15 February 2007
Fund for World Mission giving rises
Giving to the Methodist Church Fund for World Mission grew by
nearly £700,000 in the last Connexional Year, reaching £5.7
million. The increase followed a call for more giving to the fund
made by Revd Stephen Poxon, Secretary of the Methodist Missionary
Society, at the 2005 Methodist Conference.
For the year to August 31, the Fund had total income of £5.7
million, up from £5.1 million the year before. At the 2005
Conference Stephen Poxon challenged Methodists to increase their
giving to the Fund by £1 million, and although this target has not
yet been met, he says he is delighted by the response. 'In 2005 I
asked for a big increase,' Stephen says, 'and that is clearly what
we got. This money will go to a wide variety of programmes around
the world, aiding people in need and allowing us to support our
partner churches in their work.'
Michael King, World Church Team Leader, thanked the many different
groups who contribute to the Fund. 'All parts of the Church,' he
says, 'including JMA and Women's Network, have worked hard to
achieve this wonderful result. The increase in giving demonstrates
the confidence of Methodist church members in Britain and Ireland
in the mission programmes jointly agreed with partner
churches.'
Income for the Methodist Church Fund for Home Mission fell in the
same period, mainly due to a decrease in legacy bequests. Its total
income for the year was £863,000. The Revd Ken Howcroft,
Co-ordinating Secretary for Conference and Communication, said,
'the wonderful response to Stephen's call in 2005 shows how gladly
Methodists respond to a challenge. We are keen to develop our
advocacy of all our work and of all our funds, both restricted and
general. We firmly believe in the importance of all the Methodist
funds and the work they support within the Connexion, across
Britain and around the world.'