The Diocese of Leeds is keen to make sure that all have the chance to get involved in Barnabas: Encouraging Confidence.
Barnabas will support parishes in tackling common issues like buildings, governance and stewardship, and in finding missional opportunities such as planting new congregations.
First, though our buildings are a vital part of being good news in our communities, they also soak up a lot of time and energy.
Barnabas will help make things easier, with support on works and maintenance, helping parishes assist each other, and pointing to places and people who can offer assistance.
Second, our churches are full of brilliant and faithful volunteers and so the governance strand will help with running churches, parishes and benefices safely, while also offering ways to make governance simpler.
It will provide ideas for how to work together and share resources, along with simple templates and examples of the key policies we need to keep churches and people safe.
Third, our giving of time, gifts and money is what enables the church to be good news across our diocese.
Therefore, the stewardship and treasury strand will help parishes to do this well, including supporting and encouraging the people who administer our money.
Finally, the diocese will offer grants to help churches start new congregations.
In certain circumstances, launching a new congregation can be the best way for a parish to reach and disciple new people.
Barnabas will help make that happen with resource and support.
So that these strands are effective and valuable to everyone, we want to ensure that no one is excluded from Barnabas because of cost.
Therefore, a widening access fund will be available.
This fund will cover bursaries for travel, resource and childcare costs where this will help people take part.
These support strands shall start becoming available in the coming weeks and months, so do keep checking in to see what new things are on offer as time goes on.
Barnabas: Encouraging Confidence is how we all work together to create confident Christians, build growing churches and be part of transforming communities.
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