The Common Fund ensures both clergy and lay workers can be placed in parishes that could not otherwise afford to pay their salaries. As well as paying for salaries, pensions, training and housing for clergy the Common Fund pays for work of the Bishop's advisers, officers and administrators based in the Diocesan office. The total cost is just under £9 million.

If Common Fund targets are not met it will inevitably lead to a reduction in paid clergy posts. Just £280,000 a year is currently spent on Diocesan Administration.

Common Fund is collected from each parish - churches are each asked to give according to the congregation size and average income.

Regular giving by Christians across the Diocese means churches can offer support to all people when they most need it. Above all, you are making sure that every neighbourhood in this region has a visible and accessible community of Christians who gather for prayer, worship and to share the Good News of Jesus Christ.

This page has resources to help you encourage your church members to give regularly at the recommended level of 5% of their income. This discipline of giving is an important part of discipleship and will enable us together to work in the mission of God.

Resources available now are:-

1. Visits, on request, to advise Deaneries and P.C.Cs in developing policies with ‘Committed Giving’ in mind including legacies.
2. A short house group course entitled ‘Giving for Life’ is available and for those who have already completed this, there is also a review course.
3. Power Point presentations are available from Church House which can be used in P.C.C, House Groups and Church Services.
4. The National stewardship site which provides information for all aspects of church giving and stewardship can be found at www.parishresources.org.uk
5. Legacy information from www.churchlegacy.org.uk
6. There is a network of stewardship advisers and new stewards are welcome to join, training will be provided. Please contact Jayne Grunnill, details below.
7. Information to help churches access funding from the wider community is also available at: www.veoliatrust.org
8. For offering and Gift Aid envelopes contact Jayne Grunnill or www.envelopesystems.co.uk
9. Gift Aid information can be found at www.parishresources.org.uk and here (PDF).
10. 2011 Gift Aid update information, available here and checklist available here.

Resources to be developed in the coming weeks and months:-

1. New Diocesan Legacy information will be available from February 2012.
2. Training for new stewards.
3. eBay training at Church House.
4. Resources to be developed to encourage financial support from the whole community where appropriate.
5. The Birmingham Diocesan website to be updated to include a stewardship section.

Please be in touch with me if you would like to arrange a visit or more information.

My contact details are:
Mobile: 07971428101
Landline: 0121-426 0424
E-Mail: jayne@birmingham.anglican.org

Jayne Grunnill
Stewardship & Income Generation Officer