Training for Parish Visiting

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Parish Visiting Parish Visiting

What is Giving in Grace?What is Giving in Grace? Why are we visiting?Why are we visiting? Why have I been asked to visit?Why have I been asked to visit? Refreshments & discussionRefreshments & discussion What happens on a visit?What happens on a visit? What to do – and not to do!What to do – and not to do! Dealing with issues that are raisedDealing with issues that are raised The challenge, and blessings, to the visitorThe challenge, and blessings, to the visitor

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What is Giving in Grace?What is Giving in Grace?

A programme of teaching toA programme of teaching to

encourage the knowledge and encourage the knowledge and practice practice

of Christian giving of Christian giving

as an act of worship as an act of worship

and thanksgivingand thanksgiving

The soldiers doughnutsThe soldiers doughnuts

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What’s at the heart of What’s at the heart of Giving in Grace?Giving in Grace?

Differentiation!Differentiation! Meets people where they areMeets people where they are The coreThe core The congregationThe congregation The fringeThe fringeDifferentiationDifferentiation

Discussion paper on differentiationDiscussion paper on differentiation

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Giving in Grace - what is it?Giving in Grace - what is it?

When will the programme be run?When will the programme be run?Launch dateLaunch date….….Closing thanksgiving serviceClosing thanksgiving service….….

Why it is important for our churchWhy it is important for our church• the case statementthe case statement

The elements of the programmeThe elements of the programme• Preaching- the wordPreaching- the word• Communication Communication • PrayerPrayer• LeadershipLeadership• Interaction…YOU!Interaction…YOU!

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Why is visiting so important?Why is visiting so important?

We are a family of GodWe are a family of God We need to help each other along the We need to help each other along the

wayway People need the opportunity to ask People need the opportunity to ask

questions and talk things throughquestions and talk things through Why visiting mattersWhy visiting matters

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Not people with silver tonguesNot people with silver tongues What we are looking forWhat we are looking for

People of faithPeople of faith People who are good listenersPeople who are good listeners People who understand and People who understand and

practice Christian giving practice Christian giving What we are not doing:What we are not doing:

Visiting complete strangersVisiting complete strangers Asking people to give a donationAsking people to give a donation

But people with hearts of goldBut people with hearts of gold

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What must I do?What must I do?

Make the visits in a certain periodMake the visits in a certain period Agree to visit 4-5 peopleAgree to visit 4-5 people Arrange a convenient time to visit.Arrange a convenient time to visit. Drop off the literature prior to the visitDrop off the literature prior to the visit Allow Allow up toup to an hour per visit an hour per visit Be prepared to call back if so requestedBe prepared to call back if so requested Assist in completing forms – if requestedAssist in completing forms – if requested Collecting responses - usually only from Collecting responses - usually only from

those who are unable to get to churchthose who are unable to get to church

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Before the Visit Before the Visit

Make your own response pledge!Make your own response pledge! Arrange the date and time, making sure the Arrange the date and time, making sure the

person is aware how long the visit will be.person is aware how long the visit will be. Give sufficient time for people to read the Give sufficient time for people to read the

literature between delivering it and visitingliterature between delivering it and visiting Read through the visitor pack so you can Read through the visitor pack so you can

answer questionsanswer questions Pray, decide and respond yourself!Pray, decide and respond yourself! Be prepared to talk about how you arrived Be prepared to talk about how you arrived

at your own response to Giving in Grace at your own response to Giving in Grace and why you think its so importantand why you think its so important

Pray for them- think how they feel?Pray for them- think how they feel?Agenda for a training evening

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Opening the ConversationOpening the Conversation IntroductionsIntroductions Ask what they think about the brochure and Ask what they think about the brochure and

the issues the church is trying to addressthe issues the church is trying to address Listen attentively, try to respond to any Listen attentively, try to respond to any

issues and explain any misconceptions. issues and explain any misconceptions. If If you don’t know the answer, make a note and you don’t know the answer, make a note and ask someone who does!ask someone who does!

Tell your personal story about why Giving in Tell your personal story about why Giving in Grace matters to youGrace matters to you

Ask if they have thought about…..Ask if they have thought about…..

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The visitor packThe visitor pack

The Visitor details form:The Visitor details form: Name and contact details of person to be Name and contact details of person to be

visitedvisited Which grouping they are in: core, Which grouping they are in: core,

congregation or fringecongregation or fringe BrochureBrochure Letter: the right letter for the personLetter: the right letter for the person Response forms: the right oneResponse forms: the right one

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Issues: wIssues: what is the money for?hat is the money for?

What are the main issues for the local What are the main issues for the local church identified in the brochure?church identified in the brochure?

Why is Giving in Grace important to Why is Giving in Grace important to the churchthe church

What ministry and mission plans do What ministry and mission plans do you have?you have?

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Issues: the envelope Issues: the envelope schemescheme

It is a way of planning your giving It is a way of planning your giving It helps you to ensure you don’t forget for It helps you to ensure you don’t forget for

the weeks you are awaythe weeks you are away It reinforces your place as a member of It reinforces your place as a member of

the church of God here in this placethe church of God here in this place It enables you to gift aid - if you pay taxIt enables you to gift aid - if you pay tax

Handling Requests for Information

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Issues: Standing ordersIssues: Standing orders

Are easy and much better for the churchAre easy and much better for the church Are confidential Are confidential Are biblical- as you receive from God you give to Are biblical- as you receive from God you give to

Him as a first priorityHim as a first priority Can be replaced by a small weekly pledge card Can be replaced by a small weekly pledge card

on the plate if requiredon the plate if required Enable you to gift aid if you pay taxEnable you to gift aid if you pay tax

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Issues: Gift AidIssues: Gift Aid

For tax payers who pay sufficient tax to For tax payers who pay sufficient tax to cover the tax bill on their annual donationscover the tax bill on their annual donations

E.g. £10 per week needs an annual tax bill of E.g. £10 per week needs an annual tax bill of £146£146

A gift aid form has to be signedA gift aid form has to be signed If you stop paying tax tell the gift aid If you stop paying tax tell the gift aid

secretary who is………secretary who is……… It is easy and confidential It is easy and confidential Higher or lower rate tax payers can also gift Higher or lower rate tax payers can also gift

aid. aid.

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Issues: pastoral concernsIssues: pastoral concerns

Ensure you listen carefullyEnsure you listen carefullySeek permission to pass the Seek permission to pass the

issue onto the appropriate issue onto the appropriate person- usually the vicarperson- usually the vicar

Offer to pray about itOffer to pray about it

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Some do’s – and don’tsSome do’s – and don’ts

Do plan an appropriate venue for visits if home Do plan an appropriate venue for visits if home isn’t one.isn’t one.

Don’t make too many appointments for the one Don’t make too many appointments for the one eveningevening

Don’t get involved in argumentDon’t get involved in argument Do not accept monetary donationsDo not accept monetary donations Don’t tell them what you think they ought to doDon’t tell them what you think they ought to do Do not pretend to know the answers to Do not pretend to know the answers to

questions when you don’t - say you’ll find out questions when you don’t - say you’ll find out and get back to them - and doand get back to them - and do

Visitor Handout sheet

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Giving in GraceGiving in Grace

Jesus sent them out….Jesus sent them out….

Will you respond to this call?Will you respond to this call?

Remember not silver tongues but hearts of Remember not silver tongues but hearts of gold, willing to give time graciously to help gold, willing to give time graciously to help

others to give in graceothers to give in grace

Commissioning service for visitors