Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

As far as church-elevator talks go, this one is a doozy.   

Sure, it's definitely hard to talk about faith, about my personal relationship with Christ. But money and how I give (or don't give)? We're on thin ice.   

The sarcasm is thin veneer over the truth: Talking about faith can be difficult but adding money (stewardship) to the mix is part-root canal, part-calculus.   

Yet here we are, in the middle of the stewardship season, when many churches are making their annual appeal for pledges and contributions so that they might build a budget. Our congregation, like many, has invited people to speak about stewardship during the worship service. These five-minute talks are meant to encourage and inspire generosity in giving, but they're also a foray into the difficult task of talking about matters of money and faith. Just as we need to be able to articulate why we believe in Christ, we should be able to explain why we give to the church. If we don't have an understanding of giving that we can explain to others, then we're likely to see it less as a spiritual response and more as a dues-paying obligation. And often, obligations become sore places of resentment, scabs that keep getting knocked off when money is tight or the unexpected strains our resources.   

So here's my elevator speech about why I give: God created me. And you. And this magnificent world. Even though I've worked hard and save for my pension and put aside money for the kids and special trips, my money isn't mine, anymore than the plants and trees, the sunset and the dew. When I give, when I tithe, I am presenting to God a love-offering, a tangible reminder of my thankfulness to God, for God. There have been times when money has been tight, Ramen-noodle, spare-change hunting tight, but I've always found that when I've given to God the first fruits, I have found a way to resolve the other money woes, from an unanticipated check to an unexpected act of kindness. But that's just the gravy. I don't give to God with this expectation that it will solve future problems; I give to God through my pledge to my church because God is God, and I am forever thankful.   

I encourage all of us to put aside some thinking time so that we're able to explain why we give. If it's hard to get started, then begin with this: We give because God is good.