For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not rst sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether you have enough to complete it? Otherwise, when you have laid a foundation and are not able to nish, all who see it will begin to ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and was not able to nish” (St. Luke 14:28-30).

ONE OF JESUS' PARABLES exposes the folly of trying to build a house upon a foundation of sand instead of rock (St. Matthew 7:24-27). He is speaking, of course, of Himself and His teachings—Jesus, the Word of the Lord. Turning to Grace sets out a vision for the Diocese of Huron that is Christ-centred and (New)Creation-focused. More literally, however, the success of this vision is dependent on having a firm foundation of resources upon which to build.

In speaking of "resources", we mean more than just nancial resources (money). People and property are the principal resources of the Diocese of Huron. It is also important— perhaps for clergy in particular—to avoid a temptation to draw a rm line between spiritual and worldly things (sordid gain, or lthy lucre in another translation [Titus 1.11]) as if the latter were not an essential part of the former. The whole People of God is engaged with things spiritual and things temporal in the work of living in the Kingdom of God. Having an adequate resource base—of all kinds— makes things possible, or not.

As such, Acts and Actions related to Stewardship and Resources are foundational for all three Pillars of Turning to Grace.

For which of you, intending to build a tower, does not rst sit down and estimate the cost, to see whether you have enough to complete it? Otherwise, when you have laid a foundation and are not able to nish, all who see it will begin to ridicule you, saying, “This person began to build and was not able to nish” (St. Luke 14:28-30).

AS MEMBERS of the gathered Body of Christ that is the Diocese of Huron, then, we are called to be stewards of those things held in common and those things individual to us. We are stewards of our inherited faith, spirituality, and Anglican common life. We are stewards of the inherited resources of the Diocese, including financial and real estate resources. 

 

(Illustration: St. King Stefan with the Church - Ktitor Portrait, Fresco from Monastery Decani, Serbia, early 14th century)