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Take a look at some of the services provided by Union staff at Resource House. They may be of real benefit in your fellowship and enable some members to make an invaluable contribution to the life of the church.
FINANCE
Payroll
We can prepare your fellowship's monthly salaries and payroll records for those you employ, producing payslips and details of the amounts due for PAYE & NIC to the Collector of Taxes. We also process year end P14s, P35s and P60 forms and help with P45s when needed.
Our fees, which are very competitive, are £150 per annum for the first employee and £100 for each subsequent record required.
We will also file your year-end returns electronically and you will receive the Inland Revenue incentives for small employers, currently worth around £500 over the next 3 years!
To sign up for this service, contact Beatrice Anderson, at Resource House, on 0141 433 4557.
Cash Deposits
We are happy to open an account for your church's excess funds with instant access for any amount after interest credited monthly. There is potential here, both for individual churches and the Union as a whole to really benefit. At present, over 50 churches use the service and the returns are considerable. Due to the large volume of deposits managed by the Union we can command a better than normal rate. Churches will normally receive a higher rate than from their normal savings account and the Union will also benefit from the higher interest received.
A statement will be sent out each month and, if you send us a letter of authorisation, we can transfer any monies you require direct to your church's bank account. Please consider making use of this service.
Loans for New Building & Refurbishment
It is hoped that one of the benefits of increased uptake of our deposit service will be an ability to make loans available to churches at very competitive rates. Please speak to me, Norman McNeish, on 0141 433 4552, if you have any building project or proposed Manse purchase in the pipeline.
Loans can be repaid over a period of up to ten years. For loans of over £20,000 we would require full security over the church property and the legal fees involved are payable by the church.
Computer Accounting Package
At the Union's offices, we have installed a computer software package to handle our accounts. If you wish, our Finance Director, Norman McNeish, would be happy to help you install, and train you in, the running of this system. Hundreds of churches and charities now use it and, at a purchase cost of around £120, it won't break the bank. Annual maintenance costs are about £60 and your auditor will be pleased with the results. A number of churches have already had our assistance with switching to the package - so please make contact with Norman if you think he can help YOU.
PROPERTY
Retirement Property
The Baptist Union of Scotland is aware that some pastors reach retirement age with no home to go to once they leave "the manse". Our Retirement Property Group seeks to ensure that suitable and affordable accommodation is available for pastors and their wives finding themselves in such circumstances.
Please encourage your minister to contact them well before retirement if he's likely to need their help. You can access the group through June McFarlane, the Office Manager at Resource House, on 0141 433 4550.
Property Group
If you're considering alterations, repairs or even a new church building, it may be helpful to you to get advice from the Union's Property Group first. You can access the members through the Office Manager at Resource House.
A PLACE TO MEET
Resource House
Out of hours, the Baptist Union office building itself is a resource for churches.
A converted villa house in the Glasgow suburb of Pollokshields, it's a well equipped venue for Deacons' retreats, Alpha Away Days, etc, with a Board Room seating 40 and a comfortable lounge with sofas for up to 15. The kitchen and dining room can also be available, if you wish to cook for your group.
Transport links are excellent and the building is within easy reach of Glasgow city centre.
There is no set charge for use of these facilities, but a donation towards running costs would be much appreciated. Check the building's availability, and make bookings, through Roberta at Resource House on 0141 423 6169, switchboard option 7.
COMMUNICATIONS
Connect
The Baptist Union of Scotland publishes a monthly newsletter, called “Connect”, which is available as a download from this website or can be sent direct to subscribers as an e-mailed pdf file. It is also possible to receive a monthly hard copy though the post – although, to help with costs, there is a charge of £3.50 per year for this.
Contributions of church/event news, photographs and prayer requests are welcome, and these should be sent to Roberta, at the Baptist Union of Scotland office, by the first of each month.
Praxis
This is a thrice-yearly publication for church leaders. Like “Connect”, it can be downloaded from this site but, to allow for maximum accessibility, a small quantity is sent to each church secretary for distribution among their church's leadership.
Praxis is compiled by an editorial team, currently comprising Revs Ian Birch and Steve Younger, Rev Dr Edward Burrows, Mrs Lesley Messer and Ms Roberta Hope. They would be happy to receive comments or suggestions for topics to be included in Praxis and these can be submitted via Roberta at the Baptist Union offices.
“Connect News Extra”
If you'd like to publicise something at short notice, or have an urgent prayer request you want to share with your fellow-Baptists, an e-mailed “newsflash” – termed a “Connect News Extra”- can often be sent round to our Union's list of e-mail subscribers. E-mail your message to Roberta if you'd like to take advantage of this service.
Website and Yearbook Directories
As you may already have noticed, a directory of our Union churches (and a few non-Union churches who still maintain contact) appears on this website. A more detailed directory also appears in our Scottish Baptist Yearbook.
It is a difficult task to keep track of personnel changes within our churches, and maintain an up-to-date database, so it would be helpful if churches notify us whenever someone stands down or moves on from holding office. We can also, on request, share this information in “Connect” – but only with the full knowledge of the person whose details will appear.
CONTACT
If you'd like to talk to someone about a publications or communications matter, or get general information on our Union's services or personnel, your starting point is Roberta Hope. Contact her on 0141 423 6169 (switchboard option 7), e-mail admin @ scottishbaptist.org.uk, FAX 0141 424 1422 or at The Baptist Union of Scotland, 14 Aytoun Road, Glasgow, G41 5RT.
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