Financial stewardship

[Reproduced from an online list, with the author's permission].

If I were to commit my finances to the church in this day of thriftiness and economic carefulness in households (after all Interest rates keep rising), then surely I would be looking for value on my money.

Let us start with the economic value of a good bed. I purchase a good bed with the soft-top and ergonomic features that guarantee me a good night's sleep.

This works for me during the week. But on Saturday Night I have gone out and returned home from a night of carousing at one am, woken blearily on a Sunday to the alarm and gone to church.

I would expect that if the Minister is not giving me value for money in his preaching style and message then the pews / chairs would be designed to give my body full support when I succumb to the need for sleep.

But it goes further than this, my ears need to be protected from the soloist who is convinced they can sing when they cannot, or the off key thumping of the weekend organist who would not know what a Toccata and Fugue was if he or she fell over it. One organist I remember insisted the Hammond Vibrato Function needed to be part of every hymn.

I spend vast amounts of money on my health insurance and my health and yet I am forced through politeness to love the interesting lemon slice served with weak tea out of chipped cups and in some cases welded to tedious conversation. I sometimes suspect the Reverend is tired of hearing for the fiftieth time on a Sunday morning " Lovely sermon Vicar, another cup of tea? Now I have a problem with..."

Now before I get bitten by someone who says I am only going to church for the entertainment value, then consider this, what is church doing to meet the needs of myself and others? We spend so much time in church circles talking about the need to build a congregation. Perhaps to ensure the church survives. I for one am not too fussed if it does not, after all my understanding of the Creator is that the Creator will still hang around and appear interested even if the local church building becomes a pub or a brothel or private residence.

I have seen plenty of people 'converted' and handed documents on how to be a good Christians and then also handed the local address of the church they should go to. Will that church meet their needs, probably in 90 percent of cases, no.

[One friend] says The church certainly shouldn't be about getting, which it is widely perceived to be. But clearly the church cannot be about giving if it is not getting. You can't have one without the other. So logically while the church's real mission is not about getting, it cannot be about giving either.

In relation to the church giving and in meeting peoples needs, it is obvious that there should be a commitment by a person to ensure church meets their needs, but how to go about this. I have been to many churches and at the moment I am still looking for a church that fits with me [in the area where I live].

When I am supposed to be such a vital part of a congregation and when it comes to requests to financially maintain that congregation, why is it that I feel I am disempowered as a basic member of the congregation?

I can get involved, maybe read the bible, speak a prayer, sing, dance or play music, maybe turn up to a working bee or even serve as an elder if asked, but what about those who feel they do not want to do that? As far as I am aware they and myself are not even consulted or given any real place when it comes to the local church changing the way it does things, let alone the church nationally.

Sure my Elder in a democratic process is supposed to represent (hopefully) my views on the board of Elders. I do not remember the last time my elder talked to me about what I thought, except perhaps in the Presbyterian church I attended to ensure I was aware Communion was on or perhaps to speak to me about finances.

At the risk of digging up my conservative past, I quote the Steeple Song by Don Francisco.

I don't care how many buses you own

Or the size of your sanctuary

It doesn't matter how steep your steeple is

If it's sittin' on a cemetery

I don't care if you pave your parking lot

Or put pads upon your pews

What good is picture perfect stage

If you're missin' all the cues?

I don't care if your pastor's super-powered

And your program's always new

What you need is love and truth

And men are going to come to you

It doesn't matter that you know the Bible

If it's all just in your head

The thing I need to ask you is

Have you done the things I said?

Quite simply when it comes to church finances I am more than just wanting a soft seat for my large bum, even though I am sure that would be pleasant. I want a church that assists in empowering me as an individual to maintain my own relationship with a God that genuinely and unconditionally loves me, who is represented by people with a genuine interest in the life of the church and the world and the people within it and outside of it. I want a program that will be relevant, dealing with issues of today understanding that the world is no longer in the middle ages, that God is not bound by the constrictions of a book of books edited in an era when the church was seeking full authority over humankind. I want a church that understands that not all my family is interested in God. I want Sunday Schools and Scripture lessons in schools that are not patronising, nor do they brainwash my children. I want a church that is more interested in pastoral care than making sure we are all saved before the pastoral care is given. I want a church that is willing to point out and deal with injustice inside itself and in the world. I want a church that seeks to be inclusive of society and to be a part of society, to be relevant and to be interested. If the church cannot be that then it can go bugger off. I don't want to be a part of it.

*****

A response from another:

Since the industrial revolution, we have been taught to be consumers. This is an important aspect of who we are. One part of church is about meeting 'the customers' needs in the various ways you detail.

But we are also workers. Producers. Creators. (Creative creatures made in the image of the Creator...) An alternative approach to church is to see it as an opportunity to make a contribution to the world.

I personally think a lot of the pain in our society is caused by the consumerist approach that teaches us we should work in jobs we find unfulfilling to earn income that enables us to earn income which gives us a sense of self worth, so we can consume stuff and spend our leftover 'quality' time with family and friends.

A vocational perspective on life would say we should find jobs that are meaningful, so that our whole lives can be spend productively and meaningfully, rather than just our non-work time. We get fulfillment out of making a productive contribution, using our God-given creativity.

Church is the same. It can be something we consume. Or it can be a system where we make a contribution using our God-given gifts. At the moment, most churches are based on the 'consumer' model, with a few professionals producing services for consumers. What would they look like if they really were a 'producer' model, where a few organizers helped people work out how to make a contribution with their whole lives using their God-given gifts and talents?