wfn.org | ACNS3404 Video shows churchgoers how the collection is spent

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3404     |     ENGLAND	|     11 APRIL 2003

Video shows churchgoers how the collection is spent

[Diocese of Ripon and Leeds] An innovative video showing churchgoers what
happens to the money they put on the collection plate will be launched on
Saturday 12 April by the Church of England in Ripon and Leeds. Delegates to
the Synod (or 'parliament') of the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds, meeting in
Harrogate, will be given the first public showing of the film Shareholders
in Mission', an in-house production which aims to encourage giving and
dispel misunderstandings about the 'Parish Share' paid by churches to the
diocese.
Copies of the 22-minute film, together with discussion material, will be
distributed to each of the 160 parishes that make up the 1,359 square mile
diocese covering Leeds and the central third of North Yorkshire. Filmed at
more than 20 different locations throughout the area, the video, written and
produced by Diocesan Communications Officer, the Revd John Carter, and
narrated by BBC Religious Correspondent, Richard Staples, shows a variety of
projects and pastoral work both in urban and rural areas which are dependent
on the giving of wealthier parishes for them to continue.

The Bishop of Ripon and Leeds, the Rt Revd John Packer, who will introduce
the film at the Diocesan Synod on Saturday, said he hoped that the video
would do much to help people understand the importance of mutual support and
the Parish Share. "There remains much misunderstanding of the purpose of
parish share and how it works," he said. "The title for the project has been
chosen to emphasise that everyone who gives money through the church is
'investing' not just in the work of their own parishes but in ministry and
mission throughout the diocese.'

In 2003 the Diocese of Ripon and Leeds will need to collect more than 4
million pounds from parishes in order to pay for clergy and ministry support
which currently costs more than 5 million pounds per annum. Next year,
further rises will be required if cuts are not to be made in clergy numbers.
Speaking on the video, Bishop Packer says he believes it is a price worth
paying. "The work, the projects, the examples of mission on this video are
just the tip of the iceberg of all that is done in Christ's name day by day,
week by week," he said. "...Believe it or not, if on average everyone in our
churches was prepared to increase their weekly giving by about a pound, then
we would be able to plan for growth, retain our clergy and see the work of
God increase. I believe that is a price worth paying to invest in the work
of God's kingdom as Shareholders in his mission."

__________________________________
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