Nick Hutton Diocese of Sheffield Christian Giving Director

Giving for Life Our Giving experience in Sheffield Our Giving experience in Sheffield A reminder-what is the Giving message? A reminder-what is the Giving message? Giving for Life report Giving for Life report Giving for Life message Giving for Life message Giving for Life tools Giving for Life tools Use in parishes Use in parishes

Diocese of Sheffield Has always had to work hard at Giving Has always had to work hard at Giving Particularly over last 20 years Particularly over last 20 years First to establish Giving Officer network in parishes nearly twenty years ago First to establish Giving Officer network in parishes nearly twenty years ago Significant support for work on Giving from Senior Staff, especially successive Bishops and Archdeacons Significant support for work on Giving from Senior Staff, especially successive Bishops and Archdeacons

Diocese of Sheffield RESULT Consistently in top 3 or 4 dioceses for Giving Levels Consistently in top 3 or 4 dioceses for Giving Levels 2007 (latest available figures) £12.03 per giver per week £12.03 per giver per week = 4.5% of locally adjusted income = 4.5% of locally adjusted income

My Giving message It is right for Christians to talk about money and to talk about it in church Jesus did!

My Giving message Briefly Our Giving is both practical and spiritual Our Giving is both practical and spiritual We give to resource God’s church We give to resource God’s church and to enable His work to bring about His Kingdom and to enable His work to bring about His Kingdom BUT BUT The way we do that says much about our relationship with God The way we do that says much about our relationship with God

My Giving message We should be open and transparent about money in our church What is money used for? What work does it enable? Where does it come from? Members have a right to know – it is their church, not the treasurer’s!

My Giving message Our Giving should be considered Our Giving should be considered Thought about Thought about Prayed about Prayed about It should say something of the priority we give God’s work and our church in our lives It should say something of the priority we give God’s work and our church in our lives If it is only a token it is little more than a tip for God If it is only a token it is little more than a tip for God so it should be realistic and proportionate so it should be realistic and proportionate

My Giving message We are not telling people they have to give more We are not telling people they have to give more They might well be giving generously now They might well be giving generously now We are asking them to think about their Giving in their lives We are asking them to think about their Giving in their lives As only they know what other pressures they have in their lives As only they know what other pressures they have in their lives Give help with some guidelines Give help with some guidelines

Giving Guidelines We are each called to play our part We are each called to play our part Regularly Regularly As a considered part of our family budget As a considered part of our family budget It should be realistic and proportionate It should be realistic and proportionate giving 5% of our net income to the church and working towards giving a further 5% to other causes that build God’s kingdom giving 5% of our net income to the church and working towards giving a further 5% to other causes that build God’s kingdom

Giving Guidelines Measure what we have left, not just what we give (the widow’s mite) Measure what we have left, not just what we give (the widow’s mite) Given cheerfully and warm-heartedly Given cheerfully and warm-heartedly Given sacrificially to give it priority Given sacrificially to give it priority If a taxpayer, use gift aid If a taxpayer, use gift aid

The key Giving message It is part of the package of being a member of the church. We give both to honour and thank God and to enable His church to work

Giving for Life Builds on ‘First to the Lord’ report in 2000 Builds on ‘First to the Lord’ report in 2000 ‘Giving for Life’ approved at General Synod in July ‘Giving for Life’ approved at General Synod in July ‘Giving for Life’ builds on our teaching ‘Giving for Life’ builds on our teaching It develops the work already going on in many of our parishes It develops the work already going on in many of our parishes

Giving for Life Gives local churches four key tasks Preaching and Teaching Generous Giving Preaching and Teaching Generous Giving Linking Giving to Mission and Ministry Linking Giving to Mission and Ministry Reviewing Giving Annually Reviewing Giving Annually Thanking Givers Thanking Givers

Giving for Life The Report asks us to consider the whole subject of money in a wider Christian context Not just to pay the bills or even Parish Share! Do we use our money as a tool to further God’s Kingdom?

Giving For Life It is not a response to the recession It is not a response to the recession nor is the recession a reason to avoid the subject nor is the recession a reason to avoid the subject This is an ongoing challenge in good times and bad This is an ongoing challenge in good times and bad Our message should be consistent Our message should be consistent

Life Giving Giving starts with God Giving starts with God Giving is at the heart of God’s character. Giving is at the heart of God’s 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 “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 Jesus giving his life for us is the ultimate demonstration of God’s generosity and grace Jesus giving his life for us is the ultimate demonstration of God’s generosity and grace “For God so loved the world that he gave…….” John 3:16a

God’s giving provokes our thanksgiving All that we have, and all that we are originate in God’s generosity. All that we have, and all that we are originate in God’s generosity. In what ways have we expressed our thanks for all that God has given us? In what ways have we expressed our thanks for all that God has given us? ‘Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good; his love endures forever.’ Psalm 118:1

Giving throughout Life Life is a journey Life is a journey As with many aspects of discipleship, many Christians find that they are on a journey when it comes to giving. As with many aspects of discipleship, many Christians find that they are on a journey when it comes to giving. “But just as you excel in everything - in faith, in speech, in knowledge, in complete earnestness and in your love for us – see that you also excel in this grace of giving’ 2 Cor 8:7

But it doesn’t just happen… We need to reflect regularly on what enables us to be generous, and what prevents us. We need to reflect regularly on what enables us to be generous, and what prevents us. Where are we on our journey of generous giving? Where are we on our journey of generous giving? ‘Becoming a Christian ….. is a daily process whereby you grow to be more and more like Christ.’ Billy Graham

Two yardsticks….. Do we give regularly? Do we give regularly? Do we give generously? Do we give generously? ‘On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income,’ 1 Cor 9:2

Giving in all of Life We are challenged to be generous in every aspect of our lives. We are challenged to be generous in every aspect of our lives. Not just about giving of money, but including the giving of money. Not just about giving of money, but including the giving of money. Also hospitality, time, skills….. at home, at work, in church. Also hospitality, time, skills….. at home, at work, in church. “You can give without loving, but you cannot love without giving.” Amy Carmichael, Missionary to India

What can I do? Give thanks Give thanks Give regularly Give regularly Give generously Give generously Give ourself Give ourself ‘Were the whole realm of nature mine, that were an offering far too small Love so amazing, so divine, demands my soul, my life, my all.’ Isaac Watts

Giving for Life Material available PCC packs Individual leaflets Clergy Guide Support on Parish Resources website (

Giving for Life All PCCs are being asked to consider how to use Giving for Life in their parishes All PCCs are being asked to consider how to use Giving for Life in their parishes Lent Study? Lent Study? Basis for Giving Renewal? Basis for Giving Renewal? As part of their Annual Giving Review? As part of their Annual Giving Review? Involve me if you wish Involve me if you wish

Giving for Life Please will all parishes consider how they might use this to teach generosity and help us to grow as Christians