|TOP|A first meeting of the Representative Body of the Church in Wales following a three-year review of finances and structures marks the beginning of a new era for the Welsh Church.

The new Representative Body has been significantly slimmed down from 75 members to a much more workable 26 members, regarded by many in the Church as one of the most positive outcomes of the review process.

The Body met for the first time under the new chairmanship of RB Chairman Sir David Rowe-Beddoe, who also steered the review process.

“The past three years have been long and hard with much debate both about the way in which we can ensure financial sustainability for the church in the medium to long term, and also about the best way to support this with administrative structures,” he said.

|AD|“However, with last week's meeting of the new - slimmed down - Representative Body, I felt that a new era had arrived for the Church in Wales. I hope that this new incarnation of the Representative Body will serve the church well in the years to come.”

Much of the work of the new Representative Body will be conducted through 5 sub-committees. An audit committee, investment committee, property committee, Human Resources committee will have oversight of both clerics and lay staff.

A further Cathedral and Churches Commission will work independently of the property committee while the Government conducts its present review of the principles of ‘ecclesiastical exemption’.

The three year review also addressed pension provision to ensure future funding for clergy pensions, and clergy remuneration to replace the ‘subsidisation’ of the Church in Wales and its dependency on funds built on ‘past generosity’ with a modern system in which the costs of the Church are met by those attending service.

The review also focused on upgrading the nineteenth century decision making structures to a new administrative structure more appropriate to the Church in Wales in the 21st century.