The Offering–A Central Act of Worship in Community

Posted on June 29, 2012 by Giving Speaks

The offering has been the central act of worship for human beings since ancient times. In the earliest times, sacrificial offerings of the best livestock or first fruits of the crop were ceremonially given to the gods. In modern times, money is placed in the offering plate during Sunday morning service to support the work of the faith community. Throughout time the offering has been a means by which individuals and families may contribute some of what they have to benefit their whole community. Making an offering is considered a central act of faith: faith in the community, faith is something greater than oneself, and a tangible expression of gratitude for all received in life. In its deepest and purest expression, the act of giving motivated by gratitude, is a deeply spiritual practice.

Over time, this practice of the offering has been institutionalized by religions around the world. The concepts and practices are explicitly taught in many religions. In her book Giving—the Sacred Art, Lauren Tyler Wright refers to the practice of giving that each faith tradition brings to the “table of generosity.” She continues by describing the language and expressions of giving to religion:

Each tradition brings to the table a beautiful history of sacred texts, stories, and experiences, and each faith contributes to the intricate landscape of religious giving with a beautiful assortment of expressions: stewardship, almsgiving zakat (alms tax), sadaqah (voluntary charity), dana (charity), charity, Chesed (loving kindness), Tzedakah (righteous giving), tikkun olam (repairing the world). As I write, I imagine this wide variety of religious perspectives engaging in dialogue, not debate. While we may disagree on a host of ideologies, we can all sit around the table of generosity and share our understandings of this common practice. And in doing so, I have a feeling we will discover that our spiritual journeys are more alike than we may have thought.

Though religion continues to be the beneficiary of the largest share of charitable giving, it is losing some ground as giving increases to other charitable organizations. Once the recipient of 60 percent of all charitable giving, for the first time in recorded history, giving to religion has dropped to just under 33 percent. It appears that the competition for charitable dollars is heating up and religious leaders and consultants are asking, why? What makes the difference for people in choosing where to give?

Church fundraising consultant and former parish minister, J. Clif Christopher, is convinced that religious organizations must develop appropriate fundraising strategies using current methods in order to keep pace with their missions and financial needs. These strategies and methods will need to include greater involvement by the minister and board leaders in active fundraising and teaching of stewardship. More analysis must take place for each congregation to better know and understand its donors, their patterns of giving, and their capacity for giving.

Finally, it is essential that religious leaders know how to effectively ask for contributions and to communicate with and recognize donors.

According to Christopher and others, the three primary reasons people give are:

1) Belief in the mission of the organization,

2) Regard for the staff leadership of the organization, and

3) Fiscal responsibility.

In addition, people clearly want to make a difference in the world, to change lives for the better, to leave a legacy that reflects their desire to leave such a mark of accomplishment.

Faith communities today have a big job to do—to change lives. We must focus on the task of changing lives and making a difference in the world, beyond the doors of the congregation. This level of change cannot be accomplished by busying our members with committee work and social activities, then telling them there is not enough funding and more money is needed to keep it all going.

What fundraising and stewardship strategy will your congregation need to fulfill the task of changing peoples’ lives and making a difference in the world?

You are invited to participate in this Giving Speaks poll about giving away and sharing offering plate collections:

Resources:

Christopher, J. Clif. Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate. 2008. Abingdon Press.

Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate Study Guide for congregation leaders: http://www.cerguua.org/forms/Stewardship2011StudyGuide.pdf

Smith, Christian, Emerson, Michael O., with Snell, Patricia. Passing the Plate. 2008. Oxford University Press.

Wright, Lauren Tyler. Giving–the sacred art. 2008. Skylight Paths Publishing.

UU Study Guide for Giving–the sacred art. 2011. Laurel Amabile. Free download: http://www.uua.org/documents/stew-dev/study_guide_giving.pdf

Cultivating a Culture of Generosity All Summer Long

Posted on June 12, 2012 by Giving Speaks

As we move into the weeks of the Summer Diaspora, it is a good time to think creatively about a few ways to sustain your congregation’s stewardship efforts, keeping them strong and visible over the next three months.

The participants in the UU Stewardship Lab, a Facebook Group, came up with a few ideas to get our creative juices flowing….

One stewardship leader reports, “The trick to keeping stewardship going over the summer is to make it about being together. Stewardship means caring, and the most important part of caring for our congregation is caring about our fellow congregants. When we do this properly people feel wanted. They know that we really care for them, and they for us. Then the financial part kind of takes care of itself.”

“We’re planning on keeping the ‘Why I pledge’ pulpit testimonials going through the summer. We’re also going to work with the Membership team to discuss annual giving at the classes for new members,” said another stewardship leader.

“I’ll tell you the great idea our minister (Rev. Chris Bell, UU Congregation of Santa Rosa, CA) proposed: no committee meetings in July. Everybody takes a break at the same time (except Worship Associates, volunteers at our weekly breakfast for the homeless, etc.),” Ellen Skagerberg explains, “which means people serving on several committees get a real break. I think this is our 3rd year doing it now, and everybody looks forward to it.“

“It’s refreshing to take a break sometimes, not drive ourselves quite so hard.” Ellen reminds us.

Garnett Losak, of the Community Church in New York City, shares some of the ideas her stewardship team has successfully implemented in these early weeks of June:

1) Hold a “Summer of FunD” event with $2,500 in matching funds raised for new pledges. There was a special table during coffee hour, decorated with flowers and a tablecloth. We set out pledge materials: pledge cards, brochures, etc. We raised over $10,000! with the matching funds that’s $12,500!

2) Share lots of information about what we’ve done this year.

3) Affirm choice not to go into our endowment beyond the prudent 4.5% draw.

4) Celebrate the calling of the first woman serving as our Senior Minister –since 1833!

Summer Leadership Retreats may offer an opportunity for the Stewardship Team, congregation lay and professional leaders to spend some time in a more relaxed setting exploring concepts and practices of good stewardship and planning for the next fiscal year. You may choose a book to read that stimulates new thinking and enlarges the scope of stewardship in the minds of leaders. There are some great reading and small group study materials to inspire you and your fellow congregants in the recommended resource list at the end of this post.

Think about ways to nurture a culture of gratitude and generosity across the generations during the summer weeks. For example, you might invite individuals and families to clarify their religious values, reflect upon a higher calling, and engage in faithful stewardship planning. There are several great workbooks and guidebooks to recommend, designed for children, teenage youth, as well as younger, middle-aged, and older adults.

Invite families to keep a “summer gratitude journal” of their experiences and reflections. These could be shared as part of a summer vesper service ritual or special worship series later in the fall. Gratitude inspires giving, so cultivating gratitude in peoples’ lives reinforces the culture of generosity you strive to create all during the church year.

Get creative with your summer stewardship activities, and make them fun and celebratory!

Use the following summer activities to stimulate your imagination for how to connect them with multigenerational stewardship themes:

The pot of gold at the end of a rainbow
Walking the labyrinth of generosity
Abundance of Ice Cream Sunday
Flying kites
Collecting shells on the beach
Hiking to the Mountain Top
Lemonade and Watermelon
Hawaiian Luau
The Garden of flowers or vegetables
Balloons
Ball games
Out on (or in) the water
Family Picnics

May your summer weeks be filled with abundant gratitude, joy, generosity, and re-creation!

Resources for Small Group Study:

Wright, Lauren Tyler. Giving—the sacred art, Skylight Paths publishing. 2008.

Free downloadable UU Study Guide for use with Giving—the sacred art: http://www.uuabookstore.org/productdetails.cfm?PC=1 092

Stewardship: The Joy of Giving (five session multigenerational curriculum). 2000. UUA. http://www.uua.org/finance/fundraising/generosity/joy/index.shtml

Resources for Reflection (adults):

Burgess, Gloria. Dare to Wear Your Soul on the Outside. 2008. Jossey-Bass.

Walker, Cami. 29 Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life. Lifelong Books. 2009.

Resources for Younger Generations:

Share Save Spend. Curriculum series and workbooks for youth and adults. 2005. www.sharesavespend.com

Kidz4Money. The Mindset of Wealth book series and workshops for young people. http://kidz4money.com/a-mindset-of-wealth/ .

Zeiler, Freddie. A Kid’s Guide to Giving. 2006. Innovative Kids.

Legacy Giving and the Beloved Community

Posted on May 25, 2012 by Giving Speaks

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate beauty, to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you lived. This is to have succeeded.

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

There are many kinds of gifts that can be given and received. Gifts can be tangible or intangible, large or small, simple or complex, and everything in between. The gifts we give may be delivered with pizzazz for all to see, or stealthily without any public recognition. Our giving may take place at regular intervals throughout our lifetimes, or passed on after we die. Ultimately, most of us want our giving to make the world a better place.

Giving is a behavior or practice of making a choice to give a gift of money, time, possessions, talent, attention to others. Our giving is an expression of our deepest-held values and priorities, and at its best, a spiritual practice that benefits others and blesses the world. It is important to remember that our ability to give and making a positive difference does not require us to be of any particular age or in possession of great wealth. What is required is a spirit of generosity and a philanthropic mindset. There are a variety of means and tools available to help us with our giving in all its expressions.

Generosity is a state of being and mindset, with an inner awareness of having enough to share. Generosity offers a way of living in deep relationship with the world and its inhabitants and expressing gratitude for all that is received. Faith communities nurture generosity through religious teachings and opportunities for mission- and values-based giving.

Philanthropy derives from the Greek meaning “loving of humankind” and involves one’s actions and giving in support of humanitarian purposes. Similarly, Charity refers to love of humanity and benevolent goodwill toward others. Religious organizations and faith communities are uniquely positioned as venues for charitable giving.

Legacy Giving involves giving that is planned during one’s lifetime for the benefit of the people, causes, communities, and organizations beyond their lifetime. This is done through explicitly stating how one’s money, possessions, or property is to be distributed, such as making a bequest of dollar amounts or percentage of assets. Religious organizations and local congregations must make planned giving opportunities available to those who care deeply about sustaining their faith and their beloved community into the future.

What we do know from national giving data (USA Giving 2010) is that the majority of charitable dollars are given by individuals (81%), with bequests making up eight percent (8%) of total giving. The largest proportion of charitable dollars are given to religious organizations, but this share is decreasing with the dramatic increase of other secular and nonprofit organizations competing for financial support.

Mature Americans (age 55 years and older) account for nearly $7 trillion in the following financial categories:

-80% of all funds in savings,

-77% of America’s financial assets,

-70% of the net worth of all U.S. households

However, only forty percent (40%) of Americans have prepared wills and a mere six percent (6%) have included charitable bequests in their wills. Our elders whom make up what is known as the “silent” or “greatest generation” have amassed unprecedented wealth, with much of it held in real estate and retirement plans.

Currently, with the aging of the generations, we are experiencing the greatest transference of wealth ever seen, estimated at $41 trillion. This is the right time for all congregations and faith-based organizations to establish or strengthen their planned giving programs. These programs should be carefully structured and managed in keeping with recommended standards and best practices that honor the givers and their intent for their gifts. There are many planning tools available, and most religious organizations have current information, knowledgeable staff, and giving programs available to assist congregations and individual donors.

It is essential for congregations to nurture generosity inspired by and connected to the values and teachings of the faith, to actively encourage expression of gratitude through intentional giving, and to offer opportunities for the faithful to leave a legacy of benefit to their beloved community.