DATE: July 21, 1998
MEMO TO: Financial Management and Development Committee
FROM: Jim Boyles, General Secretary
RE: Comments from Forums at General Synod
____________________________________________________
The following comments were recorded on newsprint and relate to the work of your committee:
Planned Giving
* multicultural differences which affect motivation for planned gifts
* national association (affinity) life insurance for planned gift
* festival days to publicize planned giving
* articulate options for people - ask for gifts
* education about current financial obligation
* sensitivity about asking
* a spiritual problem not a financial problem
* need to bring it to congregation regularly - consistently
* need to hear good news stories
* say thank you (heritage club)
* more consultants
* better feedback - simpler communications
* theological division - stewardship for future vs deal with today - God provides for tomorrow
* planned giving is for the living - has living benefits - you don't have to die to win
Three Year Planning
* Steps to get there
* definitely possible - goal much more than survival - vision absolutely necessary - money planning as part of our ministry
* pray
* communicate the vision - on-going
* active participation
* Barriers
* Substantial changes en route i.e. legislation
* anticipating/revenue realistically (increasing possibilities limited?)
* (fear of) losing the vision
* How to overcome
* anticipate as much as possible with flexibility, on-going communication, education accountability - goals re-evaluate
* build on strengths of evangelism, stewardship
* positive attitude - pro-active learning opportunities
The Church in the North and the Church in the South
* Ministry to one another over: finances
* The North can teach the South about transparency in relationships (e.g. common standards in stipends and reporting).
The Church in the North and Self-Sufficiency
* Reduction of funding to all Council Dioceses by 21%
* In some dioceses vigorous stewardship education has proven effective
* Non-stipendiaries
* Conversion to the Church is important:
Increased sense of ownership
willingness to explore alternative models of ministry
Making Moral Economic Decisions
* Moral economic decisions begin with personal commitment to the personal decisions we can control.
* Equip church people to be a moral conscience in their workplace
Jubilee - A Celebration of Hope
* The Church could/should make expectations and be prophetic in our relationships and demands of national and international financial organizations.
Debt Cancellation
* We agree with the campaign but believe it will be a "hard go" and "hard sell" in one parishes and in the context of our society because of attitudes, fear, and enormity of the issues and amounts of $, understanding of the other's reality, locus of power.
* Forgiveness is an act of self interest because of our interconnectedness with the situations of others.
* Need for concrete resources - people, paper, and experience.
* We continue to believe the experience people from elsewhere visiting, living in our communities and speaking of their reality helps - as well as exposure visits - and people's support to cooperatives is of assistance in understanding.
* Need to move from an economy the "bottom line" to a full sense of [omicron][iota][kappa][omicron][nu][omicron]µ[iota][alpha].
* Need a good theological reflection on the meaning of Jubilee - bible study material
* Practical ways to practice Jubilee - 1st question, `what do we let go of?'
* Importance of Sabbath renewed
* Maintain arm lengths with government agencies
* How would debt forgiveness work at all levels?
* Balance of debt forgiveness and human rights
* Means of accountability with debt forgiveness
* Tie debt forgiveness to restorative justice
* Willing to find ways to take a prophetic voice locally in specific ways
* Dioceses finding ways of `letting go'
* Jubilee service to heal brokenness, starting with ourselves and process
* Recognition of forgiveness
* Being in partnership with those in debt / in prison