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“The whole campaign is designed to support local ministry. The health, well-being, confidence, and mission-driven life of our parishes and missions is the goal of all we do as a diocese,” said Bishop Susan Bell. “This campaign presents an important opportunity to resource our local mission action plans.  

Representatives from the Steier Group, a church development and fundraising firm, will be conducting interviews across the diocese to gain feedback on a variety of potential campaign elements.  

The primary aim of the proposed campaign is to provide resources for mission in the next season of the Church’s ministry, drawing on locally discerned mission action plans. In addition, the campaign would create a new leadership endowment to support differentiated curacies as well as the ministries of missioners and church planters. Together, these two campaign goals seek resource missional initiatives and invest in the future leadership of the diocese’s parishes and missions. 

“It’s important that our clergy and lay leaders hear without any doubt that this is all designed to support them and their local missional goals,” said Bishop Bell. 

The proposed campaign also seeks to make an impactful one-time gift to the Anglican Church of Canada’s Healing Fund or to support the emerging Indigenous Anglican Church in Canada. It would also provide major one-time gifts to support the ministries of St. Matthew’s House, Canterbury Hills, and Christ’s Church Cathedral. 

“Bishop Susan wants to hear from as many people as possible, so we can gauge their interest in addressing these urgent needs,” said Canon Drew MacDonald, diocesan stewardship and campaign advisor. 

During the 13-week study, slated to begin September 25, parishioners will have a variety of ways to give their opinions. While some will be personally interviewed, others will have the option to complete surveys or attend a town hall meeting in their region. Participants will be given a fact sheet that outlines each of the needs and how the diocese would like to address them. As of now, the proposed campaign goal is estimated to be $20 million. The information collected during the study is confidential and will help diocesan leadership discern how to best proceed with a campaign centred on building up the parishes and missions of the diocese. 

In November, four town hall meetings will be held. These meetings are open to everyone to learn more about the proposed diocesan-wide, parish-focused campaign, ask questions, and complete a survey. 

The dates and locations for the town hall meetings are as follows:

Attendees will have the opportunity to hear directly from the bishop about her vision and pastoral priorities for the diocese, and how the needs tested in the study will help advance God’s mission in Niagara. 

https://niagaraanglican.ca/news/comprehensive-feasibility-study-set-to-begin

 

Partnerships In The Church And Community
The Diocese of Niagara