2015 Reports

Wardens Report
It was another year of encouragement and
challenges in ministry at DAC. On the
financial side, we ended 2014 with a deficit
in our General Fund of around $11,200. It
was with some concern that at the end of
2015 we also had a deficit, and it was closer
to $11,800. However from 2014 to 2015
our overall budget increased by 12.5% (or
about $100,000). So in financial terms the
size of what we do grew by 12.5% but the
deficit grew by much less. Of course we
cannot continue to operate under a deficit
and the goal for the 2016 budget is to
recover the deficits of the previous 2 years.
However under God's grace our goal is to
spend as much on ministry as we possibly
can. The Micah Movement demonstrated
that there are ample ideas and
opportunities within our parish and
beyond, and in many cases one key
limitation is funding.
One feature of our finances has been the
need to refinance our building loan. It was
held by the Glebe Administration Board,
and was required to be
renewed this year. The
Glebe Board, an
organisation run by the
Diocese, also informed us
that it was no longer
handling these type of
loans. As a result we
applied and successfully
refinanced the loan
through Westpac.
Through contributions to
our building fund, from
parish members, we have
paid approximately $350,000 off the
balance of the loan in the 3 years since it
was first taken out. The outstanding
balance is approximately $1.5M. Some
more encouraging news is that the
repayments have reduced from $15,500 per
month to $9,735 per month, a reduction of
$5,765 per month. We would love to retain
the existing level of support to the property
fund so that we can get ahead of
repayments, reducing our interest and
building up a buffer for the future. We are
constantly thankful to God for the blessing
of the new building and the opportunities
for ministry that it opens up.
As an ongoing part of our ministry at DAC
we have said hello to some staff and
goodbye to others. In all cases we have seen
God working in the lives of the staff,
teaching them and leading them to new
challenges and opportunities.
In 2015 the following people joined the
team: Stuart Jansen (Ministry Trainee), Gabi
De Vries (Ministry Trainee), Jamie McKenzie
(Student Minister), April Eames (Café
Trainee), Ian Morrison (Childrens' Minister),
Linda Thomson (Women’s Ministry Trainee).
Additions for 2016 include: Kelsie Hall
(Ministry Trainee), Rick Miller (Assistant
Ministry – Part Time), Jason McPhail
(Assistant Minister).
We also said goodbye to Scott Goode, Gabi
De Vries and especially sadly, Lyndall Bailey
who passed away earlier this year.
-Simon Webb, Jim Bailey & Jason Bell
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