MAKING A DIFFERENCE
February 9, 2003
The Reverend Anne Felton Hines
My mother does not like the idea that charitable donations are tax deductible. She doesn't understand why anyone needs a financial motivation to contribute to charities - especially to their religious community. As far as my mom is concerned, people should want to contribute, whether they receive a kickback from the government or not.
You see, Mom understands generosity as an underlying principle - a "core value" - of her spiritual life. She understands that gratitude for what God, or Life, has given her leads naturally to a desire to give back generously. She wants to give because she has been given so much.
She is like that family in this morning's children's story. She knows that she is wealthy beyond imagination: She has five children, 15 grandchildren, and 10 great-grandchildren; at age 90, she's fairly healthy, has an active mind, has taken up painting, still calls the White House and Congress to tell them how to run the country, is well-respected by her church, and has had a life filled with adventure. "All that is her life" calls her to give generously, from her heart.
Now, I am hoping that the family in the children's story also understands the connection between gratitude for their God-given abundance, and a desire to act generously. I am imagining a sequel to that story, in which we learn that they are members of a nearby Unitarian Universalist congregation; and not only do they give generously of their time and talents - by teaching in R.E. perhaps, or serving on a committee, or greeting newcomers on a Sunday morning - but they also give generously of their financial resources, small as those resources may be. And when I say "generously," I'm suggesting perhaps five, even ten percent of their income. In so giving, they receive additional blessings just knowing that they are allowing their beloved church to become an agent of change, of transformation in the world - which, as I said two weeks ago, is the very reason for a church to exist.
Unfortunately, most Americans - especially those in the upper income brackets, like UUs - tend not to contribute such high percentages to their churches. Most Americans give their churches and other charities what they have left over after paying their bills. Indeed, if you've read Ann Teitelbaum's report in our newsletter (and if you haven't please do), you know that not only is the 2nd largest category of contributors at Emerson those who pledge less than $500 annually (which is just fine if that's truly all one can afford), but the very largest category is those who have pledged nothing; there are 48 households in that category - about 1/3 of our households! Ann's estimate is that the average pledge at Emerson is about 1% of household income; and since we know that some of our members pledge at least 5% of their income to Emerson, that means that many don't give even the 1%.
Now, If Unitarian Universalists used the Bible as the basis for our faith, I would be reminding you that God commanded his people to not only give 10% of their harvest to the Temple, but another 10% to other charities! According to Jewish law, we are allowed to keep for ourselves 80% of our "harvest;" not such a bad deal, really! But I can't use those laws as a tool to persuade you to tithe; indeed, if I refer to the Bible too much, many of you are more likely to decrease your pledges to zilch!
And apparently, even most mainline Christian churches no longer expect their members to come close to tithing. Again, the wealthier the people, the less they seem to give to their church.
Silvio Nardoni, one of Emerson's former ministers, has said that there are two kinds of giving. The first is "consumer giving," based solely on what return we get on our money. The more we like the minister, or the choir, or the Religious Education program, or the Social Action projects, the more we give. Conversely, if the minister does something we don't like, or the R.E. program declines, or the worship format changes, we decrease or even withdraw our contributions entirely. (Probably needless to say, this is my least favorite form of giving!)
The second kind of giving is "investment giving" - giving to the church in order to ensure it's existence, whether we like the current minister or the programs at any given time or not. I once heard about a UU who never attended his church - most other members didn't even know him. But he was one of the top donors because he was committed to keeping a Unitarian Universalist presence alive. For him, it was an investment in the future. I like that idea a lot!
But there is a third form of giving, and that is giving simply out of gratitude - gratitude to God or Life for the abundance we have inherited, and gratitude to our church for what it provides to us and to others - whether we agree with everything or not. It's the kind of generosity my mom embodies, or the imaginary family in our children's story.
In case you weren't aware and hadn't guessed it by now, today is the kick-off of our annual Canvass Drive here at Emerson - that much-dreaded time of year when we plead, bargain, cajole, manipulate, and bribe you to give money to that most boring of causes: the Operating Budget! And while I've never experienced a Canvass here at Emerson, I know that it's not a whole lot different here than in most other UU churches: It begins with the minister's "sermon on the amount," which has been preceded or is followed by a festive meal, complete with entertainment pretending that it's all just fun & games - nothing to get to worked up about. Then there's some form of "canvassing," either at the party, or in small "intimate" groups, or one-on-one, at which time we again plead, bargain, cajole, manipulate or bribe you to give more money. Finally letters are sent out to those of you who haven't filled out those pesky pledge cards; then another batch of letters; then phone calls; and finally it's over and the usually bad news is reported that we fell short again of our pledge goal, and the Board sets about to cut back on the budget. No wonder everyone dreads it so much!
But this year we're doing things a bit differently at Emerson - and taking some risks along the way. For one thing, we don't have a proposed budget yet or even a pledge goal; that was a deliberate decision. Dar Fisher did create an imaginary budget that's posted in the Pavilion, which suggests what we might be able to have if everyone pledged just 3% of their income to Emerson. (And those of you already pledging more than that, please remember that many folks can't or won't give that much, so I am not suggesting you lower yours!) This "Make-A-Difference" budget, as we are calling it, includes a paid office administrator, Religious Education director, Sexton, and Bookkeeper, among other things - even a salary for Lloyd; what a concept! It is imperative that we give some relief to all the volunteers now spending untold hours filling those positions! The "Make-A-Difference" budget includes funding for scholarships to denominational events such as Leadership School and General Assembly, and money for R.E. supplies so our members don't have to keep paying for things out-of-pocket! But perhaps best of all, it would allow the church to give 10% of our money away; it has Emerson tithing to the wider community, so that we can truly "make a difference!"
Now, perhaps I should point out here that the acronym of "make a difference" is "MAD;" and I suppose one might say that we must be "mad" to think we could ever achieve such a budget! But given the average income of the San Fernando Valley, we think this is a pretty reasonable projection.
Again, it's not an actual adopted budget, nor is it even an official goal of your Board or Canvass Committee. It's just one woman's vision based on a realistic assessment of our congregation's giving capabilities. Take a look at it, and think about where you'd put that extra income.
This year, we are asking you to reflect not only on the ways in which Unitarian Universalism and this church have blessed you, but also the blessings you have received from Life itself - the riches that have been bestowed upon you. This year, we are asking you to reflect on your gratitude for such riches, and to give back by contributing as generously as you can to this church.
My younger brother, a fundraising consultant in the Episcopal church, wrote: "Stewardship is not about how we give our money away; it is about what we do with what's been given to us for the time being. Who we are and what we have are gifts; they are not ours forever."
Now, one of the questions that was posed to me during my "Question & Answer" service a few weeks ago was, "Why should I give my money to Emerson rather than other worthy causes?" And of course, I wouldn't suggest you give only to Emerson; remember, the Bible commands us to give 10% to Emerson and another 10% to all those other worthy organizations!
But I would remind you that while most other organizations asking for your money are focused on only one issue or program, the church offers a myriad of programs and services. As UU minister Mark Morrison-Reed asks, "Where else are moral and social issues raised and discussed? Where else are we challenged and supported to live better? Where else can you turn in times of crisis, for free? Where else can you develop friendships with a diversity of beliefs and unity of spirit and core values? And where else can you get home-cooked meals in return for just one dish?!" And I believe that it's through the church that we can truly make a difference in the world.
To be generous usually means taking some risk - pushing the boundaries of what we think we can do. I am reminded of the profound generosity I experienced when I spent a week in El Salvador back in the '80s, while the war was still ongoing. The group with which I was traveling visited a couple of tiny repatriated villages in the war zone, where, as you can imagine, the people were barely getting by. Yet they would insist on giving up their beds for us to sleep in, and would cook us wonderful meals with whatever they could piece together. They were so grateful to be alive, and to have us there, that they pushed their boundaries and showered us with generosity.
I know this congregation to be a generous congregation - one which has often pushed its boundaries. I am amazed at the amount of time that so many of you contribute to the well-being of the church; it would not survive without you. I have watched as some of you visit ailing members in their home or the hospital, or drive others to church, or deliver food to families experiencing a life crisis; I've witnessed profound kindness toward visitors who share a sorrow during worship; and of course, you manifest your commitment to justice through participation in the Food Pantry, the Adopt-a-Social-Worker program, and the local peace vigils.
And I know that you contribute generously of your financial resources. Last year you came up with $20,000 on one Sunday - more than had even been requested! - in order to erase the budget deficit; on another Sunday, you contributed over $1,000 to the UUA's Youth & Young Adult Fund; over $2,000 was raised at my Installation for the Living Tradition Fund; you gave $1,000 at Christmas to the Emergency Scholarship Fund for our preschool; you contributed over $1900 to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee through the "Guest-at-Your Table" project -- $1400 of which will be matched by a special UUA foundation; and our Board has decided to give away 25% of our cash collection every Sunday to some local charity - currently Haven Hills -which is a huge risk, given our current financial state. So no; you are not a stingy people.
But that "boring" Operating Budget just doesn't catch the imagination of most of us; salaries, insurance, office supplies, etc., doesn't seem to make much difference in the larger scheme of things. Yet if those items aren't funded just as generously as all the special projects, we will be able to do no more than merely maintain the church; and that's not what we are called to do as religious people.
What we are called to do - what the church is called to do - is to change lives and change the world; we are called as a people of faith to make a difference in the lives of one another, as well as in the lives of people we don't even know, beyond these walls. And we cannot expect to do that with the kind of non-visionary budget we are presently funding.
Friday night the Board of Trustees met together, along with their spouses and partners, at Dave and Jennie Margerum's home. The purpose was to talk about what UUism and this church mean to them. Here is some of what they said:
"Social action as a religious value."
"Freedom from packaged religious dogma; a caring community for each other and the world around us."
"Theological variations of the congregations."
"Ability to ask questions without being condemned."
"Challenges me to be a better person."
"Great opportunities for lay involvement in all aspects of church life."
"Commitment to the value of all life."
"Emerson is truly welcoming to gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people."
"It is a 'religious village;' it helps raise my kids."
In addition, the participants shared their visions - their hopes and dreams - for this church, all of which pointed to the hope of being a more profound presence in the wider community.
And we talked about generosity, and levels of giving, and what this church could become if people raised their level of giving.
Finally the "moment of truth" arrived, and pledge forms were handed out to everyone. And once again I was reminded of why I am so proud to be your minister. The overall total raised was $35,250, which represented a collective increase of 28% over last year's pledges. In addition, most of them declared on their pledge form what percentage of their income their pledge represented: For 6 families it was between five-to-10 percent.
Of course, I could not in good faith ask them or you to declare their percentages if I were not willing to also declare mine. Currently I am giving 3-1/2% of my income to Emerson. Some day I hope to be able to give 10% -- not because the Bible tells me to, but because I believe that if we all tithed - or even gave half of that - Unitarian Universalism could become a real force of change in our world; but that's a ways off yet for me. My commitment is to work up to it gradually, as I hope many of you will. Toward that end, my pledge for next year's budget will be 4-1/2% of my income - a little over $2,000 per year. I pledge this out of gratitude for this church and the difference I believe we can make; I pledge this out of gratitude for Unitarian Universalism and the difference it has made in my life; and I pledge this out of gratitude for all that God - the Holy Spirit of Life and Love - has given me.
Over the next few weeks you will have the opportunity to attend a small gathering, either here at the church or in someone's home. You will be invited to share what it is about UUism and this church that you value, as well as what you envision for the future of Emerson. And then you will be asked to complete your pledge form for next year's budget; I hope you will consider increasing your pledge if at all possible, and allowing it to reflect not only the blessings you receive from this church, but the blessings from Life as well. I hope you will be able to pledge an amount that makes you feel good because you know it's enough to help make a difference.
Unitarian Universalism and this church have been generous for many years - to each of us individually, and to the greater community. It is now imperative that we return some of that generosity. And I have faith that you will, to the very best of your ability; many of you already are.
In closing, I offer you these words which I have slightly adapted from the Rev. Gordon Mckeeman:
Blessed are you who are heirs of so great a heritage of faith, the noble human tradition of Socrates, Socinus and Servetus; of Channing, Emerson, Fuller, of Thomas Starr King and Olympia Brown; of Susan B. Anthony and Clara Barton; of Stephen Fritchman, James Reeb and Harmon Gehr; of Brooks Walker, Lois and Bob Atz, Marilyn Kaufman, Dale and Shirley Pedrotti, Eileen Martin, Ed Turchin, Mary Trumpler, Henry Smith and more.
Blessed are you who have been so intimately a part of that grand procession of liberalism - in season and out.
Blessed are you who have been given this place of strength and grandeur, wherein to celebrate the signal events in human life - birth, coming of age, marriage, death; and wherein to be reminded of the exalted possibilities of the most ordinary day.
Blessed are you who know, by heart as well as in the head, that all that you have shall someday be given, and that in giving now you can claim the season of generosity which will otherwise belong to your inheritors.
Blessed are you who know that the heart of giving is giving from the heart.
Blessed are you who are inspired to give what is right, not just what is left over.
Blessed are you who say "Yes" to the invitation to give more generously than every you dreamed possible - for the good of your own soul and for the future of your beloved faith.
Blessed are we all, indeed.
© 2003 Anne Felton Hines. All rights reserved.
