February 14, 2009 – 11:11 am
By Ron
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Posted in Planned Growth Mission
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Taking a positive step forward by making arrangements for Planned Giving Counsellors to visit your parish for a meeting/presentation can be the first step toward a successful renewal of your current giving program. The Celebration of Thanksgiving Program is a proven and successful means of achieving your goals.
As in all things there are some pre-requisites for success not least of which is a desire to move ahead and extend the mission and ministry of the parish.
The Meeting
The meeting/presentation takes approximately and hour and covers the preparation phase and how the program will be conducted.
The Director will make his presentation using a data projector and give you an estimate of the potential increase in giving that you should expect as well as all costs involved.
Making a Decision
Every parish faces the ‘decision making dilemma’ of what is the best way forward for our parish. Some opt for a maintenance type program “let’s just proceed on the same basis as last year” others will opt for “running a self run program”. While others again will take a positive step forward and explore what a Celebration of Thanksgiving Program could achieve for their parish and make a positive decision.
October 14, 2008 – 3:01 pm
By Ron
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Posted in News, Planned Growth Mission
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Planning begins with the decision to move ahead - so much needs to done but we say “we don’t have the money” It doesn’t have to be that way!
The new Celebration of Thanksgiving Program provides you with a new approach to planned giving. We’ve streamlined the preparation phase with a brand new resource on CD called ‘PGC Celebration 2009′ this coupled with our online ‘helpline’ makes getting ready much easier.
We’ve shortened the length of the intensive phase (without sacrificing service) which means a reduced consultancy fee - it actually costs less, much less than ‘old style’ programs. We offer an extended consultancy fee payment schedule and provide secretarial assistance and stationery items at no additional cost.
Celebration and Thanksgiving go hand in hand the program is about experiencing the joy of giving. The culmination of the Celebration of Thanksgiving Program is held on the final weekend of the program with a Thanksgiving Gathering and Thanksgiving Party being held on the Friday evening with Thanksgiving Commitments made in church over the weekend.
Planning begins with your decision to contact PGC on free-call 1800 334 140 or by e-mail to request an obligation and cost free meeting.
October 3, 2008 – 5:22 pm
By Ron
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Posted in News, Planned Growth Mission
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Churches need money to operate. This is a fact. A church without money for ministry is like a farmer without capital for seed and equipment: no cash, no crop.
Churches are like farmers in another way too. They need tools, and the tools they use have changed a great deal over the years.
At one time, farmers could depend on horses and horse-drawn plows to achieve the results they wanted. Today, most farmers own a tractor.
Times have changed, and so have programs. One of the reasons why P.G.C. introduced the Planned Growth Mission was about moving with the times. The basic principles haven’t changed, you’ve still got to prepare the soil and plant the seed, but it’s the way you do it that counts.
P.G.C. is committed to finding the best way of assisting churches to realize their vision. Our job is about providing the church with the best tools to do the job and the leadership and motivation that is needed.
September 30, 2008 – 5:48 pm
By Ron
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Posted in News, Results
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The Parish Church of St. Saviour’s Glen Osmond stands at the junction of the Adelaide Crafers Highway, Cross Road and Portrush Road. St. Saviour’s is highly visible and the first church that visitors to Adelaide see as they drive out of the Adelaide Hills travelling into the city from Victoria. The Planned Growth Mission completed in September 2008 had as its theme ‘Sharing the Future’ and the shorthand title of ‘PGM 2008′.
The materials prepared for PGM 2008 were of a very high standard both in terms presentation and content. The Mission Visitors approached their activity with great enthusiasm and dedication, every family and parishioner received a visit and a copy of the PGM 2008 Parish Directory and Vision Brochure. Visiting in a Planned Growth Mission is about making connections and encouraging the people to attend church especially over the Thanksgiving Weekend.
It was good to catch up with the Rt Rev’d Keith Rayner who was a most active Mission Visitor. I am always impressed by the ongoing support retired clergy make and Keith certainly set a good example to other members of the visiting team. Bishop Keith Rayner can be seen taking part at the Thanksgiving Party.
An exciting and innovative change was the idea of a Thanksgiving Party which was held on the Friday evening of Thanksgiving Weekend. Parishioners met in St. Saviour’s Church for the first hour where they heard Archdeacon Paul Mitchell speak about the ‘Mission Vision of the Diocese and Local Church’, followed by an older and younger member of the congregation who shared something of ‘Why they belong to St. Saviour’s’. The Rector Fr. Simon spoke about ‘Moving Ahead’. The PGC audio visual presentation ‘Caravan’ was shown before the people moved over to the Parish Centre Meeting Room for the Party of wine, finger food and good company.
Thanksgiving Services were a time of genuine renewal as parishioners gave their decisions careful and prayerful consideration as they made their pledge and brought their Thanksgiving pledges forward placing it in a basket and lighting a candle as a symbol of their commitment.
The Chair of PGM 2008 made the observation that it was most encouraging to have a professionally directed program and commended the Rector and Parish Council on their decision to engage Planned Giving Counsellors.
Commitments made to date show a significant increase over the previous level of pledged income.
August 13, 2008 – 1:12 pm
By Ron
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Posted in News, Results
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With the Intensive Phase of the Planned Growth Mission just completed it was pleasing to receive a letter from the Rector the Venerable John Stead.
Dear Ron,
Thank you for the significant contribution to the life of the Anglican Parish of Wagga Wagga in the preparation and implementation of the Planned Growth Mission.
The material provided in the PlannedGrowth CD was very useful as we prepared the Parish Directory, and the Vision Budget. It assisted us to keep on track as we prepared for the intensive phase of the Mission; as did the prompts, in relation to tasks that need to be undertaken that are included in the guidelines. The process that has been developed is tried and reliable and I am aware that you are continually refining it as each Planned Growth Mission is completed.
Over the weeks of the intensive phase your presence was a great motivator to keep on track and to put in the effort necessary to achieve a significant result. The involvement of members of the parish in visiting to pass on a personal invitation to the Thanksgiving Dinner as well as delivering copies of the Parish Directory and Vision Budget resulted in a very pleasing attendance at the dinner. The feedback that I received about the evening was very positive and I would like to think that we would make it an annual event as we recommit ourselves to the Parish Vision and Mission Statement and our commitment to growth. A particularly pleasing aspect of the dinner was the attendance of members of the various congregations of the parish and the opportunity for people to see the diversity of the congregation and to realise that there are many more people involved than they see as part of the congregation that they attend.
The material and the process will not only benefit the ‘bottom line’ but also will; I believe most significantly, impact the life of the parish - the sharing of vision, the growing commitment for parishioners to take a more significant place in the pastoral role, and a greater willingness to engage in mission and ministry. I expect to see a great degree of enthusiasm for ministry and mission, which is an area that I have been committed to over the last four years - the Planned Growth Mission has been part of that process of setting a new course.
It is my intention, along with the members of the Continuation Committee, to ensure that we maintain the momentum and build on what has been achieved over these last few months and particularly these last few weeks.
I wish you God’s blessing for your ongoing work.
Yours in Christ
John Stead
Rector Anglican Parish of Wagga Wagga
Archdeacon for Continuing Ministry Development
