Agenda Volume 3 - Methodist Conference

59. Memorials to the Conference
Districts (in accordance with Standing
Order 136(2C)), district Synods
(often via the recommendation of the
district treasurer) divide it between
Circuits, and Circuit Meetings (often
via the recommendation of the circuit
treasurer) divide it between individual
churches. This process ensures
that decisions are taken as close
as possible to the point of impact,
ensuring that the most appropriate
local factors are taken into account.
The Conference considers this to
be the most equitable and effective
means of operating.
The memorial refers to fluctuations
in the year-on-year changes to the
level of assessment paid by each
individual Circuit. Such changes
reflect the connexional nature of
the Methodist Church: because the
total MCF assessment is shared
out as a fresh calculation each
year, the level of payment required
in any particular District is affected
by the combination of changes
across all other Districts relative
to its own changes. This can result
in significant changes in level of
assessment from year-to-year, with
possible changes of 15% or more
required. In order to prevent such
large annual swings, increases have
in the past been capped. For the
2012/13 figures that are before
the Conference this cap is 7%. The
level of this cap and its impact
across the Church is discussed
collaboratively each year with
Districts via their treasurers before
any recommendations are brought
to the Methodist Council or the
Conference.
In addition to the deployment of
ministers and lay employees, the
apportionment between Districts is
adjusted using the Nomenclature
of Units for Territorial Statistics
(NUTS) index of relative regional
wealth. Recent experience has
shown that the application of the
NUTS index and a fixed cap often
work against each other. This matter
has been considered during the
last year by the Council’s Budget
Stakeholder Forum, which includes a
representative of the Chairs’ Meeting
and a District Treasurer. As a result,
it is intended that draft figures for
2013/14 with and without the NUTS
formula and with and without any cap
will be presented for discussion by
District Treasurers.
The Conference therefore declines
this portion of the memorial, but
instructs the Methodist Council
to ensure that these options are
amongst those presented for
consultation via District Treasurers,
feeling that it will be more effective to
take a decision based on a clear view
of what the actual financial impact
will be, rather than establishing a new
principle itself in abstract.
c) Another matter considered by the
Budget Stakeholder Forum this
year has been the use of Circuit
Model Trust Funds. At the end of
2011 across the entire Connexion
these contained approximately £70
Conference Agenda 2012 779