Finance

Running a church costs money! We are not funded by some larger organisation and we don't have big investments. All the money we need to pay our way comes from our Members and from visitors who want to pop something in the box in the foyer. We have to pay for our two full-time pastors, for electricity, for building maintenance - the list goes on and on. Many of our members set up a regular payment to us and as a registered charity, we can then reclaim their tax. Every little helps! To give you some idea, this church spent some £110,000 in 2007 - see below for more detail. If you are a Menber or a regular attender and would like to find out more, talk to our Finance Team leader, Laurence Coles. Our Pastors Dave Gooderidge or Nigel Bayley will point him out to you. Giving money to God's work should not be seen as a series of isolated acts of charity depending on how generous or prosperous we feel. Instead it should be a matter for prayerful consideration and of consistent responsibility in supporting the ministry of the church.

How Can I Give?

At our Sunday morning services there is the opportunity to give using a box located in the foyer. This box is not for a collection but for an offering, an act of worship to offer our gifts and lives in God's service. To help people give regularly there are dated and unnamed weekly envelopes available.

Many people prefer to give directly through their bank or building society and this also helps us with a regular cash-flow. When people give in this way there need be no embarrassment about not giving on a Sunday.

How Much Should I Give?

This is something only you can decide with God. Prayerfully reflect on where God comes in your budgeting and spending. In the Old Testament God called His people to give 10% of their income (a tithe) and many Christians who have followed this Biblical practice have discovered the blessing God promises. In the New Testament He does not lay down any set figure. However, this should motivate us even more to give generously and sacrificially - remember the widows mite! You should consider reviewing the amount you give should be reviewed regularly in order to maintain its value.

Ministry
Our Pastors are supported full-time by our gifts. This frees them for the work of preaching and teaching, pasturing and leading.

Mission
At least 20% of our income goes to causes outside our fellowship in supporting various mission projects and personnel overseas and in this country.

Gift Aid

If you pay income tax the church can reclaim the tax you have already paid on your gifts through envelopes, or standing order / direct debit. This means that for every £1 you give, the church receives an additional 25 pence rebate from HMRC. All that is required now is for you to sign a simple Gift Aid Declaration and hand it to a member of the Finance Team. Any gifts you then give to or through the church (whatever amount - no minimum) are eligible for a rebate. There is no problem in stopping giving if your financial circumstances change or you move away.
Forms are available from a member of the Finance Team or can be found next to the envelopes in the foyer.
All information concerning covenanted giving is held in strictest confidence by the Finance Team.

Legacy

Having ensured that your dependants are well provided for you might consider making a bequest to the church in your will. This last opportunity to give will mean that you can continue to make an important contribution to our mission after your death.
Further information about legacy giving is available from the Finance Team.

Finance Team
Leader (Treasurer): Laurence Coles
Team Members: Jacky Tritten and Margaret Wines

Where Does the Money Go?

In 2007 our expenditure was nearly £110,000.
This money was spent in five main areas:

Premises
We have a large and well-used suite of buildings. These need to be constantly maintained and occasionally improved so that the Lord's work will not be hindered by poor facilities or equipment.

Outreach
Our youth and children's ministry is largely financed by the church and we also support, to varying degrees, a wide range of other outreach activities, including Alpha, hullabaloo and Grace Cafe that help us to share Jesus with others.

Administration
A large fellowship needs good communication and administration. Publicity, a range of pastoral resources, office and other technical equipment and training are all needed to help ensure that the church is both effective and efficient in its ministry.

The biblical case for giving
Paul in his second letter to the church in Corinth gives us a number of principles to follow from the example of the Christians in Macedonia. He writes that they gave, even in the midst of their suffering, liberally and joyfully (8:2), generously and freely (8:3), and in proportion to their ability (8:12). As a result, they reaped according to the measure that they had sowed (9:6) and God richly blessed their cheerful willingness (9:7). Many others were blessed through their giving (9:12