Treasurer

The Congregational Treasurer is responsible to the Board for all financial matters relating to the Church. He is Convener of the Finance Committee, which has the Gift Aid and Free Will Offering (FWO) Treasurers as members, together with the Clerk(s) to the Board.

The Treasurer has a remit to maintain proper audited accounts and records for the Church, and regularly report the Church's financial position at each Congregational Board meeting. All organisations of the Church are required to maintain financial records and to submit annual accounts, duly audited by a responsible person, to the Treasurer.

Highlights from the Treasurer's Report for 2000
"I have pleasure in presenting to you the audited accounts of Balerno Parish Church for the year ended 31st December 2000, together with our financial estimates for the year 2001.

These accounts show a surplus on the General Fund of £14,580, compared to a surplus of £1,784 in 1999. As is our policy, these surpluses have been transferred to the Fabric Fund, so that the amount remaining in the General Fund at the end of 2000 is £2,001.

Income
Total Income increased by 5.0% in 2000 over the previous year, with offerings up by 4.3%. The proportion of our income which arises from tax recovered from covenanted givings increased 18.5% to 20.2%. The improvements to the Gift Aid Scheme, which I mentioned last year, have now been introduced, making it simpler and more attractive to members; covenants will no longer be necessary.

Expenditure
Total Expenditure reduced by 6.7% in 2000 compared to the previous year, made up as follows:

> Local Ministry............................ -6.4%
> Mission & Wider Work........... -11.8%
> Congregational Purposes...... -0.1%

The main impact on costs for 2000...

• the demission of Rev Martin McKean
• reduction in our Mission & Aid Fund and Presbytery allocations
• no Stewardship Campaign costs
• reduced rates from vacant manse

It is pleasing to note a further significant increase in our disbursements of special collections and organisation's fund raising; the total in 2000 was £7,084. I provided some information about these in the February issue of our magazine. My special thanks to those who help in Friday Coffee Mornings, The Guild, Sewing Group, the Gala Day and the Christmas Fair and also to all the congregation who contributed to special retiring collections.

Our estimates for 2001 show a small surplus on both the General and Fabric Funds for the year. Total expenditure is estimated to increase to 8% in the year, mainly arising, of course, from the appointment of a new minister. We have not included any expenditure related to the Old Hall replacement project.

I would like to thank all our members who in 2000 contributed in so many ways to the financial well-being of our Church in Balerno, without ever forgetting he needs of the wider Church, both in Scotland and the world."

George Crainer
Treasurer - 6 March 2001

The following charities, organisations and causes have benefited from the work of Balerno Parish Church during 2000:

Mission & Aid Fund; Missionary Partners, Jamaica; Board of World Mission (Mwandi Hospital, Zambia; Medical Ministry, Cairo; Phoenix India Project); Board of Social Responsibility; Fresh Start; Guild Projects; Christian Aid; Homelessness Sunday; The Ark; Riding for the Disabled; Balerno in Bloom; Earl Haig Fund; Simpson Hospital; L'Arche; British Heart Foundation; Edinburgh Headway Group; Balerno Childrens Gala; Mine Advisory Group