1. 1 INTRODUCTION : key points
enthusiastically endorsed by General Synod in July 2009
Good practice for parishes – help to develop strategy and identify priorities 1

2. Four words underpin the report….
Discipleship
Mission
Lifestyle
Generosity
There are four vital concepts underlying this report.
- Discipleship – that how we handle money, wealth and possessions is a central part of our discipleship. Billy Graham has described the bank statement as a theological document – that it reveals our priorities and values in life perhaps more clearly than any other thing.
- Lifestyle – that generous giving cannot be from that which is spare. King David refuses to give to God a sacrifice that cost nothing. Generosity will have an impact on our lifestyle – in how we decide to allocate our time, our money, our skills and talents.
- Mission – that our giving (again of time, money and talents) resources God’s mission in the world. When we give to support our local church, we are also giving to resource Mission and Ministry. But often the connection is not made well and committed regular givers don’t really understand where their giving is going.
- Generosity – that generosity is one of the values that should mark us out as Christians – whether the generosity in giving money shown by the widow’s mite, the generosity of the Good Samaritan in engaging with the needs of strangers, or our generosity in time or talents.
Giving for Life 2

3. We have some deeply ingrained habits!
This cartoon speaks of the challenge we face in encouraging generous giving right across the church.
Whilst many church members are giving generously, many are not. Very often church members have deeply ingrained habits when it comes to their giving, however much they give – even a number of those who have tithed for a good number of years, giving away a tenth of their income, can be said to have deeply ingrained habits.
St Paul tells the Corinthians that God loves a cheerful giver. This cartoon suggests that these givers are not experiencing too much joy or cheerfulness in their giving! One of the aspirations for ‘Giving for Life’ is that it might help givers connect their faith with their giving, and reconnect with joy and cheerfulness in their giving.
OPTIONAL SLIDES – if you want to build in some material from the General Synod debate, slides 13,14 and 15 can be inserted here. 3

4. God loves a cheerful giver…..
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. (2 Cor 9:7)
But many church members have lost the joy in their giving, and parishes find it hard work to ‘raise funds’.
St Paul tells the Corinthians that God loves a cheerful giver (2 Cor 9:7), and encourages a ‘generous gift’ rather than one ‘grudgingly given’. As I travel the country I frequently come across parishes where money is talked about reluctantly, and where stewardship doesn’t mean ‘how we care for that with which we’ve been entrusted by a generous God”, but stewardship has come to mean giving to the church, on a Sunday to pay the bills because we are a bit short! ‘Giving for Life’ seeks to take a completely new approach. To emphasis this, we’re not even using the word “stewardship” – vital though the underlying concept of us being stewards is!
Giving for Life 4

5. The PCC guide is the key tool….
develop a strategy rather than ad-hoc
build momentum within the life-blood of the church
identify priorities.
The PCC guide is the key tool. In many parishes there is no strategy - we tackle the money issue as and when there isn’t enough of it!! (And sadly, it is often not off the agenda!). This can convey a sense of crisis, and church members may perceive pressure to give. This doesn’t help build the joy and cheerfulness in giving.
What’s better is a regular pattern of simple actions, ones that fit with the ebb and flow of church life. The Giving for Life parish guide seeks to help PCCs develop a rhythm to handling giving by incorporating it into the pattern of church life, and in so doing establish some momentum. As a part of this, the PCC will need to establish some priorities – not every parish can do everything, but there is something for every parish.
Giving for Life 5

6. Pointers to Action helps build strategy….
The first way that Giving for Life supports parishes is the simple ‘Pointers to Action’ tool on pages 7 and 8, which PCCs can use to assess strategy.
Its recommended that PCC members first complete this individually, and then the scores are assessed. This allows people to express a diversity of opinion, rather than feeling they ought to agree with the first person to speak. People can quite legitimately have different views on these pointers, and understanding this diversity can lead to stronger action.
pages 7 & 8
Giving for Life 6

7. Four Key Tasks

8. Four Key Tasks : 1 Preaching & Teaching
Giving for Life identifies four simple actions that make a real difference; and provides some resources to support parishes in these key tasks. There is something for every parish, and PCCs are encouraged to identify where they might start.
The first task is to preach and teach regularly on issues of money and generosity - not to raise funds, but to raise faith - within the context of discipleship. The preacher’s task is not to raise parish share, but to create habitually generous disciples. The topic of money, wealth and possessions arises frequently within the lectionary, and when it does, it is important that the whole passage is preached, so that money is not seen as a topic to be avoided in church. In addition to preaching, it is good practice to offer opportunities for people to reflect on, and discuss, the principles preached and how it matches with the questions that every day experience throws up.
Task for clergy & readers as preachers and teachers. 8

9. Not just about money….. …. but it is about money!
Parable of the Good Samaritan
Preach holistically on money not just giving.
Preach holistically on giving not just money.
Giving for Life 9

10. Facets of Giving

11. But how do we view the diamond?

12. The impact of money stories…..
on ourselves…
for our congregation…
for our churches….
Writing an annual thank you letter which not only values givers, but also to help them see what impact their giving, and the giving of other givers in their parish has made. Some folk say we shouldn’t be thanking people – it’s their duty to give. It may be, but we might argue that it is our duty corporately to thank people. Charities have become very good at enabling their donors to understand what difference they make to their work, so much gives a goat, builds a well, sponsors a child. This is not a template for us to copy, but it again stresses the importance of communicating the degree to which mission and ministry is enabled by the regular, committed giving of church members. 12

13. Four Key Tasks : 2 Linking giving with Mission/Vision
The tale of two pie-charts…..
Income
One of the frequent questions church members have is how to divide their giving between charities and the church. Reasons to give to charity can be easy to find – many charities are excellent at explaining how money is used, and the benefit that it brings. But why should we give to the church? What happens to the money? There are lots of opportunities to express this, and it is important that we are good corporate stewards - transparent and accountable. The Annual Report, the APCM, setting the budget, and as we shall see later, a simple letter of thanks written to all who give in a planned, regular way to explain the outcomes of their giving - not just that we’ve paid our parish share, but that the church has engaged in primary school assemblies, comforted grieving families, provided a space for quiet prayer and reflection, received tourists and so on. Many givers just don’t make the connection between their giving to the church and what this enables.
Expenditure 13

14. Linking outcomes with giving…..

15. Linking outcomes with giving…..

16. Linking outcomes with giving…..

17. Four Key Tasks : 2 Linking giving with Mission/Vision
What are the church’s outcomes? (rather than activities or cost areas)
primary school assemblies
grieving families comforted
Church open as spiritual space
Marriage preparation
Work with x young people
One of the frequent questions church members have is how to divide their giving between charities and the church. Reasons to give to charity can be easy to find – many charities are excellent at explaining how money is used, and the benefit that it brings. But why should we give to the church? What happens to the money? There are lots of opportunities to express this, and it is important that we are good corporate stewards - transparent and accountable. The Annual Report, the APCM, setting the budget, and as we shall see later, a simple letter of thanks written to all who give in a planned, regular way to explain the outcomes of their giving - not just that we’ve paid our parish share, but that the church has engaged in primary school assemblies, comforted grieving families, provided a space for quiet prayer and reflection, received tourists and so on. Many givers just don’t make the connection between their giving to the church and what this enables. 17

18. Four Key Tasks : 2 Linking giving with Mission/Vision
Spend a moment thinking about the mission/ministry outcomes of your parish.
Think widely! 18

19. Four Key Tasks : 3 Saying Thank You!
Individual, personalised “thank you” each year.
Values givers & gives account of what their giving has enabled
January or April are good times
Template letters available on Parish Resources website.
Writing an annual thank you letter which not only values givers, but also to help them see what impact their giving, and the giving of other givers in their parish has made. Some folk say we shouldn’t be thanking people – it’s their duty to give. It may be, but we might argue that it is our duty corporately to thank people. Charities have become very good at enabling their donors to understand what difference they make to their work, so much gives a goat, builds a well, sponsors a child. This is not a template for us to copy, but it again stresses the importance of communicating the degree to which mission and ministry is enabled by the regular, committed giving of church members. 19

20. Four Key Tasks : 4 Help givers review their giving annually
Covenants gave four year review.
Annual review much better :
It’s the way most of our finances work
Maintains momentum
Better link with mission plans & budget
Variety essential!
Larger programme once every 3 or 4 years
Smaller activity in between.
The third of the quartet of tasks is to do something annually to encourage people to review their giving. The old covenant system gave rise to a four-year cycle of review, but this really isn’t the best timescale. By the time the four years has come round again, things have fallen flat, and it can be hard to reinvigorate. A better cycle is an annual one which encourages momentum and fits more naturally with our personal finances and with the church’s budgeting cycle.
Whilst the teaching and preaching element should seek to encourage church members to be generous in all aspects of their discipleship, this is the point at which we seek to motivate givers to give generously to the church – explaining how their giving resources the work and future vision of the church. This doesn’t mean that we should run a major giving programme each year - variety is key, and some years the focus may be more on teaching or thanksgiving. A number of tools are available to parishes “off the peg”. 20

21. Four Key Tasks : 4 Help givers review their giving annually
2011
The third of the quartet of tasks is to do something annually to encourage people to review their giving. The old covenant system gave rise to a four-year cycle of review, but this really isn’t the best timescale. By the time the four years has come round again, things have fallen flat, and it can be hard to reinvigorate. A better cycle is an annual one which encourages momentum and fits more naturally with our personal finances and with the church’s budgeting cycle.
Whilst the teaching and preaching element should seek to encourage church members to be generous in all aspects of their discipleship, this is the point at which we seek to motivate givers to give generously to the church – explaining how their giving resources the work and future vision of the church. This doesn’t mean that we should run a major giving programme each year - variety is key, and some years the focus may be more on teaching or thanksgiving. A number of tools are available to parishes “off the peg”.
ONLINE
ONLINE 21

22. Home Group “Whole of Money”
Annual Review Cycle
Full
“Pledge” Programme
Teaching Programme
Lighter Giving
Review
with
“Pledges”
Home Group “Whole of Money”
Programme

23. Six Steps in Giving Six Steps in Giving Six Steps in Giving
For most of us, developing habits of stewardship and generosity is a journey that may take a lifetime.

24. Six Steps in Giving
Survival I give a bit when I’m asked because the church ought to be there in case I need it The need is survival and there’s a chance that the church might help. The relationship with the church is that I know it’s there if I need it - all being well, I won’t!

25. Six Steps in Giving
Survival
Supermarket I’m happy to pay towards the cost of the bits of the church that I want and enjoy The need is safety and by treating the church on my terms I feel safe and unchallenged. I see myself as a customer.

26. Six Steps in Giving
Survival
Supermarket
Support The work of the Church is important and so I’ll support it I have a need for belonging. I see myself as a member of the supporters’ club.

27. Six Steps in Giving
Survival
Supermarket
Support
Subscription I see myself as a member and I wish to contribute to my fair share of the costs The need is identity – I’m recognised and I’m playing my part.

28. Six Steps in Giving
Survival
Supermarket
Support
Subscription
Submission My understanding of being a disciple is that I should put God first in my life I see a deeper meaning in life and my giving responds to God and not just the needs of the Church.

29. Six Steps in Giving
Survival
Supermarket
Support
Subscription
Submission
Sacrifice My Christian calling is to be Christ-like and so naturally I give joyfully and sacrificially - following Christ

30. Six Steps in Giving Survival Supermarket Support Subscription
Submission
Sacrifice
Teaching on Giving needs to encourage people along the
journey of generosity, wherever they are today.

31. Survival Supermarket Support Subscription Submission Sacrifice
The next step….
Survival
Supermarket
Support
Subscription
Submission
Sacrifice
Growth in
faith/commitment
Regular giving
Communication
Increased generosity
Teaching
on giving
& discipleship.
Proportionate giving
Generosity at a cost

32. Differentiation…. Meeting people where they are at
Encouraging them to take one more step along a journey of generosity
Clarity of communication – don’t ask everyone for everything
Focus on observable behaviour – standing orders, electoral roll, Gift Aid declaration etc.
PCC
Electoral Roll
Planned Givers : SO
Planned Givers : Envs

33. Encouraging legacy gifts
Make a Legacy Policy
Part of stewardship
Gifts can help realise dreams for mission and ministry.

34. Giving in Grace

35. 35 INTRODUCTION : key points
enthusiastically endorsed by General Synod in July 2009
Good practice for parishes – help to develop strategy and identify priorities 35

36. FROM TO When we’re desperate …….the rhythm of church life
Focus on paying the bills…….. equipping disciples
Thanks assumed…… valuing donors by thanking them
Givers in the dark …….knowing what giving enables
Hard work & duty…….experiencing the joy of giving 36

37. Questions and Discussion