As 2026 approaches, we are asking you to make your Free Will Offer (FWO) pledges towards covering the costs of ordained ministry locally and the wider diocesan ‘shared costs’. This set of pledges are especially important as in 2022 the Diocesan Synod set the expectation that the 2026 FWOs in each ‘Ministry Unit’ would at least cover the cost of the stipendiary clergy who serve them. 2026 is also the point where we begin looking ahead to ensure each Ministry Unit is contributing towards its share for our whole diocesan family by 2031.
We know that this level of contribution is not easy, but it is the reality that we face, and so it was good to meet with representatives of many parishes in June as we came together to talk about the challenges that we face in covering the cost of ministry. Every PCC has also been supplied with material to share with congregations about Free Will Offer and the cost of ministry. We hope that this will be useful in framing this years conversations in your PCC.
As usual at this time of year, and as indicated in the letter that you will have received from Archbishop Stephen, your PCC is asked to meet and then to pray and debate what level of Free Will Offer you're able to pledge to the Diocesan Common Fund for 2026. You can find further resources to support your local converstaions, including the presentations from the Roadshows at
www.dioceseofyork.org.uk/fwo.
Once your decision is made about your 2026 Free Will Offer, please select your parish from the dropdown list, enter your 2026 pledge and add any comment you may wish to make about your financial situation and any support that might be helpful as you look forward towards 2031. Please complete your submission if at all possible by September 20th.It would really help my team to collate offers and then provide remittance advices throughout the year if you could submit your pledge at PCC level (i.e. aggregated up if there are multiple churches in one parish, or with an indicative amount per parish if there are multiple parishes in one benefice or ministry unit).
If you have any queries or difficulties with the process, please do speak to your Archdeacon or you can contact the Finance Team via freewilloffer@yorkdiocese.org.On behalf of the whole family of the Diocese of York, thank you for your support.
Kathryn Rose
Director of Finance
