Part of the Family

Parish Family support is a good thing. They say confession is good for the soul, so I will let you in on this. Early last week, it came to me that I had neglected to turn in my tithe payment for October. Here it was early November, and I was a month behind. Quickly, I grabbed my phone, opened the St. Francis Episcopal Church webpage, clicked the donate button, and paid both months, October and November. Immediately, I felt better.

Turning in a pledge card for funding the coming year of church mission and operations changes how one does view giving. It turns the act of giving into a personal matter of following Christ. My tithe is a tiny portion of the whole strength of the operating budget, but it is a major factor in my relationship with God. What I contribute is less than one percent of the parish budget, but the joy of giving has an enormous effect on my sense of connection with God.

Honestly, there is no sense in my giving attention to what percentage of the parish budget my contribution is. The percentage that matters is what portion of my available resources I might offer to God through the ministry of the church? This method is something called “proportional giving” and is often a process over several years. Keeping the biblical standard of the “tithe” or ten percent in mind, the giver determines what portion of his or her personal income is currently being offered. There is then a chance to increase giving incrementally until the ten percent mark is met or exceeded. This is a way of giving compared to what we receive.

I have people tell me that once they tried tithing, they do better meeting all their various financial obligations with the 90% of their available income than they previously did on 100%. Now, how could that be? Still, that is what they claim. Clearly, this discipline, viewing their giving as a spiritual matter and part of their relationship with Christ, changes many things. It stops one from comparing their current pledge to the amount of last year, or what someone else gives, or compared to the whole of the budget. Instead, it is always a comparison of one’s gift with what one receives.

The work of St. Francis Church is about bringing people to a living, growing relationship with God, through Jesus Christ. To have a tangible, and regular part in this effort makes all the difference for me. I only have the gifts I have, and the time I have, but taking part in the collective support of the parish family, allows me to give to all ministry areas.

All last week, I was pondering the themes of All Saints. I was thinking of myself as part of a great family, the head of which is Jesus Christ. The spiritual vitality I seek is largely fulfilled in my choice to give in this way to God through my spiritual family, the church. I love this time of year because it means I get to fill out a card that gives an estimate of my expected giving for the coming year. It is a statement of anticipated giving, not a binding contract. I can adjust it during the year if I need to. One thing is sure, when I do, it is a spiritual boost.