1

FINANCIAL CONSULTATIONS

2015

Welcome

Life - Giving• Any understanding of Christian

giving must start with God – recognising it is the heart of His character.

• “God gives what God is – his life. The gift is not a substitute for God. It is God, God in motion, God in action.” Rowan Williams

“For God so loved the world that he gave…….”John 3:16a

His giving is what should provoke our thanks-giving• ‘All that we have, and all that we

are’… …originates in God’s generosity

• And so our giving is the natural response to this…

‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.’ Psalm 118:1

A Biblical framework for Christian giving…• Prayerful – an act of worship and

thanksgiving. (1 Chron 29.10-14)• Priority – not the ‘spare change’ after all

other needs have been satisfied (2 Cor 8)• Proportionate – assessed in relation to all

we have (Deut 26.2-3, 1 Cor 16.2, 2 Cor 8.5)• Planned – but not prescriptive and always

allowing for spontaneity! (2 Cor 9.7)

How: simple ingredients…

One - Praying, preaching and teaching about giving, sharing and discipleship

Two - Linking giving with vision

Three - Regularly thanking people

Four - Structured approaches to annual renewal

New Christian Giving Resource…

• Support for senior leaders in developing and sharing a diocesan wide vision for generous Christian giving

• Oversight and professional skill to develop good and accessible resources to support parishes – Grants, Friend, Legacies etc and oversee the introduction of the Church of England’s ‘Parish Giving Scheme’

• A resource to work with Area Teams to identify and focus on support for specific deanery/parish priorities and initiatives.

“If this scheme becomes the principal funding method for your Church, you will have inflation-proofed your giving, maximized your cash-flow and minimised your administration.”

Parish Giving Scheme

• A quality launch• Automated

administration• Regular review• Opportunity to index

link (60% of donations…)