Commons Select Committee on cross-border issues
Together with the Bishop of Hereford, I appeared before the Welsh Affairs Select Committee in the House of Commons to present evidence about cross border issues concerning health services. We both presented written evidence and were then questioned by MPs for over an hour. The Select Committee will also be looking at other areas – transport, education and agriculture and I would welcome evidence of issues encountered by people living on the Welsh-English border.
Bishop Dominic writes…
St Augustine said, ‘We are an Easter people and Alleluia is our song’. Now that we have celebrated the great feast, I want to reflect on one aspect of what it means to be people of the risen Lord because resurrection touches every aspect of our lives, including our pockets!
I am always amazed at what young children will ask when I visit schools. They have asked me, ‘Is your cross made of solid gold?’
‘How much do you get paid?’
‘Do you like all your vicars?’ and even theological questions like, ‘Why did Jesus die on the cross?’
I know of one bishop who was asked, ‘How did you become a bishop?’ Knowing that the questioner was the son of a priest, the bishop said, ‘Why do you ask?’ and the boy replied, ‘Well, my dad says he has no idea how you became a bishop!’
One questions that I was asked was, ‘What do you say to God as you hold up the collection plate?’ I replied with the words that I have been using all my ministry, ‘Lord, receive the gifts of your people, an outward sign of their love for you’.
Yes, money is symbolic and the bible has a lot to say about our use of money. People often misquote, ‘the love of money is the root of all evil’. Money symbolises power, the power to buy things, the power to plan for the future and the power to do good. But the love of money can indeed lead to people feeling that they have no need for God because they can buy all they need. People can become possessed by their possessions and forget that all we have is a blessing from God and that we are called to exercise stewardship of our resources.
As a diocese we need to be good stewards. I am aware that we run the central structures of the diocese on a shoe-string. Parish Share is not to pay for your own priest but to contribute towards the ministry and mission of the diocese – otherwise we would have huge areas without clergy.
Jesus warns of the foolishness of storing up great wealth. Jesus recognised that, for the rich young man, it was his wealth that prevented him from being a disciple, and he warned that it is harder for the rich to enter the kingdom than for a camel to go through the eye of a needle. We are told to store up treasure in heaven not on earth and that ‘where you treasure is; there will you heart be also’. Whilst I am a great supporter of tithing, I am also aware that the story of the widow’s mite is the Christian response to giving.
This is not to say that we should be careless or unthinking about the way we use our money – quite the opposite. We should listen to what the scriptures teach about our attitude towards money and how to use it. Christians should live within their resources and assist those with debt problems. We should give generously (and use Gift Aid) and we should make a Will.
I know that many clergy are reluctant to preach and teach about money because it is often an excuse to ask people to give more money to the church, and as most of it is used to pay the clergy it can appear to be self interest! But we do need to teach and preach about money and I commend to parishes the study of The Money Revolution by John Preston, the National Stewardship Officer. It is a booklet about applying Christian principles to handling your money. Money is a faith issue and touches every aspect of how we live our lives, so whether you are rich or poor (or somewhere in between) please take this seriously. Copies of The Money Revolution have been sent to parish clergy, readers and treasurers and provide thoughtful material for sermons, private reading and group discussions. Please use it.
Happy Easter
+Dominic
The Money Revolution: Applying Christian Principles to Handling Your Money
by John Preston
Publisher: Authentic Media
ISBN: 978-1850787549
Amazon price: £3.50
The book covers such subjects a debt, insurance, spending choices, charitable giving, legacies and so on, and tries to help teach a Christian perspective on the whole subject of money.
John will be coming to Llandaff Cathedral to launch the Money Revolution on May 20th at 7.15pm. Clergy and Treasurers have the details - why not take a group from your parish?