Breaking Through to Generosity - UUAbreaking through to generous giving. Unitarian Universalist Association Introductions •The Reverend Terry Sweetser, Vice President for Stewardship

Unitarian Universalist Association

Breaking Through to Breaking Through to

GenerosityGenerosity

General Assembly 2011General Assembly 2011


Breaking Through to Generosity

To be free and faithful to our vision we need

to go deeper to explore our thoughts and

feelings about giving and asking for money.

• What can we do to develop our spirit of generosity?

• What is working in congregations to find abundance and break through to generous giving?


We hope this workshop willWe hope this workshop will……

•• Empower you to embrace your role Empower you to embrace your role as stewardship leader with greater as stewardship leader with greater confidence.confidence.

•• Engage you in the discovery of the Engage you in the discovery of the abundance present in your abundance present in your congregations.congregations.

•• Energize you for the challenge of Energize you for the challenge of breaking through to generous breaking through to generous giving.giving.


Introductions

• The Reverend Terry Sweetser, Vice President for Stewardship and Development and Senior Advisor to the President;

• The Reverend Stephan Papa, Special Assistant to the President for Growth Funding

• Laurel Amabile, Director, Annual Program Fund


Our Relationship with Money

Giving is personal. When we give a gift

of money we are giving part of ourselves.

Money is associated with worth, both

self-worth and the worth we place on our

relationships. ~Faith & Fundraising Handbook


Reflection Questions: You & Money

•• What place does money have in your What place does money have in your life? life?

•• How do you feel about giving money How do you feel about giving money away?away?

•• How is it for you to ask others to give?How is it for you to ask others to give?


Faithful StewardshipStewardship does indeed deal with money, but it must be far bigger, far more holistic than that. For money is the symbol, the powerful symbol, of our ongoing need for control. But as we begin to think of life in terms of what we have instead of what we lack, then we can dare to let go of the things that hold us back and strategize together as faithful stewards instead of fearful owners. ~Rev. C. K. Robertson, Transforming Stewardship


Theological Roots of Stewardship

Central to the Judeo-Christian traditions is

the idea that God is the source of everything

the world has to offer.

This relationship between God and the world

Is referred to as oikonomia, or the “divine

economy.” Our concept of economy is

derived from this root word.


Religious Giving Traditions

The Offering

From the earliest times in

human history, the offering

has been a central act of worship.

Sacrifices were made by the people in many

cultures to express gratitude to the gods, the

earth, and the source of all life and abundance.


The Ministry of StewardshipThe Ministry of Stewardship

Stewardship is the responsible management of the Stewardship is the responsible management of the

resources entrusted to oneresources entrusted to one’’s care. We see s care. We see

stewardship as a ministry.stewardship as a ministry.

Abundance can be found when we fully engageAbundance can be found when we fully engage

in the ministry of stewardship and actively work to in the ministry of stewardship and actively work to

create a culture of generosity in our congregations.create a culture of generosity in our congregations.


Worship & Spiritual Development

• Convey the importance of stewardship, generosity, and giving through compelling sermons, prayer, stories, and music.

• Invite the expressions of gratitude, in prayer, offertory, and personal testimony.

• Engage the inward journey to spiritual freedom and generosity through self-examination of attitudes and perceptions about money and giving.


Teaching & Coaching

• Understanding generosity as a lifelong developmental process with learned behaviors.

• Staff and lay leaders engage in reflection and self-assessment, understanding they are role models and teachers.

• Stay abreast of the giving trends, resources, and best practices for stewardship.


Pastoral Support

• Individuals and families often have complex and stressful dynamics around money and personal finance.

• Every contact that involves the topic of money is potentially pastoral in nature.

• Leaders benefit from understanding their own relationship to money.


Modeling & Leadership• Clearly connect Unitarian Universalist

values, generosity, and stewardship in casting the vision for the congregation.

• Model giving as a spiritual practice.

• Expanding the congregation’s stewardship and ministry to make a difference in the world is prophetic leadership.

• Ask for monetary contributions in support of the congregation’s mission with skill and confidence.


The pathway from scarcity to abundance is called community.

-Parker Palmer

Come, join us on the pathway….


Assessing Your Congregation’s Culture

How would you describe your How would you describe your

congregationcongregation’’s culture with regard to s culture with regard to

giving and fundraising? giving and fundraising?

Is the spirit of generosity evident?Is the spirit of generosity evident?


Assessing Our Congregation’s Stewardship Culture

___ Our congregation’s building and facilities include: points of entry, sanctuary, classroom spaces, offices, outdoor spaces. Is it evident that our congregation carefully tends our building and grounds? Are our facilities and furnishings maintained in good condition? Are they visually appealing and inviting to visitors?

___ Are there regular opportunities for financial giving during our Sunday services? Including an offering or a special collection? Do our children and youth participate?

___ Does our congregation routinely give away a portion of its offering to social justice causes?

___ Are our congregation’s acts of generosity and the living out of our UU principles andmission in the wider community and world visible? (photos, letters, thank you notes, stories in local or UUA media, posted on our website, and on bulletin boards).

___ Are the acts of generosity by individuals and groups recognized and honored in the congregation? When and in what ways?

___ How open and welcoming is our congregation to people from diverse economic backgrounds?

___ Our annual budget reflects our congregation’s mission and UU values, with pledges and congregants’ contributions making up at least 75% of our budgeted operating income, including full financial support of district and association.

___ Does our congregation practice stewardship as a year-round activity? Are our stewardship needs and giving expectations clearly conveyed to new, established, and prospective members?


Finding the AbundanceFinding the Abundance

What is working in generous What is working in generous

congregations?congregations?


Sharing the Plate

• John Moorehouse of Rancho Palos, CA reports since splitting the plate twice a month their plate and pledges increased and their ministry is more connected to local and national organizations

• FY06 Plate: $1500; Pledges: $91k

• FY07 (split plate start) Split Plate: $1445 (i.e. $1445 to charity and $1445 to church); Plate: $3123 (in addition to split plate amount); Pledges: $106k

• FY10 Split Plate: $10k; Plate: $8500; Pledges: $290k


Breaking Through To Generosity


Your Questions & Comments

Now we’d like to hear your

questions, comments and needs

for further information and

support…..


Thank YouThank You……....

~~for your interest in developing your for your interest in developing your

congregationcongregation’’s culture of generosity,s culture of generosity,~your commitment to Unitarian ~your commitment to Unitarian

Universalism,Universalism,~your leadership and faithful service,~your leadership and faithful service,~and your financial support.~and your financial support.

Documents

Breaking Through to Generosity - UUAbreaking through to generous giving. Unitarian Universalist Association Introductions •The Reverend Terry Sweetser, Vice President for Stewardship