I ended up the other night, speaking to a gathering of local church leaders and representatives (Deanery Synod) on:
Eight thoughts on encouraging giving to the local church... (snappy-titles-R-Us.com)
I promised them some brief notes online and links to resources about giving. So here they are... A bit of a risk, I guess, publishing this in my own back yard - it's rather easier to "talk-the-talk" than "walk-the-walk", but if I'm not willing to test it out in front of the home crowd who end up on the receiving end of how we really do things here, then I shouldn't be saying it at all.
So, the briefest of notes to go with these deliberately provocative thoughts about giving - and ready for All Souls members to tell me/us how we match up!
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Why "need" and "Jesus says" aren't enough
This is where I started the other Sunday in my sermon on giving : merely stating "we need your money because we can't pay the bills" (or whatever), or using Jesus' teaching about giving (vital as it is to preach it) to tell people to give to church just won't wash.
There are endless needs out there on which to practice the very important spiritual discipline of giving - why this church? The answer is that "giving should follow vision" - so we ask the question: "Is this your spiritual home and does the vision you've heard of our ministry alongside God at work catch your heart and mind?" - if the answer's "Yes!", then that's a good reason to give... nothing else! -
Stories weigh more than numbers
Which is why, of course, 'stories' are way more important than 'numbers'... If people want the budget figures then they can have them, but for most of us, we want to hear the stories of God at work that tells us this is a good place to "invest our treasure". Can you tell the story of what God's doing in your church and what we think he might do next? -
Participation is everything
Jesus pointed to the widow who put in a tiny coin and spoke of her as a great giver! For many people, even a tiny (seemingly) gift is a huge deal - either because times are hard or because, for many, it's the first time they've voluntarily given away that which they might have kept and enjoyed for themselves.
In terms of the health of a local church, the most important thing is that as many as possible are involved in giving - before one ever starts thinking about the amounts involved. -
Don't pass the plate
Here's the thing I inherited at All Souls that I am most glad was done before I arrived - because I don't know I'd have had the guts to do it myself: we don't pass the plate! Why should visitors' experience of church be people asking them for money? And for regulars, why should we give the impression that giving is all about digging about for the change we happen to have in our pockets?
By not asking for money week-by-week, it gives people who are becoming committed to church the space to ask (and they do) - how is all this funded? That's a good conversation to have... and it places the emphasis on those who are committed to the church's vision, funding it to make it possible.
More on Monday - the other four thoughts... and some links too... (and then I promise to return to thoughts on Romans as promised!!).
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