<html><div style='background-color:'><P>Dear Gordon,</P>
<P>You have raised an important question and one that the Franciscan International Study Centre Governors grapple with at every meeting. How to conduct a charitable foundation within the strictures of UK charity law, serving those who work indefatigably to keep the Centre going but giving them the <U>justice</U> of a living wage (both domestic and academic staff are salaried below the local average for their skills but the Religious come free for their keep), advancing the intellectual cause of Franciscanism whilst still retaining the Franciscan ideal of poverty.</P>
<P>Fortunately, the middle classes of the Roman Catholic church are prepared to sponsor Ministry candidates doing Franciscan Studies from around the world and in particular from Africa - all important work as long as the Centre pays its way in the real modern world. Otherwise it will close - no pre-Reformation largesse here!</P>
<P>Although the UK charges for the Pilgrimage look expensive from a 'Day 12' perspective it is underwritten to a certain extent by the several American Franciscans and Friends who are coming to join us - Deo gratias. </P>
<P>All ideas to balance poverty and academic quality at FISC are welcome.</P>
<DIV>John Morrison TSSF</DIV>
<DIV>Mobile: 0771 424 2798</DIV>
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From: <I>GPlumb2000@aol.com</I><BR>Reply-To: <I>tssf-studies@justus.anglican.org</I><BR>To: <I>tssf-studies@justus.anglican.org</I><BR>Subject: <I>Re: [TSSF-studies] PILGRIMAGE ON THE FRANCISCAN INTELLECTUALTRADITION 7 - 15...</I><BR>Date: <I>Sun, 12 Feb 2006 15:39:58 EST</I><BR><BR><FONT face=arial,helvetica><FONT lang=0 face=Arial size=2>Very splendid - but also very expensive. I would love to be able to go. But how does spending the best part of £1,000 on this fit with Day 12 of the Principles?<BR><BR>"Personal spending is limited to what is necessary for the health and well-being of us and of our dependents?"<BR><BR>I think there is a case for a thorough-going discussion of what poverty has meant in the Franciscan tradition and what it might mean today. There has been a great deal written about poverty and the Franciscan tradition in recent years.<BR><BR>An issue that keeps nagging
me is that living simply/espousing voluntary poverty is only an option for those who are comfortably off. What of those for whom voluntary poverty is not an option because they are already grindlngly poor? Is the Franciscan way not open to them? (How far does the socio-economic make up of the TO reflect that of our wider society - and if not why not?<BR><BR><BR>Gordon Plumb<BR><BR></FONT><BR>
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