Vianney (Sam) Carriere Photo: Marites N. Sison
Council of General Synod (CoGS) has approved a covenant that allows the Resources for Mission (RFM) department to approach donors for large gifts on behalf of the ministries of General Synod.
The governing bodies of all separately incorporated ministries, including the Primate’s World Relief and Development Fund (PWRDF), the Anglican Foundation and the Pension Office Corporation, have also approved the agreement.
The covenant is “very important,” said Vianney (Sam) Carriere, director of RFM. “It’s generally recognized in the area of fundraising that the fewer appeals made on behalf of an organization, the better. We’ve been hearing for years that there are too many appeals” coming from General Synod, and these can be “confusing and irritating” for donors, he added.
The agreement is limited to “large gifts that are directed towards specific significant areas of ministry,” said RFM’s written report. “This work…is now being done more intentionally and with renewed emphasis.”
The covenant does not involve the annual appeals of the various ministries, but Carriere expressed the hope that it will “open the door to other things that we can do together.”