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	a healthy church...transformingLIFE
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A healthychurch  transforminglife...

<< return to the transformingLIFE home page		Strategic directions		My heart's desire Introduction A Biblical reflection An Anglican perspective Why transformation? A challenge Prayer for transformingLIFE A vision of transformingLIFE Transformed into what? Strategic directions Creative and flexible Christian communities Risk taking Relational communities Following Jesus Missionary discipleship Unlocking leadership Unlocking resources Key questions The way forward A call to prayer Contact and assistance End notes
		7. Unlocking resources We must unlock the God given resource of the gifting of all believers. We could achieve so much more in mission if this one aim motivated all of us in leadership. The matter of our financial resources also needs careful consideration. If sufficient funds are to be available for significant new forms of ministry in every part of the Diocese, we must adopt ministry options that allow us to live within our means. We need to share more resources in order to enable a future for many parishes. Mutual giving and receiving is about more than money. It is also about acknowledging, offering and sharing the gifts of the Holy Spirit. Through faithful giving, personal sacrifice and hard work our congregations finance ministry and mission. However, even with this effort the majority struggle to meet ministry costs. Without the provision from past generations many would be unable to continue current ministry models. The effort of resourcing our current structures frequently leaves little energy or money for developing local priorities for mission or to generously support God's work in other places. We are not putting aside reserves as a resource for our spiritual grandchildren. These strategies are not sustainable and, frankly, I believe that they are selfish if they are only maintaining failing structures and practices. We must not waste the endowment of our forebears without a plan to build a future. Parishes unable to meet stipendiary costs through weekly giving must urgently assess their plans for the future. These may be: a combination of increased giving through growth, creative deployment of stipendiary and non-stipendiary clergy, the encouragement and training of local people to work in enabled ministry support teams and the development of new funding partnerships. transformingLIFE means a commitment to unlocking our resources. <<   ||   >>