Progressive Christianity Network Britain
Registered Charity No: 1102164
Annual Report & Financial Report 1[st] January - 31[st] December 2022
In 2022, the sixth and final film in the Made of Stories series was released.
Registered address
26 High Street, Newnham, Gloucestershire, GL14 1BB
The Progressive Christianity Network Britain
Registered Charity No : 1102164 Governing Document Constitution adopted 22[nd] September 2003, and amended 19[th] January 2004, 12[th] November 2005, 24[th] October 2009 and 20[th] April 2013
Object of the Charity The advancement of the Christian Religion in such exclusively charitable ways as the trustees in their absolute discretion see fit.
- Main activities i. Promoting a way of living consistent with the 8 points and with a progressive, inclusive, open approach to religion.
ii. Supporting groups of PCN members and non-members to explore a progressive understanding of Christianity. iii. Supporting and encouraging members of the Progressive Christianity Network, both those whose faith is lived out within the community of church as expressed in mainstream denominational Christianity and those outside of any such organised institutional Christian framework.
- iv. Networking, conferencing and providing forums for open debate about all aspects of Christianity, including interaction with people of other faiths.
v. Engaging in discussion and negotiation with members of different Christian denominations, promoting agendas and understandings that are both liberating and radical.
vi. Developing and encouraging progressive Christian congregations and communities. vii. Promoting membership of PCN Britain
Address: 26 High Street, Newnham, Gloucestershire, GL14 1BB Bankers: The Co-operative Bank
Independent Examiner Rachel Witham
Trustees for the period of this report :
Chair Adrian Alker (until June), Simon Cross (from June) Vice chair: Simon Cross (until June), Jackie Wiegman (from June) Secretary: Sandra Griffiths Treasurer: Peter Stribblehill Adrian Alker (from June) Dave Coaker Sue Hobley Naomi Nixon Tony Sanchez Gwen Wills
Martin Bassant Ian Geere (until March) Jenny Jacobs Paul Onslow Jackie Wiegman (until June)
2
Chair’s Report on the Network in 2022 by Simon Cross
The long shadow of Covid 19 was only barely diminished last year when we had our first in person event since the beginning of the outbreak, fittingly it was our AGM where we heard from Chris Maunder about his work on the historical Mary. We have that same ‘long shadow’ to thank for introducing us to the software we use for this year’s AGM – ironically ‘virtual’ again, although this year due to rail strikes rather than a pandemic.
As one of the other trustees mentioned recently, as ‘progressive’ Christians we should expect to be progressive across the board, that probably means learning to fully embrace the possibilities offered by new technologies where they can enrich our life together. It’s been very interesting to be able to join one or two of our groups who have fully embraced this as a way of meeting, and to see the way that this allows them to draw in folk who otherwise would have been too far apart to be able to meet together.
As well as the geographical spread, there is of course a broad spectrum of individual positions on all kinds of things within the network. This too continues to be a joy to experience and interact with – that we’re able to listen to one another and learn from different perspectives (new and old) should surely be a source of hope and inspiration.
As many of us know, PCN as network sits in a broader ‘field’ of other organisations and charities with similar aims and approaches. It has been good, this year, to deepen and develop links with Inclusive Church, Modern Church, One Body One Faith, SCM, and Open Table Network among others. It is to be hoped that greater co-working with organisations will enable us to develop our work, and to engage with a greater variety of folk who are not currently aware of PCN as a network. With this in mind, we’ve also been talking to Greenbelt (where we had a stall again in 2022) about ways that we might develop some work that would benefit the festival but also help us strengthen our network, discussions are ongoing.
Perhaps the closest relationship we have is with Student Christian Movement (SCM), Naomi Nixon the Chief Executive Officer of SCM is a co-opted trustee for PCN and we hope to find ways to develop and strengthen this link in particular. With that in mind I was delighted to spend time with SCM members at their annual conference last year, getting to know such a talented and energetic group of young people was really encouraging, they are not just the future of the progressive movement, they are the present of it too. It seems clear that part of our work is to ensure that what we do represents the way they see the world, and the church, too.
I’m greatly encouraged, of course, by the work of our trustees. Each contributes in different ways, bringing wisdom, experience, and enthusiasm to different elements of our work. Martin Bassant, as many know, has a particular interest in all things scientific – so I felt for him as the ‘Thinking Science, Thinking Faith’ was multiply postponed and rearranged during the pandemic. We were able to host three ‘virtual’ seminars by some very different scholars during the autumn, which provided food for thought and discussion for us all – the thoughts of one of the speakers in particular helped us consider how we might develop a conference on ‘Disability’ which we plan to hold (in person!) in September.
I could single out each of the trustees for their particular contribution, but I’d run out of space in this report. I must though note the work of Adrian Alker, whose final term as a trustee comes to an end this year, Adrian was elected chair in 2015 and has been an active member since well before that. One of Adrian’s many achievements in the role has been to champion the development of the series of short films which we called ‘Made of Stories’. The final film in this series was released (people say ‘dropped’ now, I’m told) in 2022, if you’ve not yet watched it I encourage you to do so, it’s challenging and insightful, and provides much food for thought and fruitful reflection. Ian Geere was also deeply involved in making this
3
project happen, he stepped down as a trustee in 2022, but stayed involved in the film project, we’re greatly appreciative of his help.
It has been my privilege to take on the chair that Adrian has vacated, but I note that he’s not slipping off into the night, he is now hard at work on a book which will follow up on his last one… an expectant public awaits!
As a network we are reliant on some deeply committed volunteers and of course our one employee – to whom I shall return. I must first, though, acknowledge with great thanks the work of Jess Lee, our DVD librarian, not the most glamorous of roles in the network… (come to think of it, I’m not sure if we have any glamorous roles), but one that is vital for many of our members. We are very grateful for Jess’ commitment, similarly we’re deeply grateful for the work of Dave Coaker – editor of ‘Progressive Voices’ – which everyone seems to call PV – it’s far from the easiest of jobs, constantly trying to corral recalcitrant contributors and provide the network with a mixture of relevant news and interesting features, we’re very grateful for Dave’s work. Similarly we’re glad of Peter Gamston who provides web support, and we mustn’t forget to thank Peter Bellenes who until the last AGM was our web editor. We’re still learning how much work he did! As a network we’re fortunate to have Janis Knox ‘doing’ social media for us, we can’t afford to ignore this vital mode of communication as seek to develop our work.
Of course, I can’t ignore the work of our administrator, Sarah, who (really) keeps the show on the road. I dare say there’s nobody in the network who hasn’t heard from Sarah in some way or another, she helps to coordinate all of our events, brings trustees together for meetings, sticks on stamps and labels, keeps our accounts up to date, and helpfully reminds me of a range of important things (e.g.: “Have you remembered to write a chair’s report yet?” We’re very lucky to have Sarah on our team, to recognise all that she does for the network would take too long, and she’d probably have to remind me of much of it anyway! We’re very grateful for her and her obliging husband and daughter.
The backbone of PCN is our network of groups, for all those who are group convenors (your name is legion for you are many) we’re deeply thankful, we hope that we can continue to develop material that you can use when you meet. With that in mind, we have been planning the next iteration of the ‘Made of Stories’ project, rather than make more films we intend to record and distribute a series of podcasts – something you can listen to together in your groups or perhaps while you’re washing the dishes or walking the dog. We’re also working on a project to bring together just some of the many talented folk that PCN counts as members to begin creating a range of material that we can use on our website and elsewhere, in 2023 we want to find ourselves on the front foot of creating new material that talks about what it might mean to be a progressive Christian in the contemporary world.
I hope that this ‘report’ gives you some insight into the work that your trustees, volunteers, and our one staff member are engaged in – of course this is ‘our network’ it belongs to us all, so I must finally thank you – the member who reads this all the way to the end – for helping to form such a rich and rewarding network to be part of. I’m genuinely, deeply, grateful.
Simon Cross, PCN Britain Chair, March 2023
4
Financial Report for the Year Ending 31 December 2022
1. Summary
The accounts for 2022 have been prepared on the receipts and payments basis.
The accounts are prepared on the basis that the trustees are confident that PCNB is a going concern, able to meet its financial obligations for the next 12 months.
The accounts comprise the receipts and payments for the year and a balance sheet. The accounts show a deficit of £6,846 for the year with a balance on the general fund £28,201 at the end of the year.
2. Events
Donations were received from attendees at our AGM and webinars.
3. Publications
The extra costs of the Greenbelt edition of PV are shown under Greenbelt in Events
4. Website
The website expenditure reflected maintenance costs during the year.
5. Development
The Social Media Editor continues to work about 4 hours a week maintaining our media presence. £4,680 was spent on film production, being the final payment for this project.
6. Operating costs
Operations have returned closer to normal after covid. However, there were still few `live ‘events while we continued with webinars. Trustee expenses returned to their usual level and we will be looking critically at these in 2023 in an effort to be prudent with our resources.
7. Deficit
The overall deficit of £6,846 after film payments of £4,680 and Greenbelt costs £1413 (total £6,093) brings our reserves more to the level required for ongoing commitments.
Peter Stribblehill, Treasurer, March 2023
5
Section A Independent Examiner's Report R&port to the trusteesl members of Progressive Christianity Neort Britain On accounts for the year ended 31" Decernber 2022 Charity no Ilf any) 1102164 Set out on pag•s Sèvèn and Eight I report lo the Iruslees on my examination of the accounts of the above charrty I'lhe Trusl'l for the year ended 3111212022. R•spon$ibilitio$ and ba¥18 of Trport A8 the charity's trustees, you are responsible for the preparation of the accounts in accordance with the fequirements ol the Charities Act 2011 I'the Act'l. I report in respect of my examination of he Trust's accounts carried out under section 145 of the 2011 Act and in carrying out rny examination, I have followed all the applicable Directions given by the Charity Commission under section 14515llbl ol thè Act. Independent I have completed my examination. I confimi that no material rnatters have examiner'8 Statement come to my attention in connection with the examination which gives me Causè to believe that in, any material respect.. the accounting rècords were not kept in accordance with section 130 of the Charities Act., or the ao¢ounts did not accord with the accounting records., or the accounts did not comply with the applicable requirements concerning the form and conlenl of accounts sel OLJI In the Charities (Accounts and Reports) Regulations 2008 other than any requirement that the accounts give a 'lrue and lair. view which is not a matter ¢onsidered as part of an independent examination. I h8ve no ¢oncerns and have come across no other matters in connection with the exarnination to whieh attention should be drawn in this report in order lo enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be reached. Slgnèd: Dats: aLk-a-a028 Name: Relevant professional qualificationlsl or body lif any).. Addrg5$'. HILL CLUS& Ci pooerf fo£0 &L14L ap Section B Disclosure No d15Glosures or qualifications
Progressive Christianity Network Britain Receipts and Payments for the Year Ending 31 December 2022
| Membership and Donations Subscriptions Donations - general Gift Aid Memorial Fund (Restricted Fund) Donations / Expenditure Events(2) AGM Webinar donations / costs Greenbelt(3) Publications Sales Publication costs Newsletter costs Website(4) Development Projects(5) Media Editor Film Project Grants / Donations Production Expenditure Interest Received CCLA Operating Costs(6) Admin salaries Insurance Management Committee expenses Other costs Bank Charges Cash Surplus for Year(7) |
2022 | 2021 |
|---|---|---|
| Income Expenditure Net £ £ £ 20,539 - 20,539 488 - 488 3,769 - 3,769 |
Income Expenditure Net |
|
| £ £ £ |
||
| 20,782 - 20,782 |
||
| 263 - 263 |
||
| 3,958 - 3,958 |
||
| 24,796 - 24,796 |
25,003 - 25,003 |
|
| 640 (507) 133 |
||
| 150 (467) (317) 260 (87) 173 0 (1,413) (1,413) |
||
| 1,780 (989) 791 |
||
| 410 (1,967) (1,557) |
1,780 (989) 791 |
|
| 596 596 (339) (339) (4,057) (4,057) (1,874) (1,874) |
||
| 241 241 |
||
| 0 0 |
||
| (4,435) (4,435) |
||
| (1,129) (1,129) |
||
| 596 (6,270) (5,674) |
241 (5,564) (5,323) |
|
| (1,733) (1,733) 0 (4,680) (4,680) |
||
| (1,940) (1,940) |
||
| 20 20 |
||
| (1,800) (1,800) |
||
| 0 (6,413) (6,413) |
20 (3,740) (3,720) |
|
| 197 - 197 |
||
| 2 2 |
||
| 197 - 197 |
2 2 |
|
| 0 (13,305) (13,305) (452) (452) (3,410) (3,410) (759) (759) (269) (269) |
||
| 0 (12,777) (12,777) |
||
| (444) (444) |
||
| (354) (354) |
||
| (1,158) (1,158) |
||
| (269) (269) |
||
| 0 (18,195) (18,195) |
0 (15,002) (15,002) |
|
| 25,999 (32,845) (6,846) |
||
| 27,686 (25,802) 1,884 |
7
Progressive Christianity Network Britain Statement of Assets 31 December 2022
| Funds Balance at 1 January Net receipts for Year Balance at 31 December (1) |
31/12/2022 | 31/12/2021 |
|---|---|---|
| General Fund £ 35,047 (6,846) |
Total | |
| £ | ||
| 33,163 | ||
| 1,884 | ||
| 28,201 | 35,047 |
| Balance Sheet Assets Co-operative Bank CCLA Total |
31/12/2022 £ 7,795 20,406 |
31/12/2021 |
|---|---|---|
| £ | ||
| 14,839 | ||
| 20,208 | ||
| 28,201 | 35,047 |
Simon Cross, Chair
Peter Stribblehill, Treasurer
8