Exciting New Resources for PCCs – ‘Giving for Life’, Encouraging Generosity in Your Parish
By now all PCC Secretaries will have received the excellent ‘Giving for Life’ pack. The packs have been designed specifically for use with PCCs and then the wider congregation.
 The resources have followed on from the ‘Giving for Life ’ (a once in a decade report) which was compiled from good practice from all dioceses and presented to General Synod in July. With a few amendments the report was enthusiastically endorsed by General Synod.
The report takes a fresh approach. It suggests that our use of God-given resources needs to be seen primarily as part of our discipleship and our resourcing of the mission of God. If we are to live generously, seeking to reflect God’s generosity to us, this has implications for our lifestyle, causing us to want to give more to benefit others and spend less on ourselves so that we give away a greater proportion of our income.
It seems an opportune time for Blackburn Diocese, following on from the Bishop’s Stewardship Challenge, to take up the recommendations within the report.
 To assist all parishes to continue to look at and talk about their financial giving back to God through His church, ‘Giving for Life’ resources have been sent to all PCC Secretaries for use with PCCs. The aim of these resources is to stimulate discussion at PCC meetings by giving PCC members four key tasks in generous discipleship. They are:
- Preaching and teaching generous giving
- Linking giving to Mission and Ministry
- Reviewing Giving Annually … and
- Thanking Givers
 After completing the tasks on generous giving if more information is required or any assistance required to carry out a stewardship programme you can contact Mary Smith, Diocesan Stewardship and Funding Officer, telephone 01254 503273.
Further resources / packs can be obtained on line at www.parishresources.org.uk/givingforlife | 
