Naming Contributors

The following letter is a response to a UU who raised a question on a UUA-sponsored e-mail discussion list for large congregations (550PLUS), asking whether to list names of people who contributed to the annual canvass in her church.

In response to the question about naming names in the canvass, I would like to say that I strongly support the notion. We first did this about five years ago, where we encouraged people to join certain levels of pledging, e.g., $1500-2000, $2000-3000, $3000-4000, ... above $7500. Then at the end of the canvass we published in the newsletter the names of all those in the various levels, plus the names of all other pledgers, with an asterisk against the names of all those who were new pledgers or had raised their pledge from the previous year. On the pledge form we gave people the opportunity to check a box if they wished to be anonymous.

When this was first introduced, it was a very successful pledge drive, netting a significant increase from previous years, and there was no broad outcry against it. Of course, there were a few dissenting voices, but it wasn't a big issue, and only a small minority elected to remain anonymous.

I believe there is indeed value in mentioning the names and amount ranges, since it can often inspire others in the congregaton to expand their thinking when it comes time to make their pledge, based on what they see their co-members doing.  This was in fact true for myself, and I know it was true for others.

We have always been too shy in talking about money in UU churches. We often make a big deal (and so we should) about honoring people in our congregations who donate large amounts of volunteer time. Why shouldn't we also honor our major financial donors? One of the significant factors that helped people get through the mental barrier of all pledges being very hush-hush was the fact that our minister at the time, Bill Murry, announced his own substantial pledge from the pulpit on Pledge Sunday, which really helped raise people's awareness.

I am the Pledge Committee Chair this year, and we are planning to name names in broad levels at the end of the pledge drive which is just starting.

John Kelly
River Road Unitarian Church
Bethesda, MD (584 members)

Great Phrases

In reading recent issues of InterConnections, two notes struck me. In the January-February '99 issue, in the response letter by Carla Kindt, the phrase "can-do optimists" is a great phrase; and also the column by Lawrence Peers in the September/October '98 issue, the second paragraph. One person can't explain our growth, but those two suggestions are near the top.

Lawrence Peers had written: A key factor in growing congregations is their outward focus. Growing churches concern themselves with the needs of their own congregants, but also the needs of the larger community. Since new members come from the surrounding community, it makes sense that a growing congregation anticipates and responds to the ministry needs of its community.

Furthermore, we have involved new people with great success and with obvious results. Bringing people into doing something worthwhile, sharing in decisions and moving up into a level of responsibility is obviously welcoming. People have to find their own level of commitment which is not pre-determined by the "old-timers." An impenetrable structure leaves one an outsider and is not welcoming.

We have both the head and the heart operating now due to the women we have had as ministers in recent years. People have to feel quite safe to reveal themselves. Somehow we have achieved that without consciously trying.

George Williston, President
UU Fellowship of Wayne County
Wooster, OH (64)