4 per week).     Comment: Suggested we encourage pledges by the congregation. Response: We attempted to do this in December.     Question: What happens if the budget is not approved in February? Response: The budget will need to be revisited.     Question: Have we thought about interest-free loans? Response: Yes, this will be part of the Finance Committee’s role.     Comment: We need to respect leadership team and allow them to guide and direct the congregation, as well as keeping the congregation informed.       top                      FACILITIES UPDATE     A Consolidated Facilities Requirements document will be available on the website by Friday, 19 February 2010. We have been waiting on the RTA to advise their road widening proposals, which should be provided shortly. Gosford City Council will be asking for expressions of interest to buy Niagara Park Shopping Centre in about 4 – 6 weeks time.  We are looking into the feasibility of putting in a tender, but this will be put to the Church before any tender is submitted. The formation of a Project Management Group will commence in 4 weeks time – this will be made up of people with an expertise in finance, communication and project management.  Anyone interested should approach Maurice. By the end of June we will be engaging architects to draw up plans, unless decisions by the RTA or Gosford City Council show down the process. It is hoped that by the end of the year we may have a building plan and be working towards starting a building.      Question: Has Maurice considered seeking a DA now?  This would streamline the process. Response: Suggested we should talk to Maurice about this.     Question: At the meeting we had almost two years ago it was decided we would stay on our current site.   Is this still the case? Response: If the shopping centre is an option we may consider going this way, as it is still within the community.     Comment: Finance committee will consider ways of financing building, such as interest free loans.     Question: Is the RTA proposal of road widening to go behind Church or down Narara Valley Drive or on the other side of the railway line? Response: Don’t have an answer for this yet.  RTA is supposed to be deciding shortly.     Question: Have we approached architects and council yet as to whether we can re-develop our block? Response: Yes, we can re-build on this site as we already own it, although we will have to comply with council requirements.     Question: Has leadership considered paying a Facilities Director as this is a big project? Response: Yes, this was considered initially but Maurice agreed to do it on a voluntary basis.  Leadership have asked Maurice how we can assist and he has suggested paying for some childminding to free him up a bit.  We may need to consider paying a qualified person at a later stage.       top

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