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Tag: tithing

  • The Spiritual Discipline of Tithing

    A Ray of HopeOccasionally, I am asked about tithing. Since we are in the season when churches traditionally emphasize faithful stewardship, I thought it might be helpful to share a few thoughts on the subject.

    A “tithe” is 10% of something. Tithing has meant several things throughout history, including tribute, tax, and charitable contribution. Years ago, my wife and I came to understand the tithe as a spiritual discipline, by which we acknowledge that everything belongs to our Creator and our role is that of stewards. The discipline of tithing helps us maintain a healthy relationship with our possessions. As we see in the teachings of Jesus, if we are possessed by our possessions, we aren’t truly free and if possessions harm relationships with our neighbors, they undermine God’s vision of a world where people live in peace. As a priest, one of the most important things I can do for the spiritual health of those given into my care is to help them have a right relationship with possessions.

    When we give the first 10% to God, we are reminded that everything we have, whether spent, saved, or given away, is a sacred trust from God. Each time we write a check to the Church for the tithe, we are reminded to be faithful stewards of the remaining 90%. We are also reminded that Jesus Christ doesn’t ask us for a small portion of our loyalty – he asks for 100%, "our selves, our souls and bodies."

    Because we are unapologetically committed to the mission to which God is calling The Episcopal Church, that is where we bring God’s tithe. Other organizations have many different ways to solicit and raise funds to sustain them. The Church has us. Most secular organizations, governments, community chests, and businesses cannot contribute to overtly religious communities. We consider additional charitable giving to be an “offering.” God’s tithe and our offerings equal about 20% of our gross household income. By the standards of most of the world, the lifestyle sustained by the remaining 80% is luxurious.

    Once we saw the difference this discipline could make in our lives and in Christ’s ongoing mission, we set out to work toward the goal of tithing. With God’s help, we modified our spending and saving patterns so we could step up each year toward a tithe. Then, we continued to take steps that would allow us to make offerings beyond the tithe.

    I commend the discipline of tithing to you. Try it and discover for yourself how blessings flow in as treasures flow out. It will give new meaning to phrases found in the baptismal liturgy, such as placing our “whole trust in God’s grace and love.” It will change the way you understand our Lord’s summary of the Law, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbor as we love ourselves.

    Blessings,

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ron Pogue
    Interim Rector
    St. Martin-in-the-Fields Episcopal Church
    Keller, Texas

  • Reflections on Pledging and Tithing

    On Consecration Sunday, October 14, we will be invited to complete a pledge card as an act of worship during. In discussing this with a group, one person suggested that some of our members don’t make a pledge because they don’t understand why it is important to them or to the Cathedral. Perhaps the following thoughts will be helpful.

    What's it all about?

    Financial stewardship is an important component of a balanced spiritual life. We emphasize the giver’s need to give rather than the Cathedral’s need to receive. Our generosity toward God is a grateful response to God's generosity toward us. When we make giving to God our first priority, it helps us remember that everything we have – spent, saved, or given away – is a sacred trust from God. We are the stewards of all of it and we want to be faithful in using what God has given in ways that align with our faith. Maintaining a healthy relationship with our possessions keeps them from getting in the way of our relationships with God, our neighbors, and our own inner being. Returning to God from what God has given us is a tangible way to express our faith. When each of us gives, together we fund ministry within our parish and to the community and the world.

    What is a pledge?

    A pledge is an estimate of giving and a statement of intent representing your commitment to a spiritual practice within the community of Christians. The amount of your pledge may be changed at any time as your financial circumstances change. 

    Why should I pledge?

    Pledging allows you to make intentional decisions about your giving along with the rest of your financial commitments. When you plan ahead for your giving, you make conscious choices about spending in ways that reflect your faith and values.

    The pledges of our members also allow our Vestry, the Cathedral’s governing board, to plan wisely for the use our resources in support of the mission and ministry to which God has called us. The Vestry sets a budget based on the total amount pledged. While regular giving that is not pledged is important to the parish, your pledge helps the Vestry plan more accurately.

    How do I pledge?

    Annual giving pledges at St. Andrew’s are made each year. While our annual giving campaign is held in the fall, pledges may be made at any time. Every new member during the course of the year is invited to make a pledge.

    How do I fulfill my pledge?

    Contributing toward your pledge is a matter of your personal preference. You may give weekly, monthly, quarterly, or yearly via cash, checks, credit card, or electronic fund transfer (EFT). You may place your contribution in the offering plate. You may also initiate your own bank payments, via Paypal, Online, or you can arrange for the Cathedral to charge your credit card or debit your bank account. Some members make gifts directly from a retirement account or a donation of stock. Many companies have matching funds for charitable donations of their employees. For assistance, contact Tom Williams, Business Administrator at 601-487-2742 or twilliams@standrews.ms.

    How much should I pledge?

    The amount of your annual pledge is between you and God. The Cathedral offers some guidelines to assist you as you make this important decision. HERE are two charts that may be helpful. You may download and print them. The main thing is your commitment to the spiritual practice of giving to God.

    What is proportionate giving?

    Proportionate giving is basing your pledge amount on a percentage of your income. 

    What is a tithe?

    A tithe is 10% of your income. Since its General Convention in 1982, the Episcopal Church has affirmed the tithe as the minimum standard for giving and encourages members to tithe or be work toward a tithe. A tithe may sound like an unattainable goal to begin with, but if you start with a certain proportion of your income and increase the percentage each year, you will be tithing in a short time. You could start with 5%, a half tithe. Another option is 2½%, which is equivalent to the first hour’s pay of a 40-hour work week.

    Just do it!

    Where you start or whether you tithe on your annual or gross income is not nearly as important as simply making your first pledge.

    Questions?

    If you have questions about financial stewardship or tithing, your clergy are happy to talk with you in confidence. You can reach us at 601.354.1535.

    I'll see you in Church!

    Ron Short Blue Sig Cropped

     

     

     

     

    The Very Reverend Ronald D. Pogue
    Interim Dean
    St. Andrew’s Cathedral
    Jackson, Mississippi

     

  • Sermon at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Jackson Hole ~ October 11, 2015

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    The Twentieth Sunday After Pentecost

    Listen to the Sermon for October 11, 2015

    Read the Sermon for October 11, 2015

     

     

     

  • Faithful Stewards

    A little over twenty years ago, a leading authority in the field of church administration advised clergy not to use the word “commitment” around baby boomers.  He warned that it would drive them away because commitment in any area of life frightens them.  Five years later, the same leading authority reported that baby boomers were attending high expectation, high commitment churches in disproportionately large numbers.  Those churches were growing. We discovered that low expectation, low commitment churches like The Episcopal Church were declining.  While we were soft-peddling commitment, our members were leaving us for churches where it is required.  I resolved at that time that I would never soft peddle commitment again.

    When George Rupp was President of Rice University, I heard him say, “There is no life without community and there is no community without commitment.”  Think about it.  Without commitment, families, organizations, athletic teams, work groups, companies, and nations fall apart.

    One task of an interim pastor is to challenge the church community in transition to clarify its present identity in preparation for a new pastor.  One way to foster that new sense of identity is to ask the members to measure their level of commitment in light of our Church’s teaching that, The duty of all Christians is to follow Christ; to come together week by week for corporate worship; and to work, pray, and give for the spread of the kingdom of God. (BCP, p.856)

    I realize that some people may be as allergic to the word “duty” as they are to the word “commitment.”  But most reasonable people will acknowledge that fulfilling our duties is a necessary aspect of keeping our commitments in daily life.  In fact, the phrase “relieved of duty” carries negative connotations.  And why would anyone think that duty to God is any less important than duty to family, team, country, etc.?  Throughout history, many people have expressed the conviction that duty to God made it possible for them to fulfill all the other duties of their lives.

    I invite you to examine your commitment to your Christian duty.  Make this an opportunity to take the next step in your faith journey.  Is there a way to follow Christ more closely?  Can you join your fellow Christians in worship more often?  Is there a place of service to which you are being called?  Is there room for improvement in your prayer life?  How about your giving? Is it time to move up another step toward the spiritual discipline of tithing?

    Do yourself and your church community a favor and reflect on those questions as you prepare for Commitment Sunday.  At The Church of the Good Shepherd, commitment cards will be distributed during the services.  We’ll complete them together and bring them to the Altar as an act of worship.  Make this time of transition a time of renewed and increased commitment.  Ask God to use you in new ways to help the Church be all God wants it to be.

    Ron Short Sig Blue

  • The Spiritual Discipline of Tithing

    Occasionally, I am asked about tithing.  Since we are entering the season when churches traditionally emphasize faithful stewardship, I thought it might be helpful to share a few thoughts on the subject here.

    A “tithe” is 10% of something.  Tithing has meant several things throughout history, including tribute, tax, and charitable contribution.  Years ago, my wife and I came to understand the tithe as a spiritual discipline, by which we acknowledge that everything belongs to our Creator and our role is that of stewards.  The discipline of tithing helps us maintain a healthy relation-ship with our possessions.  As we see in the teachings of Jesus, if we are possessed by our possessions, we aren’t truly free and if possessions harm relationships with our neighbors, they undermine God’s vision of a world where people live in peace.  As a priest, one of the most important things I can do for the spiritual health of those given into my care is to help them have a right relationship with possessions.

    When we give the first 10% to God, we are reminded that everything we have, whether spent, saved, or given away, is a sacred trust from God. Each time we write a check to the Church for the tithe, we are reminded to be faithful stewards of the remaining 90%.  We are also reminded that Jesus Christ doesn’t ask us for a small portion of our loyalty – he asks for 100%, "our selves, our souls and bodies."

    Because we are unapologetically committed to the mission to which God is calling the Episcopal Church, that is where we bring God’s tithe.  Other organizations have many different ways to solicit and raise funds to sustain them.  The Church has us. Most secular organizations, governments, community chests, and businesses cannot contribute to overtly religious communities.  We consider additional charitable giving to be an “offering.”  God’s tithe and our offerings equal about 20% of our gross household income.  By the standards of most of the world, the lifestyle sustained by the remaining 80% is luxurious.

    Once we saw the difference this discipline could make in our lives and in Christ’s ongoing mission, we set out to work toward the goal of tithing.  With God’s help, we modified our spending and saving patterns so we could step up each year toward a tithe.  Then, we continued to take steps that would allow us to make offerings beyond the tithe.

    I commend the discipline of tithing to you.  Try it and discover for yourself how blessings flow in as treasures flow out.  It will give new meaning to phrases found in the baptismal liturgy, such as placing our “whole trust in God’s grace and love.”  It will change the way you understand our Lord’s summary of the Law, to love God with all our heart, soul, and mind and our neighbor as we love ourselves.

    Ron