The Anglican church of the Resurrection, Bucharest, is a unique focalpoint in a city undergoing enormous and rapid change. Home to a far-flungcommunity (its "parish" covers the whole of Romania and Bulgaria), thebuilding stands as an icon of shared spiritual values and historical continuitybetween Eastern and Western Europe. Through the ministry of its members,it already offers significant Christian witness. It also has the potentialto develop further that it may continue to "bear much fruit" (John 15.8).

However, the present financial position of the church is not strong.It faces both an immediate cash problem, and a longer term problem of sustainabil-ity.These problems must be addressed separately but simultaneously, since itis our Christian hope and calling for the future that make us worthy ofsupport now.

To break even this year, we must find $15,000 by the end of December2003. Broadly speaking, if things continue as they are, a similar fundraisingeffort will be required year on year. To ensure long term viability, wemust build a resource base that frees the chaplaincy to concentrate onmission.

In commitment and faith, we offer in this Financial Plan our visionfor the Chaplaincy of the Resurrection over the coming years: a visioninspired by the Gospel of Salvation in our Lord Jesus Christ, earthed inthe realities of the world in which that Gospel is to be proclaimed.

Whilst appealing for prompt donations to help us meet this year's $15,000shortfall, we also propose the creation of a legally constituted, independentincome-generating Trust (substantial resources have already been offeredfor this) that will ensure imaginative and accountable support of the chaplaincyin the long term, to the glory of God.

The following paragraphs present the current situation of the Chaplaincyand a proposal for creating a sound financial base for its ministry inthe long term.

Section 1 describes the historical and social context in which the churchexercises its ministry. Section 2 gives an account of present resources.Section 3 considers the future. Section 4 explores the idea of an income-generatingTrust. Section 5 looks at who might wish to support this project. Section6 outlines an action plan and vision.

Historical Context Following the overthrow of Ceausescu in 1989 (duringthat great period of political change, Romania was the only country inEurope to suffer a violent revolution) Romania became headline news inthe West due to the plight of children in state orphanages. As a consequence,there was widespread awareness of some of the needs in the country, andpeople in the West responded generously. At the same time, there was optimismand a sense of opportunity with regard to the economic future. Substantialinvestment was directed to Romania.

The Present Situation of Romania Over the last decade, frustration hasgrown at the slowness of progress towards a free market economy and aneffective civil society. For Western visitors and a minority of Romanians,life has improved in terms of comfort and availability of goods, but formost Romanians life has in many respects become harder. High level corruptioncontinues to afflict every area of activity, health care has declined,unemployment and inflation are serious factors, and with many everydaycosts equivalent to or close to Western levels, the national average salary(about $120 per month) leaves people struggling to make ends meet. Despitethe invitation for Romania to join NATO and the possibility of EU entryin 2007, foreign investment decreased last year, and even optimists forecasta long, slow haul. For many people in the country there is all but no socialwelfare. Within the community and care sector, the overwhelming majorityof provision is funded from abroad, and despite grants from the EU andother sources, the regional and national infrastructure still requiresmajor improvement. There is no sign that this dependence upon externalfunding can be reversed in the near future.

The Anglican Church in Romania The Church of the Resurrection, Bucharest,dedicated in 1922, uniquely amongst Anglican chaplaincies in the formerSoviet bloc countries continued to hold church services throughout thecommunist era. Within the context outlined above (which broadly speakingapplies also to Bulgaria, and neighbouring Moldova and the Ukraine) theChurch of the Resurrection continues to offer witness and praise to God,as it has for over half a century, committed to welcoming all. We are determinedto meet the costs of the chaplaincy ourselves if we possibly can. At thesame time, we have to recognise that this may not be achievable in theshort term.

The Chaplaincy's Resources Our primary and ultimate resource is God'scare and love for the world, our own commitment to faithful witness toChrist, and the joy and mutual support of discipleship in the Way thatis Truth and Life.

We have no material assets other than the church building itself, whichis expensive to maintain. Through fees for occasional weddings, and useof the building by the International Baptist Church, we gain a small income.Greater use of the building for income-generating purposes might be anoption for longterm development, but would require prayer and careful thought.

We currently receive an annual grant from the Diocese in Europe, whichis set to decrease. The Diocese has expressed a willingness to look againat this, with a view to renegotiating the proposed decrease.

The Church Fellowship We have a relatively small number of "hard currency"earners in the congregation. Like other chaplaincies, we also have a rapidturnover of membership due to the limited length of postings. At the sametime we have only a limited number of longterm ex patriates (resident herefor longer than five years). The precariousness of the business and civilenvironment in this area of the Balkans can create pressures and uncertainty.

The hardship of life for the majority of people both in Bucharest andin the country as a whole, and an often palpable sense of discouragementand demoralisation, together with problems inherited from the era of theSecuritate, mean that a number of church attenders are in considerablepastoral need. These needs can create a degree of stress within the fellowship.

At the same time, within the church membership, in Sofia as well asin Bucharest, there is a remarkable range of skills, interests, contacts,and experience. Some members also have financial resources with which theyhave generously supported the chaplaincy in the past. Above all, thereis a spirit of love for the church and commitment to its future, with anever stronger sense of corporate responsibility for its ongoing ministry.

The Wider Community With regard to fundraising among the ex pat community,we have held modestly successful fundraising events and are organisingfurther initiatives. There is, however, a sense that the pool of potentialdonors, including businesses, is limited. The funding needs of charitiesdelivering primary health, educational, and care services both in Bucharestand throughout the whole of Romania mean that individuals and businessesperceived as being "good for a bob or two" already receive many appealsfor humanitarian assistance, by contrast with which the needs of the chaplaincy,important as they are, can seem secondary.

Perceptions of the Anglican Church can also be inaccurate. There isa widespread assumption that we are financially supported by the Embassy,Canterbury, the Queen, or simply "them"! Due to the varied backgroundsof our members, in terms both of nationality and denomination, with a comparativelysmall percentage of British Anglicans, it is difficult to explain "howit all works." The chaplain's responsibilities toward Sofia, and as Apocrisariosto the Patriarchs of Romanian and Bulgaria, make for a complex role thathas both advantages and disadvantages, and requires careful communication.

Although the problem side of life can sometimes seem to dominate, thereis nevertheless also in many areas a sense of entrepreneurial opportunityand the challenge to explore new synergies. As a church, we are presentedwith the energising challenge to go where the Holy Spirit leads.

Services are usually well attended and there is a positive spirit amongthe fellowship, with increased use of the church for concerts and by passingvisitors. The monthly services in Sofia have achieved a regularity thathas allowed a good sense of fellowship to grow. In Bucharest a fundraisinggroup is working on plans to meet this year's shortfall of $15,000, andindividual members have already made significant commitments. We have createda website, produced a flyer outlining the needs and potential of the chaplaincy,and started a database of present and past members. We try to promote UKGiftaid and tax-efficient US means of payment, although such methods arenot relevant to many of our members. Romania is still very much a casheconomy: for instance, individuals cannot donate to the church throughstanding orders. We are exploring how to make it easier for people to giveeffectively to the church within this situation, for instance through pledgingand gift envelopes.

During the Communist era the sheer survival of the church was an achievement.Following the 1989 revolution, the pace of events allowed no basis forlong-term planning. Now, however, we have a historical perspective (a decade)by which to gauge the future.

The history of the church over the last ten years shows that, despitea major 70th Anniversary Appeal and subsequent generous donations, essentialmaintenance of the church building and chaplain's appointment, relocation,stipend and on-costs have absorbed all resources, holding the church backfrom achieving its goals for development and outreach.

A vision for action In line with every not-for-profit organisation inRomania, and indeed with many businesses, it is probable that we shallcontinue to need structural support from outside our own immediate community.An idea has been proposed for the creation of an income-generating Trustto ensure the longterm viability of the chaplaincy.

Substantial resources have been committed to help set up this Trust,on the understanding that the church as a whole is also fully committedin its determination to secure the long term future. Other members supportthe idea in principle, and the practical details are being explored.

An Income-Generating Trust The core purpose of the Trust will be alongthe lines of the following draft:

The Aim of the Trust is to support the ministry of the Anglican Churchof the Resurrection, Bucharest, to ensure its long-term viability.

The Trust will enrich the ministry of the Chaplain and Church Members,rather than substitute for the sacrificial Christian giving and stewardshipthat is fundamental to the liveliness of any Church community.

The Trust will work with the Chaplain and Church Council to ensure thatthe gifts, resources, and commitment of the Church Membership at any giventime remain, under God, the primary basis of the continuance of the ministry.

1) to ensure a reasonable level of financial security to the chaplainand any employees who may be appointed by the church;
2) to ensure that the church and any property that the church may acquireshall be well maintained;
3) to ensure that the strategic goals of the church, prayerfully andcarefully identified, are realised, to the glory of God.

The primary capital of the Trust would remain intact and be investedin such a way as to produce income to support the mission of the church.It will be a challenge to achieve a sufficient level of return, but withthe help of God, and through the generosity of church members and othersupporters, we believe it is feasible. The proposal that a Trust be setup was made within the context of already extensive and well establishedbusiness involvements in this area.

The Trust would be legally constituted, separate from the chaplaincy
... [constitutional and management details still to be discussed]

There are various ways in which the Church of the Resurrection, withits wide range of members and contacts, and its building located in thecentre of the capital, can benefit communities of interest other than theimmediate congregation. There are three main groups of this kind:

Christian bodies;
Charity and community development bodies;
Educational and cultural bodies.

What do we offer each of these communities of interest?

Christian Bodies Not only does the church offer public worship and pastoraland spiritual support to a very broad range of individuals, it also playsa significant ecumenical role in the life of a city in which the Christianreligion is a major, visible, and influential reality of everyday life.The church building has a historic importance due to the years of communistrestriction. As one of our Romanian church members has expressed it, itis "a Church full of history, who was a refreshing spiritual fountain forthe "westerners passing through Romania throughout the years". Even now,people express thanks for our having been a Western presence here during"Romania's tough years".

Development here might include making the church more open during theweek, with church members present to welcome and host visitors; developinglinks with interested churches and communities elsewhere in the world,and organising pilgrimages, retreats, and vocational visits to Romaniafor Christians (lay people, clergy, theologians) to get to know the remarkablehistory and great tradition of Romanian Orthodoxy and of ecumenical toleranceespecially in Transylvania; prayer and Bible Study meetings (interdenominational,or specifically exploring the Anglican "via media" in the Romanian context);talks and discussions on topics that relate faith and society in the contextof Romania's position midway between East and West; and development ofa library of English language books on Christian spirituality, theology,prayer, and history, as well as books specifically answering the frequentrequests we receive for information about the Anglican Communion.

With regard to the charity and community sector, we have an intermediaterole, already working informally alongside others (in particular thosewithin the Orthodox church involved in diaconie) to facilitate networkingand effective use of resources and exchange of information. Over recentmonths the church has "brokered": professional links for a project workingin isolation with autistic children; housing (and reunion with children)of young homeless parents; contact in a particular urgent situation witha well run fostering charity; discussion of the new (in Romania) conceptof palliative care between a hospice and Orthodox clergy; tuition in Englishlanguage and computer skills in a street children's centre and a free schoolset up in an Orthdox church in one of the poorest areas of Bucharest.

In a limited way, but on an ongoing basis, homeless and distressed peoplefind human contact and occasionally food and clothing at the church, whilefrequent small donations of clothing and basic educational and medicalmaterials are passed on through the church. In the early 1990s the churchprovided significant, structured support to a number of refugees, and wasinstrumental in setting up a relief group - this has declined, althougha number of refugees still fundamentally depend on the church for theirright to remain (temporarily) in the country.

The chaplaincy has the capacity to offer a practical ministry, relatingat an intermediate level to the private, voluntary, and government sectors,that at the same time can help in public awareness-raising and facilitationof links and sharing of resources.

Educational and Cultural Bodies Centrally located in Bucharest, thechurch is close to the University Faculty of Languages and to a numberof city centre schools. Other University Departments are within easy reach.The networks, involvements, and skill base of church members provides aforum for interdisciplinary contacts as well as for contacts specific toparticular areas of research. A number of church members hold positionsin Romanian universities. At school level, we are accessible and easy tovisit, enabling pupils to have "live contact" with an English-speakingcommunity. The church is also a venue for concerts, performances, and eventsthat both offer Romanians an affordable opportunity to perform to a liveaudience (the acoustic is particularly good for chamber and vocal music),and visitors from abroad an attractive city centre meeting and performancespace which Romanians are comfortable coming into. There is unique potentialfor intercultural exchanges and cross-cultural exploration in the arts,in debate of public issues, and in sharing of experience. Over recent monthswe have hosted exhibitions and performances by professional musicians,students, local schools and children with HIV (isolated and deprived ofeducation due to the stigma attaching to their condition); we have hosteda concert by an American choir; provided a "base" for a young Englishmanin his gap year between school and university; welcomed a visiting Fulbrightprofessor as a member of our fellowship; assisted a Romanian attached toBalliol College, Oxford, in preparation of his doctoral thesis (on theRomanian Christian dissident Petre Tutea) for publication by Ashgate Press.

Developing a Partnership We should promote the potential of the chaplaincyand invite contributions to the Trust by approaching, initially via contactsamongst our members: denominational and ecumenical Christian bodies throughoutthe English-speaking world; churches, charitable trusts, and other relevantgrant-making bodies; colleges and major universities (through their chaplaincies)across the English-speaking world; educational trusts and foundations forthe Arts; individual donors. An annual or 6-monthly newsletter would keepinterested donors informed of the development of the Chaplaincy and helpgenerate further interest and new ideas.

Starting from where we are ... As at 30th June 2003 our financial positionreflects the crisis-driven mode in which the church has often survivedover the past decade. In our budget we accurately predicted expenditure.Of the identified $21,000 budgeted to be fundraised, however, only abouta fifth has been achieved. To break even we must find $15,000 by the endof December.

Four church members have already pledged a total of $8000, with a requestthat others match this. Given that any longterm project for funding thechurch is unlikely to produce immediate revenue, and that we are thereforelikely to be in a similar situation this time next year, it should be stressedthat the current target of $15,000 to be found by this December is a minimum,not a ceiling.

Activity for this year A fundraising auction and social event is tobe held on the 27th September, at the residence of the Head of the EU Delegationin Bucharest. Invitations are being sent to all in the business and diplomaticcommunities as well as to personal contacts, and it is intended that thiswill become an annual fixture in the Bucharest calendar.

A letter will be sent to church members and friends of the chaplaincy,in Bucharest and in Sofia, apprising them of the situation and asking fortheir support. We shall work with the Diocesan Board of Finance to agreean appropriate level of grant support, and shall seek to raise greaterawareness of the church's needs and vision among all concerned for thefuture of the chaplaincy.

Meanwhile we shall work actively on creation of a Trust to support aministry that is Spirit-led rather than need-driven.

Targets Purchase of a suitable chaplain's residence is a long-identifiedpriority. Given that real estate prices and rents in Bucharest are almostcertain to rise greatly as Romania approaches entry into the EU, the presentarrangement whereby the church rents accommodation is unsustainable.

The church building, though in basically sound condition, requires aconsiderable amount of work in the next couple of years: re-pointing ofbrickwork, replacement of broken windows, stripping, revarnishing, andre-securing of doors, painting of iron railings; purchase of gardeningtools. The interior of the church is in general need of upgrade: repair,resanding and polishing of parquet floor; new carpets; repainting of walls.Our hymnbooks and servicebooks need replacing. Not all church members agreeon the need for a sound system - others consider it essential. Thanks toa diocesan grant last year specifically for this purpose, the church hasa computer, but other items such as an answerphone and fax would help establishadministration of the chaplaincy as a serious business. Such needs couldbe met by gifts in kind as well as by financial donations, but could notbe met within the current budget levels.

Vision for development With no great expense the existing church "room"could be made more attractive as a venue for midweek activities, both forour own fellowship, and for meetings with other individuals, churches,and organisations, as part of the chaplaincy's ecumenical, cultural, andcharitable role.

A library of books in English on prayer, spirituality, theology, churchhistory, and ecumenical relations might be created quite easily and provea very valuable resource in a city where many people speak English andwhere there is enormous interest in spiritual life and the role of thechurch.

The church should become an established venue for high quality concerts,performances, and debate, in the way that some city centre churches inthe UK have developed a distinctive ministry in this direction.

A structured commitment to support of charities, as well as supportof individuals, would bring both practical and ecumenical benefits, andcontribute to theological debate concerning church and society, faith and"doing the truth" [cf. John 3.21].

In the longer-term we might develop the tower room (currently unusedand more or less inaccessible - hopes of adapting this facility go backat least to the 1980s, and probably to the original design stage of thebuilding). It could make an excellent small meeting/library/study room.The basement similarly offers possibilities of development.

At present the work of the chaplaincy is almost entirely concentratedin Bucharest and Sofia. However, in various other parts of both Romaniaand Bulgaria there are individuals and projects who have links with thechaplaincy and would appreciate more contact. Over time the ministry ofthe Anglican church could be extended to meet the needs of those who arerarely able to attend services in the capital.

In prayer, with hope and faith and love, we commend to God all the thinkingand doing of the chaplaincy of the Resurrection. May the flame of the Spiritbe manifest in our witness to God's presence in our diverse, broken, yetbeautiful world.

J.A.R.