Generosit

y Toolkit
Generosity Toolkit
Together we will reflect on:
 What is generosity and how can we build a generous culture in our
church?

 How and why are people giving to our Church?

 What do we need to get right for people to give?

 As a church what are we doing well and how could we improve?

Generosi
ty Toolkit
I owe you more than my
whole self, but I have no
more, and by myself, I
cannot render the whole
of it to you.
St Anselm
Generosi
ty Toolkit
 A Question

“What was your

first experience
of money?”

Generosi
ty Toolkit
 Mechanis Inspire
ms leadership –
governance –
direct debit –
vision and
contactless –
strategy -
web – app -
celebrate
legacy
Disciple
Impact individual
mission – vision – study –
community group study
engagement – preaching
- retreat

IDEA
Giving Genero
Practic us
Need e Cultur Embed
urgency –
cause & effect e services – new
members –
- responsibility mission
planning –
cultural
sensitivity

Trust Activate
local church – 21st century
diocese – national harvest – 1%
church more –
boomerang
offertory
Define What does this mean?
Discern What is God calling us to?
Discuss What is our experience?
Discover What are we doing
well?
Dream What else could we do? Generosi
ty Toolkit
 legac

Givin
y
Mechani
sms
g
onlin
e

direct

Pract debit
contactle
ss
we
b

ice
Define Discern Discuss
This is about the ways people give. We want to encourage ‘holy habits’ Can you think of a time, in church or in
The easier it is to give, the less ‘friction’ within our church, so that giving another context, when you wanted to
there is in giving, the more likely people becomes second nature. Most people give but couldn’t?
are to give. The way people use money want to be generous, and often are,
is changing, and that means the way but like all spiritual gifts, we Can you think of a time when you
people give is changing too, and we become better at using it with gave, more because of the mechanism
need to acknowledge that in the practice. There is a place for reflection, for giving (like a sponsored activity)
mechanisms we offer. Good practice with deep thinking, and contemplative than the cause itself?
mechanisms is all about providing the generosity. There’s also a place for
ways to give in an accessible, spontaneous and instinctive generosity, Do you give outside of church
visible, simple, straight forward and enabling us all to be generous differently than in church?
way. It’s also about ensuring that in different ways is a key part of
whatever way people give, they are building the generous community God What is your preferred way of giving?
thanked for their gift. calls us to be.
Discover
What are we doing well?
Where do we need to improve?

Dream
What things could we do?
Rank them in terms of
importance
 missi

GivinGivin
on
Impact

g g vision

PractPract
communi
ty
engagem

ice ice
ent

Define Discern Discuss

To encourage people to give, we need to Reporting on impact can sound like What stories have people told you of
explain what will change if they do, showing off – look at all the marvellous what your church has done for them?
and that’s impact. We often talk about things we have done! However, in truth
costs, but that often makes people think it is the opposite – it is showing what What does the church do that has
their giving is insignificant in comparison. God is doing through us, the made the greatest impact on you?
Impact should be shown clearly in our enormous privilege of being used by him
mission and vision plans, and the more to transform lives and communities. Impact is about outcomes not outputs.
we engage with our community the Showing impact can embolden us, and Running a ‘messy church’ is an output,
greater impact we will have. Good give us confidence, because we see whereas enabling 12 children to learn
practice is showing consistently where God is already working and want about God is an outcome. Think about
throughout the year what impact to join in. Impact reporting is not what the church does, and try and
the church has made in leaflets, talks, about what we’ve done, but what explain it by describing its outcomes
social media stories etc. God has done through us. not its outputs.
Discover
What are we doing well?
Where do we need to improve?

Dream
What things could we do?
Rank them in terms of
importance
 urgen
cy

Givin Need

g cause
and
effect

Pract responsibil
ity

ice
Define Discern Discuss
People sometimes assume the church is Articulating need can feel deeply What would not happen if people gave
wealthy and doesn’t need their support, uncomfortable, as it shows us to be 10% less? What could happen if people
but giving and voluntary income pay powerless. As a church, we need what gave 10% more?
for 75% of the costs of the church’s others have, and they may choose not to
ministry and mission, so people need give. We believe in a God who was How does our church add value to the
to give for the church to do what it does. rich but who for our sakes became lives of people who do not go to
People need to understand cause and poor, who lived with and ministered church? How do we explain this so
effect – if people do not give, what to those in need, and we are called people who aren’t church goers see the
will stop? They need to realise the to be dependent on the God who need to give?
urgency for people to give, and be loves us. We need to always be learning
convinced of their responsibility to give the language of need, for God’s grace In most churches, only some feel the
too (as opposed to others). Being above all things, and acknowledge our need to give. How can we make all feel
persuaded of the need to give is need for God’s generosity to be shown to that responsibility?
crucial to people choosing to give. us through each other.
Discover
What are we doing well?
Where do we need to improve?

Dream
What things could we do?
Rank them in terms of
importance
 local
churc

Givin
h
Trust

g dioce
se

Pract national
church

ice
Define Discern Discuss
When people give, they have to Jennie Pollock writes that three things Which organisations do you trust?
trust the people they are giving to. are necessary for our trust in God to Why?
Trust that the money will be carefully grow – knowledge of God and what
spent, that it will be spent on what they he has done, our ongoing Has there been a time when you
said it would, that the money will be relationship with God and our trusted someone and they let you
kept safe, and that their gift will be kept communication with God. The same down? How did that feel?
confidential. They must also have trust applies for trust between the giver and
that the work it is spent on will be our church. Givers need to know what Think of a person that you think is
consistent with and live out the faith we do and what we have done, we need trustworthy. Describe them, and say
that motivates the gift. Trust is woven an active relationship with them, and we why you think they inspire trust.
into all aspects of giving, and we need to communicate regularly to
need to show ourselves to be worthy of sustain and develop that relationship. All How does trust work in your church?
that trust, and make sure we keep it. these things grow trust. Who or what do people trust?
Discover
What are we doing well?
Where do we need to improve?

Dream
What things could we do?
Rank them in terms of
importance
 leadersh
ip

Gener Inspire

ous celebrate
governan
ce

Cultur vision
and
strategy

e
Define Discern Discuss
Generous churches need generous In Mark 12 Jesus praises the poor widow, “People only give as much as the
leaders, who embody and live out who gives ‘all she has’ in the temple, or person asking for a gift has given
generosity as part of their faith. PCCs more accurately this is translated as ‘her themselves”. Is this true?
need to be generous, showing very life’, for she has given away the last
generosity in the decisions they make remaining coins that she would need to After Mary anointed Jesus’ feet (John
and the way they act. All church keep her alive. Inspirational leadership 12), he said that “wherever this good
members, whatever their age, need to can be found in unusual places, and the news is proclaimed in the whole world,
be inspired to live more generous lives. poor widow is a far greater leader than what she has done will be told in
We need to celebrate generosity the other givers in this story. We all remembrance of her”. Think of the
within our church through have a role to play in inspiring different ways this was generous.
inspirational stories of the others, in encouraging each other
transforming grace of generosity to keep making tentative steps Think of someone who you think is
lived out. We need generous and forward in living more generous generous. How do they live
hopeful visions, plans and strategies to lives. generously?
inspire us.
Discover
What are we doing well?
Where do we need to improve?

Dream
What things could we do?
Rank them in terms of
importance
 individu

Gener
al study

Disciple

ous group

Cultur
study
retreat
preachin
g&

e
teaching

Define Discern Discuss

We all learn in different ways, and so we What is it to be a disciple? In Mark 12 Describe the way you think you learn the
need different ways to learn about living Jesus says it is to love God and love best. How could you learn more about
generously. Giving is a subject we often our neighbour. This requires a generosity this way?
find difficult, and it is easy to become complete generosity of spirit, and
defensive, and to feel criticised, graciously God sees we cannot attain it Why do so many people prefer not to talk
condemned or judged. However we by ourselves. As St Anselm put it, “I owe about money? How can we talk about it
disciple people on generosity - individual you more than my whole self, but I in a way that people find comfortable?
or group study or preaching and teaching have no more, and by myself I
- it needs to be encouraging, positive cannot render the whole of it to How do you think you have grown most
and supportive. Retreats can be you.” Generosity is itself a spiritual gift, in your faith? What events, courses or
transformative as they give the time to and we should start by praying for the sermons have been the most helpful?
understand afresh God’s generosity to us gift of generosity, and that we be
and how we can live generously in constantly refreshed with the re-
response. realisation of God’s generosity to us.
Discover
What are we doing well?
Where do we need to improve?

Dream
What things could we do?
Rank them in terms of
importance
 services

Gener Embed

ous cultural
new
members

Cultur
sensitivit
mission
y
planning

e
Define Discern Discuss
Generosity and giving shouldn’t only be There are more bible verses on Think of adjectives you think other
talked about once a year (and many money, wealth and possessions people would use to describe your
churches don’t even do that) but should (2,350) than anything apart from church. Would generous be one of them?
be embedded in the church’s ministry love, with four times more than on faith
and mission. Everyone can give or prayer. Nearly half of the parables are How are new members of the church
something, and giving needs to be about money and possessions. Whilst we welcomed in to the church. Do we
seen as intrinsic to being part of the as a church often hate talking about mention giving as part of that?
church community. It needs to be money, Jesus never stopped. The way
embedded in our planning, mentioned in we use the money God has given us Are there particular aspects to our parish
every service, form part of our is so important in bringing the love (age, wealth, health, religion etc) that we
welcoming of new members, and the of God to our communities. need to be aware of when thinking about
way this is all done needs to reflect the Embedding generosity in all we do encouraging giving and generosity?
particular context of the church. makes us more and more like the
generous God we believe in.
Discover
What are we doing well?
Where do we need to improve?

Dream
What things could we do?
Rank them in terms of
importance
 21st
century

Gener Activate
harvest

ous 1% more

Cultur boomera
ng

e
offertory

Define Discern Discuss

People often want to build a more “I by my works will show you my faith” Have you ever set yourself a goal and a
generous life, but they don’t know how to (James 2:18). Generosity is a spiritual gift plan to achieve it? It could be fitness,
build it. We can provide the scaffolding that needs practice. We need to be able to diet, a new skill, a qualification. Talk
for this learning, giving practical ways to live it out, not just to ponder it. It is a way about how you planned it and how it felt
grow generosity. For example, pay all of being, not just a way of thinking. By when you achieved it.
church costs for the year in 11 months, giving people the opportunity to grow a
then give away everything given in more generous life, we give the People often find it easier to do
harvest month. Encourage people to plan opportunity to deepen the faith that something new if they do it with other
generosity, by committing to give 1% sustains it. Generous churches are people. Is the same true of being more
more of their net income each year. inevitably growing churches., they can’t generous?
Boomerang offertory - hand back to the help it. Their generosity spills out, as they
congregation the offertory received and share the overflowing life and love of God. How do you encourage people to do
ask them to give it away. something without making them feel
guilty if they don’t?
Discover
What are we doing well?
Where do we need to improve?

Dream
What things could we do?
Rank them in terms of
importance
Next Steps
Together we will agree:
1.An action or new activity for each of the 8
MINT/IDEA building blocks
2.Who will be responsible for leading this
action
3.When this action will be completed by
4.What success will look like
Generosi
ty Toolkit
Mechanism Impact
New New activity…………………………...
activity……………………………….... …….
Led Led by……………………………….
by……………………………………… ………
Completed Completed when………………….
when…………………………... ………...
Resources Resources needed………..
needed………………………… …………………
Need will
Success Trust
Success will be……..
be……………………………...
New ………………………...
New
activity……………………………….. activity………………………………...
Led Led
by……………………………………... by………………………………………
Completed Completed
when………………………….. when…………………………...
Resources Resources
needed………………………… needed…………………………
Inspire Disciple
New New activity…………………………...
activity……………………………….... …….
Led Led by……………………………….
by……………………………………… ………
Completed Completed when………………….
when…………………………... ………...
Resources Resources needed………..
needed………………………… …………………
Embed
Success will Activate
Success will be……..
be……………………………...
New ………………………...
New
activity……………………………….. activity………………………………...
Led Led
by……………………………………... by………………………………………
Completed Completed
when………………………….. when…………………………...
Resources Resources
needed………………………… needed…………………………
Living as Generous
Disciples
 We believe in a generous God, a God who
gave up everything for us and gave us
everything we could ever need.
 We are called by God to use the gifts He has
given us to fulfil His mission and ministry
within this community
 Generosity takes many forms. We can give of
our time, talents and material possessions.
Generosi
ty Toolkit
And finally…

“Questions,
thoughts or
comments?”

Generosi
ty Toolkit
And finally…

Thank
You
Generosi
ty Toolkit