We need people to give more time and money to church, says Bishop
15/2/2012 (SM) The Bishop of Portsmouth Christopher Foster. Picture: Sarah Standing (120532-1287)
THE Bishop of Portsmouth hit out at consumerism and selfishness during a speech to church representatives today.
The Right Reverend Christopher Foster said that more people needed to give to the church – either by donating money or by investing their time – at his presentation to the Diocesan Synod.
The meeting, in Cathedral House, St Thomas’s Street, Portsmouth, was to bring together 60 clergy and 60 lay worshippers from churches across the area to decide policy and discuss issues.
As he reflects on 18 months in the role, Bishop Christopher was due to outline what he sees as the main issues affecting the diocese.
He said: ‘Our society is often marked by a competitive consumerism which sometimes becomes aggressive or selfish.
‘When times get hard, like in the recession, we can become self-competitive and continually think about what we want.
‘But in times like this, we should be reminding ourselves to look out for others, as we all have a responsibility to look after one and other.’
The bishop went on to urge people to get more involved in the Church of England and donate money and time to the cause.
‘The level of commitment here in the Portsmouth diocese to giving our money to God is notably good,’ he said.
‘We need to build on this, first by improving the modest individual level of giving in the diocese, and second by looking to become self-sufficient in budgeted income and expenditure.
‘If we had more resources then we could support people in different ways – but that doesn’t have to be through money alone.
‘It could be through care or time, or by using our talents to help others.’
‘We are limited only by the generosity of our commitment.’
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Comments
There are 26 comments to this article
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wizard of oz
Monday, February 20, 2012 at 06:27 AMDue to the banking crisis in 2008, most investors lost money on their equity investments during that period. The Church of England investments were not exempt from that crisis or its reperccusions. If you decide to take the risk and rewards of equity investments, you have to be prepared to the posiibility loss in the short term. There is nothng wrong with hedge funds per se, like all all types of funds its down to the ability of the fund manager to make the right decisions. A good manager will achieve good returns, a poor manger will achieve poor returns over the long term.
DanDog
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 07:52 PMjust to add, the source below for the £1bn loss is the financial times.
DanDog
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 07:52 PMpost 14 - some of the hedge funds the C of E were involved in in the past, invested in were dubious ethically, though they say they dont invest in those anymore. however they lost more than £1 billion in 2008 because of these investments. the question is, who was sitting on this money, what was it being saved for and why? and why did those generous donations end up being lost ot the pockets of the rich? how much did the church hope to save up in its its investments, before it would divest this cash to the needy?
PaulClasby
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 07:26 PMMaybe he should be looking at what the community wants from their local Diocese instead of closing down community halls and theatres for greed. You just have to see the plight of St Peter's Theatre and Church in Somerstown to see were his priorities are! Try selling the church now we have got English Heritage to list it. All because you don't want to help the parishioners of Somerstown, they are the ones who need our help Portsmouth most of all. SHAME ON YOU !!!!
urbanvermin
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 06:49 PMi will happily give the bishop a fiver for every week he spends living in a one bedroom flat in Somerstown on JSA,
Fatcatpat
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 05:16 PMMany of us prefer to donate to charities which actually do good works.
Shaun Cunningham
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 03:36 PMTHE Bishop of Portsmouth speaks about a world which would be wonderful, however with a heavy heart I must say it will remain a dream, quote: The bishop urge people to get more involved in the Church of England and donate money and time to the cause; the problem of course the church is fast becoming a irrelevance not because people's faith is diminished, but the church fails to uphold to the morel ground it once took to be it's bedrock. The church has allowed itself to become the pulpit of the liberal mindset who believe that God speaks to them only. What is so sad this mental attitude which is in full flow within the Church of England will bring about change but at the same time they will be progressively speaking to themselves for the pews of the church will be empty and yet we will still hear those words which fill me with dread, God spoke to me and call me to his ministry. OK.
udontknow
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 02:20 PMTHE Bishop of Portsmouth hit out at consumerism and selfishness during a speech to church representatives today. The Right Reverend Christopher Foster said that more people needed to give to the church – either by donating money or by investing their time – at his presentation to the Diocesan Synod. That is pure selfishness if I ever saw it,and using Gods name to get money?. The Kingdom of God Heaven lies within,not in a church,God flows through everyone and everything,God is not a human form person punishing those who curse or steal.The true evil is the church,people think by giving to a church they will be saved and joy would come to them???,God did not put these preachers in the church,for God is within you and you are closer to God then you were told...Read the bible for if god is not physical..neither is the bible,the bible is about your soul . We were told to get out of the darkness,our anger,our hatred,our depression,our fears and let there be light,Love,happiness,joy and we will create a better wondrous,happy world for ourselves. The Church puts fear into people...Ask the church one question and see what they say...If Jesus were to come back to Earth today ...Even though they never left....What religion would they choose?,and would they berate and condemn people in other religions and deny them access to his fathers house? Work inside out,not outside in.
PFC_Paul
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 11:40 AMGod doesn't exist, therefor I won't be giving my money to a lie. Thanks.
waverley
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 09:17 AMSorry Bishop, if you think the people of Portsmouth can give more money to god, you are living under a delusion. This is an area of high, and getting higher, unemployment; an area with patches of deep poverty. The inner city area looks to organisations like the church to support it in this time of great need. From your words you are failing us.
Gamma500
Sunday, February 19, 2012 at 07:48 AMWrinkley, Don't forget those millioniares on the opposition bench to..!!! O' and don't forget the ones in the 'other' place. Perhaps Blair could give something out of his £12m earnings last year... Aferall he only paid 2.4% tax on the lot!!
Sailor Sam
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 10:52 PM@3 quidnunc. I am sorry you are experiencing difficulty in understanding what I wrote @3. I didn't realise that you would have difficulty in understanding that I was telling the Bishop to ask those who have an abundance of money, (those sitting on the government front bench) before asking those that are suffering the consequences of the actions that they have taken. Have you bothered to check how many millionaires sit on the Government front bench? Do try to read more than the first sentence.
wizard of oz
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 08:18 PMPooled investment vehicles that use a wide variety of investment strategies to try to make a profit for their investors. Whats wrong with hedge funds? Your turn.
urbanvermin
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 07:13 PMWhy don't you tell us what's right with hedge funds?
wizard of oz
Saturday, February 18, 2012 at 05:14 PMWhats wrong with hedge funds?
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