THE 2018 Church Times Train-A-Priest Fund is now well under way, and the first donations are arriving.
The TAP Fund, which began in 1952, has enabled readers to give generously every year to support ordinands who struggle financially during their training. This year, every penny given will go into the Special Hardship Fund, available to anyone training for the ordained ministry in the Church of England who experiences a sudden financial crisis.
One example is Timothy (not his real name). Pursuing a vocation necessarily requires sacrifice, and those who are starting a life in the ordained ministry are well aware of this. That said, there will always be times when the pressures of life threaten to grow too great, and an already stretched budget can be pushed too far.
For Timothy, it was his boiler. What for many would be an irritation became for Timothy a crisis, since family funds did not stretch to a replacement. It did not help that the boiler chose to pack up in the middle of a cold winter. The TAP Fund, thanks to Church Times readers, provided Timothy with the £1750 he needed to make the necessary repairs.
This is just one example of many. Please consider a donation to TAP this Lent, knowing that your contribution will lift a weight off an ordinand’s shoulders.
How to give:
GIVING online is easiest for many donors, and for us. Simply visit www.hymnsam.co.uk/train-a-priest.aspx. This is a secure page with clear instructions.
We also accept cheques, postal orders, cash, and charity cheques, which should be sent to: TAP Fund, Church Times, 13a Hellesdon Park Road, Norwich NR6 5DR. If you would like an acknowledgement, please enclose a SAE. UK taxpayers can boost their gift by making a Gift Aid declaration. Please do this on our online donations page, or by enclosing the form on this page.
Spread the word:
PLEASE encourage other people to give to TAP, too. A colour leaflet can be downloaded from the Church Times website; and we encourage churches to hold a special collection or fund-raising effort. Please let us know about your support, and your stories, if you are doing so: we like to mention them in the Church Times.