## **TRUSTEES’ ANNUAL REPORT for 2021**
The practice of the Society has been to present to the AGM a report of Trustees for the calendar year immediately preceding. As in 2020, the work of the Society in 2021 was affected by the continuing Covid 19 pandemic. Officers and members have maintained the vitality of the Society throughout the year and the Trustees are immensely grateful for their attention and support.
The Society’s AGM was held virtually on 20 March 2021. The general business of the AGM was efficiently transacted. Elizabeth Wilson was elected unopposed as Chair of the Society and Paul Benfield, Lee Coley, Edward Dobson, Sam Maginnis, and Neil Patterson were elected as Charity Trustees. The President, the Rt Revd Christopher Hill, thanked Mark Hill QC
for his time as Chairman and commented upon how, whilst Mark was in the chair, the Society had established a strong, wide and varied programme and how there had been substantial growth in the membership. Bishop Christopher thanked Mark for his wisdom, commitment and leadership and, following the meeting, a print of Doctors’ Commons was presented to Mark as a token of the Society’s appreciation.
The Trustees met on four occasions in 2021: on 3 February, 28 April, 28 July and 13 October, the first three being online and the fourth a hybrid meeting. The Standing Committee met monthly either by telephone or on Zoom.
Seven lectures (which were originally planned for London or Leeds) took place online over Zoom, covering a wider range of topics and attracting participants from all over the world. Other wellattended online events included the day conference on the Solemnization of Matrimony and a webinar on Religion and Marriage Law. Recordings of these events can still be viewed on the Society’s Youtube channel, and, along with six other new videos published to YouTube, have been viewed thousands of times. The ELS reading groups on the _Canons of the Church of England_ concluded early in the year, and ten new reading groups from across the Anglican Communion were formed to study _The Principles of Canon Law_
_Common to the Churches of the Anglican Communion._ The output of these groups has been of great assistance to the revision committee now preparing a revised _Principles_ for publication in 2022, in which the involvement of the ELS will be acknowledged. In person events returned slowly towards the end of the year, with members able to meet face-to-face at two London lectures in the autumn.
The Ecclesiastical Law Journal has been published as usual this year and it is now edited by Ben Harrison, the Revd Dr Will Adam having stood down as planned following the publication of the last edition in this calendar year. Under Will’s editorship, the Journal has continued to flourish as the foremost academic journal in the field. The Trustees are grateful for his time and commitment.
The Society’s Newsletter is now edited by Frances Godden and it has been distributed regularly to members via email. Frances wishes to keep this publication fresh and accessible and, in order to do so, will be consulting members about its ongoing development.
The Final Report of the ELS Working Party on the Clergy Discipline Measure was published in February. The Society owes a debt of thanks to convenor HH Peter Collier QC and all of his working party for this significant contribution to a key area of the Church of England’s developing law.
The Eric Kemp prize for 2021 was awarded to Denisa Ujlakyova from Oxford Brookes University for an essay titled, “Should medical practitioners be able to refuse to carry out medical procedures because they are contrary to their religious beliefs?”
The annual membership renewal proceeded as smoothly as possible and has resulted in plans to refresh our database and adjust how this links with both finance and communications. It is hoped that in future years this technology can facilitate a more efficient financial and administrative structure for the benefit of all members.
The Trustees record their gratitude to all those whose time and talent have been employed in furthering the aims of the Society in the past year. We look forward to developing the scope of our work in the coming year which will include teaching canon law in Theological Education Institutions, the Day Conference at St Alban’s Holborn, and a programme of lectures both online and in person.
2 The Ecclesiastical Law Society Registered Charity Number 1181002
## **SOCIETY’S STATEMENT OF ACCOUNTS AND REPORT FROM THE TREASURER FOR 2021**
## **RECEIPTS AND PAYMENTS FOR THE YEAR ENDING 30 JUNE 2021**
**----- Start of picture text -----**
Note 2020/21 2019/20
RECEIPTS s
£ £
Members' subscriptions 3 28,783 39,126
CUP royalty payments 7 0 6,005
Conference Income 180 2,770
Education Training Day 2,375
Sales: M. Hill Ecclesiastical Law 360 3,280
Advertising Income 300 0
Interest received 9 106
Other 85
Grants Received 2,000
Total Income 29,632 55,747
PAYMENTS
Journal costs 4 9,000 9,130
Conference and events costs 1,203
Lectures 712 184
Training Day 905
Purchases: M Hill Ecclesiastical Law 3,768
Grants Awards and Presentations 300 0
Administration costs:
Website 2,734 2,495
Other administrative costs 5 14,524 23,594
Independent examiner’s fees 660 630
Bank and subscription collection charges 573 511
Total Expenditure 28,503 42,420
Surplus/(Deficit) of Receipts over Payments 1,129 13,327
Current assets at beginning of year 6 58,834 45,507
Current assets at end of year 59,963 58,834
Cash at Bankers: COIF Deposit 17,962 17,955
CAF Bank 42,001 20,792
GoCardless 20,087
Total Current Assets 59,963 58,834
**----- End of picture text -----**
## **Notes to accounts for the year ending 30 June 2021:**
1. All the funds of the Society are unrestricted as defined by the Charities Act 2011.
2. These accounts cover the period from 1 July 2020 to 30 June 2021.
3. Members’ subscriptions are collected by cheque, direct debit, electronic transfer or credit card via the Society's website, and recorded on a cash basis.
4. The Society remains responsible for honoraria for the Editor and the Assistant Editor, and their related costs and expenses as indicated. In 2020/2021 these totalled £9,000.(2020 £9,130)
5. The administrative costs included the agreed costs paid for the Services of the Administrator, Finance Officer and Executive Secretary, their expenses and other administrative costs, e.g. travel expenses for Committee and sub-committee meetings, postage, office and stationery costs.
6. The assets are the bank balances transferred in from the previously unincorporated entity of the same name.
7. Journal Royalties were received after the year end (£3,928)
## **Treasurer’s report on the 2020/21 accounts**
The accounts for 2020/21 (year ending 30 June 2021) are set out above. They have been prepared on a cash basis.
They have been independently examined and were approved by the Trustees on 9 February 2022.
These are the accounts for the CIO’s second full year, but a year dominated by national restrictions on gatherings and where the Society’s events were online. With significant reductions in both receipts and payments as a result, the year ended with a small surplus of £1,129.
The prior year carried the administrative burden of the Society becoming a CIO and income levels were disrupted by some assets from the unincorporated charity being received at a later date. Income from Membership subscriptions in 2020/21 returned to a _normal_ level.
The production of the Journal is supported by an editorial team whose costs are met from the Society’s income. As well as serving the Society’s charitable purposes for members and others, the Journal also generates royalties from Cambridge University Press. In 2021 CUP paid the Royalties later than usual and they will be accounted for in the 2021/22 accounts.
While the Society significantly increased its online activity during 2020/21, the Trustees decided that these events would be provided free of charge. Nonetheless, this incurred increased IT related costs.
Other Administration costs reduced as a result of changes in the Society’s support team, replacing one provider with another at a lower cost. In addition, there was a much lower level of travel and subsistence for Trustees and service providers.
The Society held cash reserves at 30 June 2021 of £59,963.
## **Darren Oliver Treasurer**
2 The Ecclesiastical Law Society Registered Charity Number 1181002
3 The Ecclesiastical Law Society Registered Charity Number 1181002
Forrest Burlinson
CHAR TERED ACCOUNTANTS
& REGISTEAEO AUDITORS
INDEPENDENT EXAMINERS REPORT TO THE TRUSTEES OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL LAW SOCIEri
I report to the charity tru5tee5 on my examination of the accounts of the Charitable Incorporated Organisation
ICIOI for the year ended 30 June 2021.
Responsibilities and ba515 of report
As the charity trustees of the CIO you are responslble for the preparation of the accounts In accordance
with the requirements of the Charities Act 20111'the Act'l.
I report In respect of my examinatlon of the CIO'5 account5 carried out under sectlon 145 of the 2011 Act.
In carrying out my examlnatlon I have followed all the applicable 05rectlons 8Sven by the Charity Commlsslon
under section 14515llbl of the 2011 Art.
Independent examlnerfs statement
I have completed my examination. I confirm that no material matters have come to my attention in
connection wlth the examination giving me cause to belleve that, In any material respect..
accountin8 records were not kept In respect of the CIO as requlred by sectlon 130 of the Act.. or
the accounts do not accord with the accounting records
I have no concerns and have come across no other matter5 in connection wlth the examination to which
attention should be drawn In this report in order to enable a proper understanding of the accounts to be
reached.
21
Use of our report
This report is made solely to the charity trustees, as a body. My work has been undertaken 50 that
I might state to the charity trustees those matters l am required to state to them in an Independent
Examiner's report and for no other purpose. To the fullest extent pemltted by law, I do not accept or
assume responslblllty to anyone other than the charity and the charity trustees as a body, for my
work, for th15 report, for the statements I have made, or for the opinlons I have stated.
dated 24 January 2022
Ebrahlrn Suleman, Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales
for and on behalf of Forrest 8urlinson Chirtered Accountants
Partners:
Simonsheard l Ebrahlmsulema
V 200wl Lane Dew5buiy West Yorkshire WF12 7RQ
C 01924 465851
01924 457001
(a info@lorrestburllnson.co.uk
WbYW.forrestburlinson.co.uk
AssiKiate'.
DarrenBroadbpnt FcACTA,ATTIFIl
t1p10laInIlltY All(#
Tax Manager.. Adamcarney A((A