Parish Share Supporting Mission and Ministry in our Diocese Diocese of Liverpool
Generous sharing in the Body of Christ Our God is a generous God. The Psalms celebrate His abundance in creation. Each Sunday we celebrate (and receive afresh) His greatest gift in Jesus. God s abundance is for all. In difficult days no one in Israel went hungry as God fed His people with the manna; no one had too much. No one went without (Exodus 16). St Paul used this story of the manna to urge the church in Corinth to share financially with the poor in Jerusalem. He wanted fair shares : sharing what we have with those who have less. Today in our diocese we fund much of the ministry and mission of our churches on the same biblical principle of generous sharing in the Body of Christ. It expresses our corporate life and mutual inter-dependence. We call it the Parish Share. Such sharing springs from grace and releases praise and thanksgiving to God (2 Corinthians 9:12-14). Without it we would not be able to sustain the mission and ministry to all the parishes in our Diocese. Without Parish Share we would not be able to sustain the mission and ministry to all the parishes in our Diocese. I am determined that as a diocese we make the best possible use Today in our diocese of the resources God gives us. we fund much of the These are difficult financial times ministry and mission but we have set a below inflation of our churches on the budget with mission and growth same biblical principle at its heart. Money is well spent of generous sharing in in our Diocese. It is well spent the Body of Christ. It in our parishes, our schools, the places where we connect with expresses our corporate people. It is well spent in our life and mutual interdependence. long-established ministries and our emerging ones. It is well spent through our diocesan office, St James House. This leaflet outlines how we use our money, in particular how we use our Parish Share, the money each church contributes to support ministry across our diocese. As you read it please do the same three things as I will be doing: Give thanks to God for all that He provides Give thanks to God for our diocese and its many ministries Prayerfully and carefully review your regular giving to the mission of God On behalf of myself and Bishop Richard thank you for your continuing generosity and sacrifice and all that you do in the building of God s kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven. Bishop James
What is Parish Share? Parish Share is a form of mission giving within the Diocese of Liverpool. Some churches give more than the cost of their own clergy to support other churches. In this way the Parish Share helps provide ministry and mission across our diocese from our lowest income areas to our highest. It contributes towards the direct costs of local ministry in parishes, schools and through a range of chaplaincies. It covers clergy pay (the stipend) and pension, clergy housing, clergy and Reader training and our work in our church schools. Support from the national church Parish Share does not currently meet all the direct costs of clergy and readers because we are a low income diocese; therefore the national church financially supports us. As a rule of thumb 80% of the direct cost of parish ministry is paid for by parish share and 20% by the national church. The Church Commissioners, for example, cover most of the costs of bishops and cathedral clergy. How Parish Share is spent Parish clergy - 91.50 Providing leadership in local mission through clergy (including pioneer clergy), stipendiary readers and Church Army staff in parishes by paying for: - Stipends, pensions, national insurance - Safe and suitable housing - The cost of clergy moves to other parishes and posts Learning & development - 2.85 Helping develop outstanding Christian leaders for today and tomorrow through: - Training and development opportunities for lay people - Formal theological training for clergy and readers - Initial and continuing ministerial education for clergy and readers - Ministerial development reviews for clergy - Developing shared and every member ministry The next generation of clergy - 2.80 Encouraging vocations by supporting people: - As they explore ordained ministry - As they train for ordained ministry - Most of this money is paid through the national church In 2011 every 100 of your Parish Share will be spent as follows: Learning & development 2.85 The next generation 2.80 Schools 1.60 Chaplaincies 1.25 Parish clergy 91.50 Schools - 1.60 Helping develop our 120 excellent church schools promoting the Christian ethos in education by: - Helping develop the religious education curriculum - Supporting and training teachers and governors - Helping develop and manage building projects - Liaising with education authorities - Again most of the costs are paid for by other agencies Chaplaincies - 1.25 Extending the reach of the church by supporting 25 chaplains serving in universities, hospitals, prisons, schools and workplaces Most of these costs are paid for by other agencies
Non Parish Share Expenditure Parish Share is NOT spent on the general costs of running St James House. These are raised by the Diocesan Board of Finance from parochial fees, investment income and other sources. In 2011 DBF income will be spent as follows: 455,000 on providing essential support through: - Managing diocesan property and investments - Supporting Diocesan Synod and other diocesan organisations - Providing legal and HR advice to parishes - Providing safeguarding advice and services to bishops and parishes - Administering parish trusts 318,000 on our contribution towards paying for: - National church departments, General Synod and mission agencies (The allocation of cost per diocese is worked out on a national formula) 122,000 on developing vibrant mixed economy churches in and from all traditions by: - Training and supporting parishes seeking to grow - Exploring new ways of worshipping and witnessing - Pioneering new forms of church - Developing work with children and young people 116,000 on promoting inclusive churches and healthy communities by: - Involving people with disabilities - Engaging with local government - Promoting fair trade and racial justice - Supporting designated priority area parishes 110,000 on giving grants on our own or with others to support: - Mission and growth in designated priority areas - The leadership role of area deans and lay chairs - Ecumenical and inter-faith work on Merseyside - Christians in the workplace - Racial justice 79,000 on keeping people informed and building the reputation of the diocese by: - Providing information directly to clergy and parishes and through the website - Media management on behalf of the bishops and parishes - Advocacy work inside and outside the diocese 67,000 on unlocking and releasing resources for mission and growth by: - Providing leading edge programmes for Christian giving - Advising and supporting Treasurers and Gift Aid Secretaries - Advising on building management and development Supporting full-time parish clergy In 2011 each full-time stipendiary (paid) incumbent will cost the diocese: - Stipend 22,000 - National Insurance & Pension 11,000 - Housing (maintenance) 4,500 - Removal and other grants 1,000 That is a total cost of 38,500 a year for each full time clergy post.
Sustaining local mission and ministry Parish Share is how we provide for parish ministry. It has been and will remain a tough challenge to meet these costs, especially in the current financial climate. That is one reason why Bishop James has argued so strongly for our need to grow the church, to increase our giving base. This will take time. We should all give thanks to God for what He provides and pray that we will be the best possible stewards of all that He entrusts to us. Thanks be to God! St James House 20 St James Road Liverpool L1 7BY 0151 709 9722 enquiries@liverpool.anglican.org www.liverpool.anglican.org/parishshare Diocese of Liverpool