At a national level the Ministry and Mission Fund accounts for in the region of 90% of the United Reformed Church’s unrestricted income. In 2006 or every £1 that was given, 96p was used to pay for the stipends and training of ministers, Church Related Community Workers and lay preachers. It is thus the financial foundation of our church. The way that the Fund is run is governed by the Plan for Partnership. This was first approved by General Assembly in 1980 and has been updated from time to time since. Amongst other things the Plan for Partnership defines that, “The whole ministry of the URC is to be made available to the whole of the Church, and the financial responsibility for this ministry is to be shared throughout the whole of the Church.” Thus contributions do not relate to the amount of ministerial time received; or, in other words, we don’t pay for what we get, we give that all might receive.

The role of the Synod M&M Advocate came into being in 2008 when the cessation of District Councils necessitated a change in the way that the M&M Fund was administered within Eastern Synod. The Synod M&M Advocate serves on the Synod Resources Committee and liaises between Church House and the Area M&M Advocates regarding contributions from individual churches to the Ministry and Mission Fund. A key feature of the Synod M&M Advocates role is to encourage churches to take ownership of the M&M Fund and to see the individual church as part of the wider body of the URC. By encouraging dialogue between churches at local level it is hoped to move towards joyful giving in the spirit of partnership.

Mrs Faith Paulding
Synod Ministry & Mission Advocate
eastern.mandm@urc.org.uk
 

The means by which contributions to the M&M Fund are determined is in the process of change as the Synod moves from Districts using different methods to a unified system. A unified system will need all to have a sense of belonging to the wider church and calls for us to be a truly United Reformed Church. The Synod M&M Advocate, working on research and recommendations undertaken by the Ministry and Mission Resources Committee that has now been disbanded, is managing this transitional arrangement.

The proposal is to move to a ‘Fair Share’ system that encourages the strong to support the weak, reflects ability to give, takes account of year-on-year changes in circumstances and involves no sudden large year changes. 70% of a church’s contribution would be based on financial resources and 30% on average adult attendance at Sunday worship.  This proposal is being trialled in 2008 and in the light of the trial the Resources Committee will bring a recommendation to the October 2008 meeting of Synod.

Area M&M Advocates

Cambridge - Stephen Hampson
Central Suffolk - John Seabourn
Colchester & Tendering - Michael Howard
Chelmsford  - John Tyler
Ipswich & East Suffolk - June Thornton
Norfolk & Waveney - Andrew Paige
Southend East & South West Essex - Ian Miller
West Suffolk - Nigel Partridge

HAEBEA - Brian Herring