Money For Mission

Mar 2023 (Issue 43)

Monthly E-newsletter from the Finance & Stewardship Teams

Thinking About Generosity.....

Revised Parochial Fees 2023

Proof of Charity Status for Churches

Could you be a Treasurer Ambassador?

How to Set up Digital Giving in Your Church

PGS Webinar - New Resources to promote the PGS

New Church Grants from Benefact Trust

Important Next Steps for your Church Energy Bills

Basic Treasurer Training from ACAT

Sunday 12 March. Lent 3. Exodus 17:1-7

Harden not your hearts. God will provide

The waters of Meribah and the incident that took place there are rooted in Israel’s collective memory. The word Meribah means ‘quarrel’ and signifies more than a disagreement, rather a fundamental rejection of God’s means of provision. Exodus 17 vividly depicts a people feeling desperate and lashing out. Just in case we might forget our own propensity for distrust and disobedience, Morning Prayer on Friday begins with Psalm 95’s warning: 

‘O that today you would listen to his voice! Harden not your hearts as at Meribah…’

What is at the heart of the panic and complaining? Scarcity and fear come to mind, and we know from behaviour during the Covid pandemic that these two forces often bring out the worst in people. It is possible that PCC discussions around finances, parish share and the budget have the potential to go in a similar direction.

Yet God does provide what is needed. This is the message of the wilderness, over and over again. When the people are able to move beyond panic and blame, there is enough. If we unharden our hearts we will hear God’s voice and be able to receive.



The Rev Canon Dr Helen Burn is Vicar of St Justus, Rochester, in the Diocese of Rochester

Revised Parochial Fees 2023



The framework for parochial fees in 2020-24 agreed by General Synod in 2019 resulted in the fees increasing by 9.9% (August CPI) rounded up to the nearest pound from 1 January 2023. You may be aware that the Archbishops’ Council considered this was too high an increase in the light of factors such as stipend increases and cost of living pressures. It asked General Synod to consider an amending order which would reduce the increase to 5% rounded up to the nearest pound and set the 2024 increase at the lower of CPI and 5%. This order was approved by General Synod earlier this month SI/SR Template (churchofengland.org).

As a result, the revised (lower) fees for 2023 come into force on 1 March 2023. The diocesan website has updated forms containing these revised fees, which will need to be used for all services / events taking place from 1 March 2023. If you have already submitted a form affected by these changes you do not need to resubmit.

Proof of Charity Status for Churches

Churches often report difficulty when they need a charity registration number to access some services. Some quote their HMRC gift aid reference number and make it clear that this is the number that they are quoting. Other organisations will accept proof of excepted charity status from the certificate that can be downloaded from your own profile page on the  A Church Near You website. For more information on PCC Charitable status and how to download your proof of charity status certificate click on the button below.

Could you be a Treasurer Ambassador?

If you are a PCC treasurer and feel you could help to give encouragement and peer support to other treasurers across the Diocese in tackling their role please contact the Stewardship Team on [email protected] or on 07376 525684 for more details.

Digital Clinic in Wakefield - How to Set Up Digital Giving For Your Church

The Stewardship team will be hosting another Digital Clinic on Tuesday 21st March at the Wakefield Episcopal Area office in Thornes Park, Wakefield from 10am until until 4pm. You can either attend in person or arrange a Zoom call.

At the clinic you can seek advice on buying a contactless device for your church, how to set them up and discuss issues you are having with your current device. The clinic will run on an appointment only basis so that you can receive 121 support.



To book a slot email the Stewardship Team at [email protected] or call 07376 525684

New Church Grants Programme from Benefact Trust

The Benefact Trust have just launched two new grants for churches: the Buildings Improvement Grants Programme and Community Impacts Grant. The new grants are open to applications from churches, cathedrals, denominational bodies, and Christian charities. It will support capital costs such as essential repairs and improvements, conservation and restoration, energy efficiency measures and projects enabling the wider community use of church buildings. Applicants must have 30% match funding before applying. For more information on both grants and how to apply click the button below.

Important Next Steps For Your Church Energy Bills

Make sure you get good value for money by getting into good energy contracts. The Green Journey is run by the diocese in partnership with Green Energy Consulting. Existing church customers (with September 2023 contract end dates) will be contacted soon. Please do not delay in responding – renewing your contract close to the termination date can considerably increase costs.

Not with the Green Journey? Please consider this option for your parish. The 250 churches who use the scheme have been on a 3 year tariff at 2019 prices. Of course energy prices have now risen considerably, but the Green Journey team are specialist in energy procurement and can usually find a good unit price/standing charge to suit your energy use. Renewable electricity and carbon offset gas get your church very close to carbon net zero too!  Click on the button below to find out more about Green Journey.

Online training sessions for PCC Treasurers

ACAT, the Association of Church Treasurers & Accountants, is running a series of 3 online training sessions throughout March covering the basics of being a church treasurer. Each session costs £20 and lasts for 2 hours. These courses, covering accounting, Gift Aid, bookkeeping etc are very popular so book early!

We are pleased to be able to subsidise the cost of a limited number of finance-related training sessions with ACAT by 50%. All you need to do is book your place and send your paid invoice with your bank details for remittance to [email protected]. Don't forget, if you wish to become a member of ACAT the Diocese will also pay your joining fee in full.

A reminder of our email addresses so you get the right support and advice:

For stewardship, income generation, parish finance, Parish Share and grant enquiries:

[email protected] or you can email Janet or Jenn directly.

For general finance queries including invoices, clergy fees and payroll:

[email protected] or you can email Jane, Hayley, Clare or Jenni directly.