Page 40 - Presbyterian Connection

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PRESBYTERIAN
FALL 2022
presbyterian.ca
Connection
JUST WONDERING...
We heard at General Assembly that the national office has hundreds of millions of dollars in reserve. Why aren’t we using these funds, for crying out loud?
I’ve noticed in the past couple years that more people are coming out about their sexual orientation or gender identity at church. How can I respond well when someone chooses to come out to me?
Answered by the Rev. Ian Ross-McDonald, General Secretary
The Presbyterian Church is blessed with resources of many kinds. The financial resources that the denomination has re- ceived from estates or has reserved for certain purposes, are invested in what is commonly called the “Consolidated Fund.” The consolidated fund is a large investment fund governed by a Statement of Invest- ment Policies and Procedures and admin- istered by the members of the Investment Advisory Committee who have extensive investment and related experience.
At the end of March 2022, the total amount the national church had invested in the consolidated fund was about 130 million. That number is the total amount found in hundreds of smaller individual funds designated for cer tain purposes. For example, the denomination has bur-
sary funds for theological students, funds to support ministry with children, funds to support ministry with Indigenous people, as well as funds to start new churches, host conferences, support ministry done with international partners, support de- velopment projects overseas through PWS&D, and to suppor t camps, coach- ing, education events, ministry in rural congregations and to complete cer tain capital projects.
Some of the funds were received from wills in which people designated funds from their estate for certain purposes. For example, there is a fund created by a will that supports ministers with low-income families, and a fund for ministry in the province of Quebec. The terms of other funds were set by the denomination itself for things like the creation of new congre- gations and helping a seminary in Malawi buy books for its library. These funds are reviewed regularly to ensure that the terms and purposes of the funds are rele- vant or whether the funds could be used in other ways. The church’s funds are used as much as possible within the terms of the funds to support ministry in Canada and around the world. In this regard, the funds are overseen by committees and the church’s auditors and repor ted each year in the Acts and Proceedings. Many of the exciting things reported in this news- paper each quar ter are possible because they are supported by the funds the na- tional church has at its disposal.
The other 114 million dollars in the con- solidated fund belong to congregations and bodies, like synods or seminaries. The national church has no control over the use of these funds. Rather, they are used according to the policies and deci- sions of the congregations and ministries that own them.
Answered by Carragh Erhardt, Sexuality and Inclusion Program Coordinator
People come out at various ages, in all sorts of life situations and for many differ- ent reasons. Since each LGBTQI2+ per- son’s experiences and needs are different, there is no one-size-fits-all script for how to respond when someone comes out. The following ideas may help ministers, elders, youth leaders and other ministry leaders prepare to have pastoral conversations with people who are coming out.
First, coming out is often a pivotal mo- ment for an LGBTQI2+ person; it can feel daunting and many people spend a consid- erable amount of time planning how they’ll come out and imagining how they’ll be received when they come out to different people. If someone chooses to come out to you, it’s typically appropriate to thank them for their trust and for letting you get to know them better. Expressing your gratitude can also help reassure them that you care about them and that they can continue to talk to you about their gender identity or sexuality.
Listening attentively and asking support- ive questions is an integral pastoral care skill, in general, and is especially impor- tant when someone is coming out. How are they feeling about coming out to you or others? What hopes and fears do they have about coming out? What can you and others at church do to support them? What questions do they have about what com- ing out might mean for their life, relation- ships and faith? You do not need to have a perfect response for every possible ques-
tion, concern or scenario they raise in that initial conversation, but demonstrating that you’re there to support them in their jour- ney is a valuable gift you can offer.
When coming out at church, LGBTQI2+ people may express fear of being rejected by God. You can reassure them that The Presbyterian Church in Canada affirms that all people, whatever their sexual orientation or gender identity, are equally beloved by God.
Remember that everyone has a different timeline for coming out and they might be open about their gender and sexuality in some parts of their lives but not others. Re- spect their decisions about when to come out and do not tell other people unless you are asked to or given permission.
Sometimes, part of responding well is being able to make appropriate referrals to organizations in your area that provide supports and community for LGBTQI2+ people and their families. Getting famil- iar with local services and resources that are available is a good step in preparing to connect individuals to a broader network of care when they come out.
Lastly, coming out is about more than one conversation. When someone comes out to you, ensure that you follow up, es- pecially if the person is in an earlier stage of coming out and still getting comfortable with their identity. As a church leader, re- sponding with grace and continuing to be a supportive presence in someone’s life after they come out can have a very posi- tive impact on their coming out journey and long-term well-being.
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