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October 2002, Pages 2 & 4.
Index of articles.
Money:
index,
Test me,
Why money,
Why I tithe,
Off the top,
Clergy pay,
Pay for roof,
Envelopes.
In this issue:
(October 2002)
Vicar's Letter,
Roof Money,
Window,
Question,
Schooling,
Deanery.
Paying for the roof
The work to get rid of the dry rot in the flat rooves next to the tower, as reported in August’s Link, is now in hand. The money works out like this:
| South side | £ 4,800.76 |
| West side | £ 4,645.28 |
| Total cost | £ 9,446.04 |
| Fighting Fund | £ 3,667.32 |
| So we need: | £ 5,778.72 |
The PCC resolved on 16th July that we would launch an appeal for the money we need.
I’m not from Yorkshire, so on 10th September I asked the PCC what we mean by an ‘appeal’?
“Do you mean that we will have a lot of sales, fairs, social activities and sponsored walks to raise £5,700?” I asked. “Or do you mean that you want people to put their hands in their pockets for £5,700? And if it’s a mixture of the two, what’s the balance? Where do you expect most of the money to come from?
The first response was not exactly what I expected. “John, we’re not too proud to accept whatever people give. If they want to give us donations, that’s fine. If they want to organise a cake sale, that’s fine as well.”
“Yes, but that’s not the question,” I tried again. “If most of our folk think an “appeal” means autumn fairs, and the vicar stands up at the front of the church and asks them to make donations, then they’ll all ignore him. He’s not from Yorkshire, he’s an incomer, and he’s ignorant of how Bradford works. The ‘appeal’ will be a complete flop.” A short silence followed.
In the discussion after this, the PCC seemed to say they thought about half of the money might come from fundraising efforts. The ladies of the church have kindly offered the proceeds of the Autumn Fair, and this will be matched by a grant from a local business. There have already been some fundraising proceeds to the appeal.
The other half, the PCC hopes, will come from the giving of the church members - the congregation and supporters. So next we read 1 Chronicles 29, where David wants to launch an appeal for the temple his son Solomon will build. How does he do it?
David first nails his own colours to the mast. He says what he will give, both as head of state and out of his private savings. And then he says “who else will join me and consecrate himself to the Lord?” And next, the leaders of the people join him. And after that, the ordinary people give to the work.
So that’s what we’re doing. I will put my hand in my pocket. The PCC put their hands up unanimously when it was suggested we should each pledge that we will give to this appeal.
If you look closely at 1 Chronicles, you’ll see that David went a step further than this. He made a public statement of the amount he was going to give personally. Do you think this was to boast about his great wealth, or to humiliate his citizens into giving a decent amount themselves? Or was it to encourage the people to believe that the temple really was going to get built, and they could give with confidence without worrying that maybe their money would disappear down the drain of state expenses, and never be used for the temple they had given it for? After all, there were embezzlement and financial scandals 3000 years ago, just like there are today.
I believe David wanted to show the people he was serious about what he was asking for. And I’m serious about it too. We need to make sure that our building is kept up to scratch, and handed on to the next generation in good condition.
The Church Council decided firmly that we were not going down the path of publishing the amounts that different PCC members would give. We felt it would be more likely to misunderstood as high-pressure tactics than to be seen as encouraging to others. But we do believe that the giving has to start from the top table, and that’s why we pledged to give to this appeal ourselves.
On that basis we ask for your donations too. Please join us in consecrating yourselves to the Lord.
When do you want the money? We decided we would set aside St Luke’s Sunday (October 20th) as a Gift Day for the church - as has been done up to a few years ago. The gifts don’t have to be received on that exact date, but we ask you to consider how you can help us during this month. If possible please bring your own gift on this day so that we can all be encouraged together in this work which God wants us to do.
John Hartley
Gift Day 20th October 2002. £5,778.72 to raise.