Save the Date: a Parish Officers' Day is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, April 5, 2025, in Fredericton.
Official Portrait of His Majesty King Charles III
The official Canadian portraits of Their Majesties the King and the Queen are now available here.
Parish Officer Handbook
Please refer to this page for information and synod policies, regulations and directives particularly relevant to parish corporations.
Synod Financial Resources for Parishes
e-Offering Program
DIMS - Diocesan Information Management System
DIMS is used in the Diocese of Fredericton to effectively maintain accurate real-time contact and role information for ordained and lay people. If you have misplaced, forgotten or need the parish username and password, contact the Bishop's Office. Always keep your username and password secure. For a basic overview, please refer to this view in pictures.
DIMS Errors Update
DIMS is not working when one tries to add a new "record", e.g., a new person or a new statistics or financial report. Modifying existing records or changing people roles, however, does not present any difficulties. Annual financial and statistical reporting is now completed using a different form tool.
Parish Roles, Statistical and Financial Returns
The annual parish returns of statistical and financial information as well as indicating those assigned to specific parish roles is normally due by March 15 by entry into designated forms. Further details are on this page.
Parish Annual Meetings
Parishes are required to hold their Annual Meetings between January 1 and the third Sunday in March. Please refer to this page for further information and resources.
Insurance Questions
Contact Philip Shepherdson, Synod Comptroller, or Barbara McGuire of Marsh Canada at (902) 490-2106
Purchase or Selling/Leasing of Property
Please read the following policies and then contact the Property Committee:
- Policy A-3 Disposition of Real Property and Demolition of Buildings
- Policy A-9 Purchase of Real Property and New Construction and Renovation
Corporation Papers (e.g., for request from bank)
We are receiving more enquiries that banks wish to see corporation papers to change signing officers. Parishes do not have corporate papers in the ordinary sense, but are incorporated by a special act of the Legislature, the Anglican Church Act, particularly a combination of s. 2 (4) and the list of parishes in the Schedule. You will also need to provide a Vestry resolution naming financial signing officers, which are the ones provided for in Canon Six.
Episcopal Visitation
If you wish Archbishop David to visit your Sunday morning or special worship service, please ask through his office. His Sunday schedule can be found on the diocesan events calendar.
Political Activity
Parish corporations are reminded that their charitable status requires them to stay out of partisan political activity.
The Income Tax Act defines partisan activity as “the direct or indirect support of, or opposition to, any political party or candidate for public office” (Income Tax Act, s. 149.1). Accordingly, parishes should not be renting their facilities to or allowing them to be used by political parties or candidates. The pertinent Canada Revenue Agency guidance bulletin indicates that a charity’s failure to treat political candidates with fairly precise equality would amount to the prohibited “support” of some candidate or party. It would seem, then, that renting parish facilities to one candidate among several would be caught by the prohibition. On the other hand, it would not violate the Income Tax Act to rent parish facilities for use as a polling place. It would also seem acceptable to host an all-candidates meeting provided all candidates were treated equally.
Video from the Evangelical Fellowship of Canada on what churches can and cannot do
On Fundraising Methods
The 128th Diocesan Synod passed the following motion (#128‐17, 2005):
That this Diocesan Synod reiterates its official position on the detrimental effects of gambling and lotteries, both inside the Church and in wider society. These activities often bring harm to the less fortunate and seldom prove to enhance the lives of those more fortunate who experience financial gain from them. In the interest of keeping our moral house in order, this Synod affirms that such means of fundraising are against the tradition and teaching upheld by the Diocese of Fredericton and parishes are to be encouraged to promote good stewardship and direct giving as the highest method of Church support.
Food Safety
- ABCs of Food Safety
- NB Public Health Resources
- NB Food Premises Regulation (as of August 2020)
Church Building Signs
Need a new standard Anglican Church of Canada sign for your building? Five06 Signs in Fredericton offers a good product. Signs can also again be ordered through the Anglican Church of Canada online store.
