Canon Tim Dakin, CMS general secretary
(Photo: © CMS)
Financial challenges are forcing many good causes to make cutbacks and this week CMS (Church Mission Society) announced staff reductions, minor programme cuts and plans to slim overheads.
However CMS does not plan to withdraw international mission partners.
The recession is proving deeper and more prolonged than was anticipated when CMS framed its budget at the end of 2008. Returns on investments are even lower than projected. Legacies to the Society are significantly less than in past years.
Like many Christian bodies CMS is finding that giving by people committed to its mission work continues. Donations by members, friends and link churches are slightly up on last year and there has been a positive response to new approaches to funding mission work. This is securing on-going support for international mission partners and projects but it does not make up for the overall effect of the downturn.
"These are challenging times," CMS General Secretary Canon Tim Dakin commented. “I'm deeply thankful for the faithful support CMS receives from members, friends and link churches. I know for many people committed to mission there are really hard decisions, particularly where they may be facing reductions in their income."
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Oxford-based CMS is a mission community formally acknowledged by the Church of England. Founded in 1799, in the crucible of the campaign to abolish slavery, evangelism and justice has always been the heart of CMS.
Law 1 of the Society states that CMS is “a community of people in mission obeying the call of God to proclaim the gospel in all places and draw all peoples into fellowship with the Lord Jesus Christ.”