By John Cole

Most of the things that go on in the life of the local church can be fitted under one or other of the twelve headings on OHP 8.

Some things, like financial management and property maintenance. are related in a more indirect way that supports the church in its task. The danger is always that these supportive activities will become ends in themselves.

Anything the church does which does not fit under the twelve headings is probably not the church's business - or else the case for it will have to be argued very carefully. Any suggestions?

An important conclusion ought to be drawn at this point: Institutions are very good at forgetting why they exist. They do this by becoming pre-occupied about the need to survive. This is when the ‘supportive activities’ take over. The result in church terms is the remarkable ‘closed loop’ which is implicit in so many of the messages about money that come from church authorities - Church of England Dioceses in particular!

Instead of drawing people to Christ as part of fulfilling God's Kingdom purposes, the aim is reduced to filling the pews. The people in the pews will then raise the money needed to pay the clergy. This sounds reasonable until you ask what the clergy are for. Answer (on this scenario): To fill the pews to raise the money to pay the clergy! It happened to be a Roman Catholic priest who was overheard commenting - wryly! - that local churches only exist to give clergy a job!