Synod Pioneer
Fund

SYNOD PIONEER FUND - A Pioneering look at Finance
(Extract from the Draft Synod Finance Policy 2008)

Capital may be released against the following agreed rules under the Eastern Synod Pioneer Fund.

  1. Application may be made by any local church in the Eastern Synod, in respect of a development area by the Synod Mission Committee or in respect of a “pioneer ministry” by the Synod Pastoral Committee.
     
  2. Any application must have the support of the Area Partnership(s) that accommodates the application within its area of operation, the support of Synod through its various committees and the Trust Company as appropriate.
     
  3. In accordance with the precepts of the Basis of Union preference will be given to projects of an ecumenical nature.
     
  4. Each applicant body will be expected to provide:
  • Evidence of an honest appraisal of its situation within the local community in which it will operate.
     
  • Evidence of a full exploration of the opportunities for ecumenical cooperation
     
  • Confirmation of a thorough investigation of other sources of finance, or of the financial input of partner organisations.
     
  • A detailed and a fully costed professionally prepared plan with full information of the way in which the project will be managed through its development and planning stage, its implementation and its ongoing operation.  Expenditure timing estimates are essential.  Applicants must expect to make a personal presentation to the Synod Resources Committee as part of the process of seeking approval.

  1. The Synod Pioneer Fund is normally for projects that require a minimum grant of £250,000.  The Synod Resources Committee may not approve any expenditure beyond the limit of the amount that is held in the Pioneer Fund Reserve Account.
     

  2. The Synod Resources Committee will monitor the projects throughout, together with the Synod Finance and Property Officers and the Applicant body, and will report all applications and their progress to a full meeting of Synod.

Pioneer Fund Criteria and Process Guidance Note
Pioneer Fund Application Form

The current Pioneer Fund balance
as at 21 June 2010 £442,846

Details of Applications Received
Christ Church Braintree (Stage 2 - no decision made)
Wroxham & Hoveton (Refused)
Linton/Beacon Community Trust (Stage 2 - no decision made)
Synod Mission Committee (Stage 2 - no decision made)

In practice any church considering a Pioneer Project should, before commencing any planning, contact the Resources Officer
Penelope Davies-Brown - eastern.resources@urc.org.uk.