Fund for World Mission giving rises

Giving to the Methodist Church Fund for World Mission grew bynearly £700,000 in the last Connexional Year, reaching £5.7million. The increase followed a call for more giving to the fundmade by Revd Stephen Poxon, Secretary of the Methodist MissionarySociety, at the 2005 Methodist Conference.

For the year to August 31, the Fund had total income of £5.7million, up from £5.1 million the year before. At the 2005Conference Stephen Poxon challenged Methodists to increase theirgiving to the Fund by £1 million, and although this target has notyet been met, he says he is delighted by the response. 'In 2005 Iasked for a big increase,' Stephen says, 'and that is clearly whatwe got. This money will go to a wide variety of programmes aroundthe world, aiding people in need and allowing us to support ourpartner churches in their work.'

Michael King, World Church Team Leader, thanked the many differentgroups who contribute to the Fund. 'All parts of the Church,' hesays, 'including JMA and Women's Network, have worked hard toachieve this wonderful result. The increase in giving demonstratesthe confidence of Methodist church members in Britain and Irelandin the mission programmes jointly agreed with partnerchurches.'

Income for the Methodist Church Fund for Home Mission fell in thesame period, mainly due to a decrease in legacy bequests. Its totalincome 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 gladlyMethodists respond to a challenge. We are keen to develop ouradvocacy of all our work and of all our funds, both restricted andgeneral. We firmly believe in the importance of all the Methodistfunds and the work they support within the Connexion, acrossBritain and around the world.'