Here’s a list of the important dates in the Freewill Offering process for 2015, to give PCCs time to plan when they will make their offer to the Common Fund.
- March/April - Spring meetings for Deanery Financial Advisers, Rural Deans and Lay Chairs
- April/May - Deanery Financial Advisers, Rural Deans and Lay Chairs meet with PCC representatives at Deanery level
- Early May - Communications on Freewill Offers will be sent to PCCs to guide them as they make their offers to the Common Fund
- May to July - Time for PCCs to reflect on their offer for 2016. Many PCCs have found it helpful to schedule one or two meetings during this period to discuss their offer
- Friday 31 July - All 2016 offers need to be submitted to Diocesan Office by this date. This deadline is vitally important in order to ensure that the budget for the Diocese is fixed in time
- September to October - The 2016 Budget is put together by the Finance Team at Diocesan House and the approval process begins, with reviews of the budget by the Finance Sub-Committee, Diocesan Board of Finance, and Diocesan Synod
- Saturday 7 November - Diocesan Synod votes on the final 2016 budget