"The role of the Chairman of any Finance Committee is to be the ultimate pessimist, however I want to say that at the present time our finances are in a reasonable state, even given that many provinces are unable for various reasons to pay their requested contributions in full," Archbishop Robin Eames said as he presented the Inter-Anglican Finance Committee's Report to the Anglican Consultative Council meeting in Dundee, Scotland.

"But while our finances are in a sound state, it must be recognised that we would not enjoy our present position without special fundraising and the contribution of groups and individuals around the Communion. These are additional to the annual contributions from the provinces, and are vitally necessary, for the Church of England is the only province that pays its requested contribution in full," he said.

"I must pay tribute to the exceptional efforts of the Compass Rose Society and its individual members," the Archbishop said. "Without the help of these special efforts it would not be possible to present this core budget. We are dependent on special giving."

Archbishop Eames also informed ACC members that the Rev Canon John L Peterson, the Anglican Communion's Secretary General, devoted a substantial amount of time and effort to assist this special fund raising.

He emphasised that ACC members shared the responsibility of circulating and explaining information about the inter-Anglican finances to their home provinces. He stressed that this crucial role meant that it was highly desirable for provincial members of the ACC to be persons of influence whose words and views would command the respect of the people 'back home.'

The Archbishop noted that the Finance Committee adopted the policy of ensuring that the Reserve Fund capital should be capable of supplying sufficient financial resources for the operations of the Anglican Communion Secretariat for four (4) months.

With the assistance of Michael Nunn, the ACC's Finance Officer, Archbishop Eames presented a three-year budget for the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 for adoption by the Consultative Council.

After members raised questions about the adequacy of the reserve funds, the costs of the publication Anglican World, the schema on which the requested provincial contributions was based, and the amount of programmatic information and projections supplied to ACC members, the three-year budget was adopted.

Archbishop Eames concluded by paying tribute to the hard work and support of the members of the Inter-Anglican Finance Committee.