Synod Urges Appointment Of Stewardship Director

Press, Volume C, Issue 29637, 6 October 1961, Page 15

Synod Urges Appointment Of Stewardship Director

A request that the diocesan standing committee consider the appointment of a diocesan stewardship director was' passed almost unanimously by the annual Synod of the Diocese of Christchurch last evening.

Introducing the proposal, Mr R. W Yates (Cashmere Hills) said a more Christian attitude towards the use of church monies should be encouraged.

If it was true that stewardship was really here to stay and that it was an integral part of parish life, the Church could no longer afford to make mistakes in the matter.

The Rev. O. R. Bambury (Cashmere Hills) said it should be fully realised that Christian stewardship was much more than purely campaigning for pounds, shillings and pence, which was entirely secondary to the essential expression of thankfulness to God inherent in all Christian giving, important though financial considerations might be. “Without any thought of re-

compence we must learn to give generously of ourselves free from all self-centred-

Such giving was a basic fundamental of nature, and without this there was a major barrier to real dedication, he said. In the fAce of crisis the thin veneer of religious faith could not be sustained on its own.

Mr H. S. Cordery (Christchurch) said in support that it was necessary to emphasise to church people that “it is you that we want, not your money. ■ Get people interested and the money will come.”

Opposing the motion, Mr J. A. Sanderson (Papanui) said he believed the matter was one for each individual churchman. The Rev. R. W. Blair (Hals-well-Prebbleton), in support, spoke of the success of an individual stewardship campaign at parish level. From an income of £l2O, such a campaign had raised giving to £l4OO, and this was still increasing, he said. His church had been the first In the South Island to conduct such a crusade.

The greatest essential in this organisation had been the follow-up to preliminary campaign activities. This was vital, he said.