Bishop Nicholas' Stewardship Challenge

Bishop Nicholas put a challenge to every parish within the Diocese to carry out a stewardship programme during an eighteen month period. Following the Diocesan Launch in November 2006 a launch took place in each deanery.

Churches have risen to the Bishop’s Challenge and 75% have now carried out a stewardship programme in some form or other. Where churches do a stewardship programme on a regular basis they have carried out a smaller programme but where churches carry out a programme on a less regular basis (or in some cases can’t remember the last time they spoke about giving!) have done a bigger, 3 weekend programme.

The message about our financial giving is that we don’t give just to keep our church doors open and the heating turned up but we want our giving to go beyond that, allowing our churches to reach out in mission and ministry to a needy people. To view our giving as a joy and a privilege.

The culmination of the challenge was marked by a celebration in January 2009 with breakfast with Bishop Nicholas, Bishop John and Bishop Geoff. Invitations were sent out inviting representation from every church. Almost two hundered people joined together to worship and thank God for His gracious provision to us. Mary Smith, the Diocesan Stewardship and Funding Officer said, "We now look to a greater awareness of our thankful giving back to God through our financial giving to His church."