Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Vulnerability is the birthplace of joy, love, belonging, courage, and faith. It becomes very problematic when as a culture; we lose our capacity for vulnerability. We live in a culture that tells us that we are not enough. We are not good enough. Not safe enough. Not extraordinary enough. 

When thinking about “Whole Hearted Stewardship”, I am struck by the necessity of individuals to have courage. It takes courage to ask another to invest their resources in the Kingdom of God. It takes courage, as a parish, to live into their mission while being entrusted with others financial gifts. It takes courage to say that you have experienced God in your midst.

The birthplace of courage is vulnerability. It’s definition is derived from the Latin word “quer “or “heart”. To have courage means to venture out while withstanding fear. It may be fear of losing face or not being enough. Of failing.

Last year I was asked to provide one of the Sunday morning messages for my parish’s annual campaign. I was keen as, having spent the last few years teaching about stewardship at ECF, I was anxious to have an opportunity to talk about living it out in my life and parish.

I stood before my beloved community with a carefully crafted message. It included all the key points that I felt were important for connecting with others. Then it happened….in the process of telling why my parish was important to me, I began to get emotional. Not hysterics, but significantly choked up. 

I hate getting emotional. With a blinding passion. It means I`m opening myself up and allowing for vulnerability. I`m not a big fan of feeling vulnerable. I work pretty hard to avoid it most days.
Before long, the words that I had crafted which were intended to draw out an emotional response in others connected within me. I started with why the parish mattered to me, how it impacted my family, and the impact of my giving in light of a changing economy and my growing family. I finished with ultimate question, “Won`t you join me in giving to this parish community that matters so much?”

I immediately had a vulnerability hangover. I didn`t even talk with others in the parish before the following thoughts went stomping through my distressed mind:

• “I know my husband is rector, but perhaps I could switch parishes with the kids.”
• “I`m so pregnant. Maybe I can blame the hormones.”
• “Now no one will see me as professional. I`m emotional. I`m that young woman. Ugh.”

Whole hearted stewardship requires courage. When have you experienced a moment of vulnerability when working on your annual campaign? How did you respond? How have you responded when faced with other’s examples of courage in leadership?