Information

Synod Standing Committee has approved changes to the Sales Proceeds Policy that will provide significant relief for many congregations.

The outcome of a three-year policy review will see the maintenance of the 10% tithe as a resource for strategic areas and initiatives in need of funds, protect the church from financial liability due to deferred maintenance, assist congregations facing financial hardship or burdened by the care of costly or heritage-listed buildings, and allow congregations reasonable time to use sales proceeds appropriately without losing the funds.

The review of the sales proceeds policy involved a series of workshops with a representative group of stakeholders, forums for feedback on the policy, discussions with congregations and written submissions.

In August, Standing Committee decided:

• the Sales Proceeds Policy applies to congregation properties;
• the tithe on sales proceeds be maintained at 10%;
• sales proceeds should be allowed to be used for critical repairs and maintenance in conditions of substantiated financial hardship and, after being recommended by presbytery, sales proceeds should be allowed to be used for operational and other expenses in special circumstances of substantiated economic hardship due to major events such as fire, drought and flood;
• sales proceeds should be able to be used for building sinking funds in special circumstances, such as large costly buildings or heritage listed buildings; and
• the three-year “use it or lose it” principle should be disbanded and presbyteries should review any unused sales proceeds within their respective bounds at least every three years.

In situations where there is clearly no intended planned use, regardless of whether three years have passed, a presbytery may formulate proposals for the use of those sales proceeds and make recommendations to Uniting Resources.

The latest version of the policy can be seen here.