Minutes of the Diocesan Council Meeting Diocese of Natal held on Saturday, 4 August 2012 Diocese of Natal MINUTES OF A MEETING OF THE DIOCESAN COUNCIL WHICH WAS HELD AT THE CATHEDRAL CENTRE, PIETERMARITZBURG, ON SATURDAY, 4 AUGUST 2012 AT 09h00 PRESENT The Rt Revd R Phillip, Bishop of Natal In the Chair The Rt Revd Dr. HCN Ndwandwe, Bishop Suffragan Southern Episcopal Area The Rt Revd TE Seleoane, Bishop Suffragan North West Episcopal Area Advocate WER Raubenheimer Trustee Mr RAC Greenwood Diocesan Secretary Mr GJ McDowell Property Manager Mr BM Pillay Finance Manager Cathedral/Pietermaritzburg The Revd MV Mqadi, Mr FJ Muller, Mr M Zondi Ingagane Mr Q Ngubane, Mrs L Selepe, Mr K Zwane, Ms M Mdlalose Msunduzi The Venerable B Mangena, the Revd E Gallant, the Revd L Gumede, Dr M Nzimande Umkhomazi The Revd W van Heerden, Mrs L Morris Umngeni Mr S Mkhize Uthukela The Revd M Khumalo, Mr M Mbhele 1 Minutes of the Diocesan Council Meeting Diocese of Natal held on Saturday, 4 August 2012 Durban The Venerable GM Laban, Mr D Trudgeon Durban Ridge The Venerable NM Msimango, the Revd T Tembe, Mr W Abrahams Durban South The Venerable WP Dludla, the Revd M Zondi, Mr W Joshua, Mr A Mvelase, the Revd M Zondi Lovu The Revd M Wishart, the Revd M Silva, Mr A Cooper North Coast The Venerable PC Houston, the Revd C Mahaye, Ms P Nzuza 2 Minutes of the Diocesan Council Meeting Diocese of Natal held on Saturday, 4 August 2012 North Durban The Venerable M Skevington Pinetown The Venerable Dr AE Warmback, the Revd G Thompson, Ms T Maseatile, Mr E Pines, Mr S Zondi Umzimkhulu The Venerable P Nene, Ms L Cebisa Diocesan Committees The Revd Canon Dr P Wyngaard, The Revd GA Thompson, Mrs R Phillip, Ms Z Mbongwe, Mrs N Vilakazi, Mr K Dube, Ms Z Hlatshwayo 1. WELCOME Bishop Rubin asked the Archdeaconry of Ingagane to lead the meeting in worship. He said the Archdeaconry of North Coast would lead worship at the next Diocesan Council Meeting. The Scripture reading was from Ephesians Chapter 4 versus 1 – 6. The challenge is to live up to your calling for the Lord’s sake. To ensure the unity of the spirit and for all parishes and regions to be united in the Lord. Mr Ngubane then introduced those who had lead the worship. Bishop Rubin thanked the Archdeaconry of Ingagane and welcomed everyone, particularly those who were attending Diocesan Council for the first time. Special mention was made of the new Mother’s Union President, Mrs Vilakazi. He congratulated the Venerable May Laban on her recent birthday and the Revd Gary Thompson on becoming a grandfather. He said that the Diocesan Council is a very important body in the Diocese of Natal. The highest decision making body was Synod followed by Diocesan Council which is made up of the regions with representatives elected from those regions, these included the Archdeacon, a clergy person and lay representatives. He also said that although the Diocese is Episcopally lead by the Bishops it is Canonically governed. Bishop Rubin said that prayers for today were for : ● El Camino Real –(Province VIII) Bishop Mary Gray-Reeves ● Hayfields, St Matthew – Clergy: Siyabulela Gidi & his family, (newly appointed Rector) , John Roberts & Cindy. ● for Diocesan Council in PMB . ● for all laity actively involved in ministry; for the appointment of an Archbishop of Canterbury. 2. APOLOGIES 3 Minutes of the Diocesan Council Meeting Diocese of Natal held on Saturday, 4 August 2012 Bishop Rubin asked that the Venerable Mosdell and Venerable Ngcobo were kept in our prayers as they were both not well. Cathedral/Pietermaritzburg The Very Revd NL Sibisi, Ms S Shezi Ingagane The Venerable N Ngcobo, the Revd SW Zulu Umkhomazi The Venerable F Thacker, the Revd ZP Shange, Mr M Mququ, Mr D Soni, Miss M Ndela Umngeni The Venerable P Mosdell, the Revd D Shezi, Mrs R Clark Uthukela The Venerable CT Ngcobo Durban The Revd D Goldstone, Ms R Thammiah Durban Ridge Mr S Qwabe Durban South The Revd B Nqindi Lovu The Revd T Bell North Coast Mr T Gubevu, Ms J Gumede North Durban The Revd M Brower, Mr K Johns, Mr D Hoffland Umzimkhulu The Revd T Mdunge, Mr M Carless, Mrs M Carless Diocesan Committees The Revd TL Bell - Liturgical 3. Confirmation of the Minutes of the Meeting held on 4 MAY, 2012 The minutes of the meeting held on 4 May, 2012 were confirmed subject to the Venerable WP Dludla’s name being spelt correctly. 4 Minutes of the Diocesan Council Meeting Diocese of Natal held on Saturday, 4 August 2012 4. Matters Arising from the Minutes 4.1 Provincial Synod Resolution on Education Bishop Rubin said that he had approached someone to head an Education Committee but at the moment she was involved in a project, he would approach her again once it was completed. He also said that St Mary’s Diocesan School was hosting a meeting of Heads of all Diocesan Schools in Southern Africa, he would raise this matter again then. 4.2 Auditors/Churchwardens responsibilities Bishop Rubin said that everything one needs to know about our PBO status is contained in the Parish Manual. Bishop Nkosinathi asked what the impact of all the organizations would be on the PBO status. The Diocesan Secretary replied that all organisations under the umbrella of the Church need to submit their Annual Financial Statement to the Diocesan Office. This information can be included in or attached to the Blue Form of the Parish. SARS need to know the total gross income of the Diocese. Rental of property can cause a problem if it is more than 5% of the gross income of the Diocese as the Diocese would be required to pay tax. In any event 85% of the income of the Diocese has to be related to what our main objective is, which is being a church. The Finance Manager mentioned that it was necessary for all organisations (eg. Mothers’ Union, St Bernard Mizeki, AWF, St Agnes Guild) not to have individual bank accounts and work independently but to work through the Parish account. He also said that when Clergy fill in their tax returns they must be honest about their income as SARS is now monitoring the Diocese. Bishop Rubin said that he would be writing to the different organisations to arrange a meeting with them to discuss their Annual Financial Statements. 5. ARCHDEACONRY REPORTS/MOTIONS Bishop Rubin asked that the person presenting the report not necessarily read the report as these had already been sent out and were taken as read, but that one or two points be highlighted. 5.1 Cathedral/Pietermaritzburg 5 Minutes of the Diocesan Council Meeting Diocese of Natal held on Saturday, 4 August 2012 The Revd Vusi Mqadi presented the report in the absence of Dean Sibisi who was on leave. He said that youth members of St David’s Prestbury had joined the Cathedral youth for a very successful weekend leadership camp which was held at L’Abri near Greytown. He said that Vernon Hammond had contributed to the training at the camp. Bishop Rubin informed the meeting that the Revd Vusi Mqadi would be moving at the end of the year to take up a position at the Parish of St Augustine’s, Umlazi and that Dr Makhosi Nzimande would be joining the Cathedral and would be ordained a Deacon in November. 5.2 Ingagane It was noted that The Venerable Ngcobo had submitted his report and sent in his apologies. No one spoke to it. 5.3 Msunduzi The Venerable Mangena presented her report saying that there was a lot of positive work taking place in the region although it had been quite difficult with the merging of two archdeaconries to get all the clergy together for meetings for one reason or another. When the clergy had met they had agreed that youth development and training would be the priority for this year. They had invited the Revd Kevin Robertson from Emseni Youth Development to speak to the clergy. The content of his discussion, with notes, was shared extensively at the last Regional Council meeting. Parishes have been given preparatory work to do before actual training can begin. Retired priest, the Revd Johann Vilakazi, addressed Regional Council on his PHD research.. 5.4 Umkhomazi The Revd Wayne van Heerden presented the report in the absence of the Venerable Frankie Thacker who is on sabbatical in the UK. He said that : ● Lay Ministers had attended a Lay Ministers’ Workshop held at the Cathedral on 23 June lead by Bishop Nkosinathi. A similar workshop will take place at Springvale in isiZulu on 18 August. ● Parish of Richmond hosted a Clergy Forum at which the Director of PACSA spoke on Gender Violence bringing useful resources to share with the clergy. ● Retired priest, the Revd Johann Vilakazi, addressed Regional Council on his PHD research on the potential of ‘Outstations’ (Chapelries) with particular reference to rural areas. 6 Minutes of the Diocesan Council Meeting Diocese of Natal held on Saturday, 4 August 2012 ● There had been prayers for the Revd Shange who had recently lost her husband and had an accident in which she rolled the parish vehicle. ● The Revd Kevin Reddiar is doing a sterling job in the Parish of Ixopo. ● St Mary’s were involved in organizing a soccer tournament for 14 local schools. ● Eston Mid Illovo United Church was broken into but fortunately nothing stolen. ● St Bernard Mizeki Diocesan School is still being dealt with by st the Department of Education.