Foreword from the Bishop of Worcester

This report is a celebration of the vibrant life of the Diocese of Worcester. And so it should be for there is much to celebrate as I have seen in my travels around the diocese during the course of my first year here.  

It used to be said that familiarity breeds contempt. Whether or not that is the case, it is certainly true that as human beings we are liable to get used to and take for granted the good things around us and focus our attention on the bad. Coming into the diocese as a newcomer I have been struck over and over again by just how much excellent work is going on in here, much of it simply taken for granted by those who have been around for a while.

One of the many striking features of Worcester Diocese is the manner in which parishes work so effectively together with diocesan officers in order to enable the church actively to engage with the communities within it in the name of the gospel.   

This last year has had its challenges. Deaneries have been asked to formulate plans which will enable them to take forward their mission and ministry in the face of decreasing numbers of available stipendiary clergy. This challenge has been risen to and embraced in a commendable fashion and much creative thinking has emerged.  At the same time, 2008 saw the publication of a report entitled Serving the Church which recommends ways of ensuring a proper balance between diocesan and parochial posts can be maintained so that the exemplary working together to which I made reference above may continue and grow.

I have said on many occasions that my priorities are mission, mission, mission and I am delighted that there is much upon which to build in this area. The appointment of the new Archdeacon of Worcester, who has a particular brief in this area, is a very exciting development and he has already made a significant impact. He has highlighted the need for a deepening of our own Christian prayer and spirituality as a precursor to any missionary activity and that will need to be a priority for the coming year.  Another will be the development of training and support for lay ministry for the latter will be essential in our future mission. 

May the coming year be marked as one in which we all become increasingly aware of the great love of God in Christ by which we are embraced and, as we are,  may we be renewed in our commitment to use all our gifts in the service of the gospel.  

Bishop John

Report from the Chair of the Diocesan Board of Finance, Alastair Findlay

The financial good news is that in 2008 we achieved a small surplus of £23,000, beating our stated objective to break-even. Compared to a deficit of £244,000 in 2007 this result is something for which we can all give thanks. We owe a debt of gratitude not only to each other, but also to our bounteous God, who makes all things possible when we work and walk in the name of Christ.

As we all know only too well, the world, national and local economies are now being pounded by the credit crunch and recession. Whilst we don’t know what the impact of this will be on the Church in the diocese, it would be naïve in the extreme to pretend that it won’t affect us. In 2008 we had to develop flexible processes of additionally monitoring our expenditure in the anticipation of Parish Share shortfalls, and that experience will help us in what are likely to be more difficult times ahead.

During the course of 2009 the Board of Finance will be reviewing the impact the recession is having on our investment income, the ability of parishes to meet parish share and upon our costs. In the meantime I would urge us all to prayerfully consider our giving in proportion to our incomes. For some proportionate givers falling personal incomes either have or regretfully will become a reality and so this may mean giving less in cash terms; for others this recession will open new perspectives on values and the realisation of opportunities to respond with generosity.

I don’t believe that we are called to be unrealistic or indeed uncritical about giving. Much progress has been made, and in the diocese we are each, on average, currently giving 2.8% of our incomes. However our First to the Lord giving goal is 5%. If we could plug this 2.2% gap, then income to the parishes could potentially increase by up to £4 million per annum, thereby enabling many parishes to not only confidently contribute their Share in full but also to have extra funds available for other mission. 

Alistair Findlay