Sometimes I don't feel very creative when I am asked to do something. However, I am usually pretty good at reacting to what I see or hear from others. So let me give a couple of examples of attitudes towards giving that got quick reactions from me.
The first occurred a few years ago at work when some financial advisors got permission to offer a sales pitch about their services during a lunch period if we wanted to attend. Hey! I don't often turn down free pizza! So I listened to their presentation about developing a balanced portfolio of investments, of planning based on our goals for the future, of building a program of investing which fit with our comfort zone concerning risk and ambition. When they finished and asked if there were any questions I had one to ask them (I'm sure that comes as a surprise to anyone who's been on session with me). I asked about why I hadn't heard them say anything in their presentation about charitable giving and where they thought that should fit into a proper investment strategy. They quickly told me that they considered that very carefully and covered it fully in their estate planning materials.
Estate planning! These people felt that the only proper place for charitable giving was after we had died and we hadn't managed to spend all of our resources ourselves. That ended that presentation as far as I was concerned. As a Christian living in a world filled with suffering, there are more problems than I will ever be able to see resolved in my lifetime. But that does not mean that I should wait until after my life on earth to begin to address the needs that are currently going unmet. We may not meet all of those needs, but any help we can give will mean that at least some of those needs will be met.
The second example is a joke. A family attends church for the first time in quite awhile. They sit and admire the large, well appointed facilities in which the service is held. They listen to the music program with its organ, singers, and other musicians. The pay close attention to the sermon so that they can benefit from the wisdom of the pastor. Then when the offering plate is passed the father pulls some money from his wallet and deposits it in the plate, at which point his small son loudly proclaims "Wow, Dad, do you mean to say that they can put on this great show and it only costs a dollar for the whole family?"
Clearly, this "show" cannot be put on for one dollar per family. We have called some highly trained, very skilled leaders to plan our worship services and I think most everyone in the congregation would agree that we have outstanding worship every week. Certainly just about every visitor I have spoken to comments on the quality of the music we have in our worship services. Catherine is highly respected as a preacher and she continues to work to get even better, as shown by her studies towards her DMin degree. But beyond the salaries we pay to these professional worship leaders, we also have to pay for the facilities in which we worship, the utilities to keep us warm or cool, the rest of the staff that keeps the building cleaned, prepares the newsletters and bulletins, and all of the other tasks that it takes to run a congregation, all of which seems to disappear if the worship goes smoothly, only occasioning remark if something isn't quite right.
But all of those activities and costs of running the church and providing worship are just a portion of the work that needs to be done. We need to be working to help address the needs which exist in the world. Through our denomination we are supporting programs which provide education, health care, food, assistance, and many other necessities to peoples all over the world. Our congregation is directly involved in multiple mission activities in our immediate neighborhood and in the larger community.
And it only costs a dollar per family? Of course not. The costs of running this facility and providing these services keep going up. These are tough economic times across the country. But how much is it worth to you to keep helping others? To be inspired, challenged, and invigorated by worship each week? To participate in this congregation and the service of the church which is the body of Christ?
We need more than a dollar per family and we need it now, not when our estates get settled.
You've put some challenging thoughts together in a very effective way, Kenneth. It will be a good addition to your church's stewardship brochure.
Current contributions are certainly key to supporting a congregation's life and ministry. But deferred giving can be important, too. I've noticed how at least 6 of the other organizations I belong to have solicited me to set up a charitable annuity with them, but when I had an unexpected windfall, I had to approach the church about it, because it had never been mentioned as a possibility. I wouldn't want us to see a charitable annuity or "mentioning the church in your will" as an ALTERNATIVE to regular, sacrificial giving, but as a supplemental way of supporting your congregation.
Earl Arnold
East Syracuse, New York