Steady hand on the tiller
23rd February 2010
Steady hand on the tiller
"We need to regain our confidence, to face outwards into our communities and to share our story with others. We need energy, expertise, enthusiasm and divine guidance, as well as money. We need to be generous in our response to this challenge." Reassuring words from Bishop Tim as the Diocese of Truro presses on with its mission in the face of its current financial constraints.
In BBC interviews over the weekend, both Bishop Tim and the Archdeacon of Bodmin, Clive Cohen (pictured), explained how the Church of England in Cornwall has faced the same financial pressures as all other sectors during the credit crunch. In 2009, these were plummeting returns on investment, a need to top up its lay pension fund with an additional £250,000, and some shortfall in its income via the Common Fund - the system by which individual parishes make a financial contribution to the life of the whole diocese.
Whilst both Bishop Tim and Archdeacon Clive said that the financial pressures would, in turn, mean that parishioners would be asked to dig deeper into their pockets during 2010, they both expressed their gratitude for the generosity already being shown by churchgoers across the Diocese.
The plan during the forthcoming year is to continue to focus on the projects that support the mission to discover God's Kingdom and grow the Church. Over 70% of the £5.8 million budget in 2010 will be directed at the Diocese's most valuable mission resource - its clergy, their stipends, housing and pensions.
The Diocese will continue to support less fortunate people across Cornwall too, for instance, its projects providing material support for the homeless and hungry across the county - filling the needs of local communities not being fully met by the Government or local authorities.