Over the next six months within the Diocese we are seeking to equip our parishes with tools to develop stewardship and giving across all our churches. One of the key strategy’s which will underpin this programme is the development of a Diocesan wide network of people to act as ‘Parish Stewardship Links’ who would be resourced to encourage their parish or benefice in the Christian principles of stewardship. There is real strong statistical evidence to show that parishes with a ‘Stewardship Link’ are able to grow their giving faster and hence be more efficiently equipped to resource their ministry and mission.

In the summer of 2012 training will be provided for those who wish to be the ‘Stewardship Link’ to the Diocesan Stewardship Adviser via a Diocesan Stewardship Network. These modules are aimed at providing a sound base of knowledge for those attending as their Parish Link.

The training will be based on three key elements.

1) Personal – seeking and encouraging members to reflect on their own personal understanding of Christian Stewardship.

2) Theological – A brief overview on what the Bible says about God’s generosity to us and the real stewardship principles.

3) Practical – What is the role of a Parish Stewardship Link and how we can challenge our church communities with the principle of Christian Giving.

Alan Strachan

Diocesan Stewardship Adviser