Unusual Pledge Approach Supports Justice Groups

Looking for a way to collect money for social justice projects? The annual pledge drive at River Road Unitarian Church, Bethesda, MD (720 members), enables members to make a separate pledge for the congregation's support of social justice organizations.

Friends and members receive two pledge cards each spring, one for the general canvass and one for social justice outreach. In the spring of 2001 they pledged $685,000 to the annual canvass and another $100,000 for social justice. Add another $50,000 collected at other fundraisers and members gave more than 10 percent of all member contributions to social justice work last year. Social justice pledging at River Road has been going on in this manner since 1974.

Many mainline denominations contribute 10 percent to community programs, says the Rev. Bill Gardiner, UUA director for congregational justice making. "When we've gone into our own congregations we've found that most give less than 2 percent." Gardiner said River Road's approach could work in small congregations as well as large ones.

Robert Johnsen, past social justice chair at River Road, says the double-pledging system gives people an opportunity to support social justice organizations in the name of their church, educates members and friends to the work of specific organizations, enriches a "culture of generosity" that in turn encourages members to be more generous in their pledging to the operating fund, and it encourages prospective members to join because they want to be part of an institution that acts on its values.

Organizations to which the money goes are selected by the congregation's Social Justice Council and the congregation. They have included Amnesty International, the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee, American Civil Liberties Union, American Friends Service Committee, and Bethesda Cares, an organization that helps the homeless. An annual report tallies how the money was spent. The amount pledged for social justice increased from $38,000 three years ago to $66,000, to $100,000.

Don Chery, co-chair of the Social Justice Council, which includes 12 social justice task forces plus many smaller social justice efforts, said 30 to 40 percent of those who contribute to the regular canvass also pledge to social justice. And, he says, "their pledges to the general canvass tend to be higher than average."

Johnsen says other congregations have inquired about the process but most fear that it will reduce pledges to the operating budget. There is no indication it has done that at River Road, he says. Occasionally the annual canvass falls short and some blame social justice pledging. "But usually the next drive is successful and the criticism fades," he says.

"A big part of why River Road is so successful is it has been doing this for so many years," says Gardiner. "It's become part of its religious practice."

River Road senior minister the Rev. Scott Alexander says, "It's like we have our own little United Way. People tell us they're attracted to this church because of its social justice commitment. They can choose to bring food for the homeless once a month, contribute to minority scholarships, send computers to El Salvador, or contribute to an affordable housing program.

RESOURCES

For more information on River Road's social justice pledging, contact Don Chery through the church, 6301 River Rd., Bethesda, MD 20817.