. . . LOOKING BACK
Excerpt from 'We who are One Body'
The creation and impact of FaithWorks as a dynamic response to the needs of the marginalized in the Diocese of Toronto and beyond.
by Susan McCulloch
“A report prepared in 1995 for the Diocesan Treasury Board and the College of Bishops characterized the then-current financial situation as a crisis demanding a response that included a significant increase in revenue, decreased expenses, and / or the redeployment of existing resources.”
“Diocesan leaders, including Archbishop Finlay, Bishop Michael Bedford-Jones, and Archbishop Colin Johnson recalled their concern that the next round of austerity measures would reduce funding for outreach at the very time that the Church was being called upon to mend the ever-widening gaps in the social safety net.”
“Various courses of action were possible. One option might have been to consolidate all outreach ministry into just one or two projects.” “At the other end of the spectrum, some reasoned that it would be better to sow many seeds in a variety of places and nurture the ministries that sprang forth from those efforts.”
“Following the 1994 Synod, Archbishop Finlay appointed a Task Force on Anglican Charities. In its report to Treasury Board the follow spring, the task force stated unequivocally that it “believed that cost cutting should end and that the Diocese should look forward with faith to perform outreach. To this end, fund raising has to become more effective and more wide spread....” The task force strongly recommended the recruitment of a financial development officer along with the development and implementation of a comprehensive financial development plan. Other recommendations included the development of a long-term stewardship education program to be undertaken by parishes and the initiation of a planned giving program.”
to be continued . . .
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