Presenter: Michael Durall, author of the book Creating Congregations of Generous People, published by Beacon Press

Reflecting on a question posed by a Mormon bishop, Durall asked the group of 125 workshop attendees why congregations struggle for more money in their annual pledge drives. Many more conservative faiths harvest financial bounty year after year.

This session was not meant as a forum on pledging formulas, or specific methodologies for replacing pledge drives. Habits are already established in most congregations, and existing culture take from three to five years to make significant changes.

Durall calls congregations to ask themselves, what is it the congregation called to do with their resources? No one formula can cover all situations.

Important Foundation

Durall strongly believes every UU congregation should put at least 10% of their operating budget into missions and outreach. The more we give, the more comes in. Some congregations are giving up to 50%, ever growing in membership and participation. Congregational surveys do not normally reflect this need. The goal is to create a culture of generous souls. This dialogue and language will bring forth folks who feel similarly.

Gauging Financial Health of Congregation

It is important to take the mindset and culture of the congregation into account. Another way to say this is 'the way we do things around here.' Is your congregation generous, or is money always a problem or struggle? Do you have a sense of where this mindset came about? How long ago do you think it began?

Pledge drives often have to start with convincing an unwilling congregation to give more. Committees feel that if members do not give more, then they have failed or it is somehow their fault. Also, special fundraising might conflict with operating funds. In this case Durall believes generosity begets generosity.

Importance of Stewardship

The theme of congregational stewardship kept coming up during the session. What are the expectations for membership and giving in your congregation? If you pledge as a duty of membership, then is a pledge campaign necessary?

The greatest challenge to stewardship is the challenge of people to 'live the good life.' Durall believes that the consumerist angle is our way out. It has to become more acceptable as a UU to live a scaled down life. What does our religious community call us to do in our lives? It is not about going to more expensive stores in the mall.

As an activity, take a length of wire and bend it to match the spiritual levels in your life. Talk about it... it is very deep? Does your church 'bend wires?' He gave the example of a woman whose wire was straight except for one bump. She said this was from when she was married. She had flirted with other religions, but none had 'bent her wire.' Where are you 'on your wire,' and how can the church walk with you along with your journey?

Pledge drives become obsolete when a culture of generous giving exists in a congregation. To cultivate generous giving, consider the following statement. I gave more time and money to this church that I ever imagined, and it was one of the best things I ever did.

Reported for the Web by Aaron Myers

 

General Assembly 2001 · Program Grid

Unitarian Universalist Association
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