Viewing Stewardship Broadly
Does the tithe have to go to your church to count? That question comes from a reader who appropriately called into question something I wrote in a recent column, The Trouble with Tithing. The questioned stemmed from my stating that our average pledge in the Diocese of Georgia is $3,200 per year. While that’s true, and while it is also true that this is one sign that a majority of parishioners do not tithe, these statements alone do not show if someone tithes. For it is possible to give both to one’s church and to give beyond the church as well to make up the tithe. The reader who emailed noted that she and her husband have long given 5% of their gross income to the church and another 5% to other good and Godly charities doing Christ’s work in the world. This balance mattered to her as churches are important, but they do not all provide a lot of concrete work to alleviate the problems folks face.
So, while it is not popular for a pastor to say it, I have for years taught that while my wife and I give all of our tithe to the church, that is not required. Other good organizations do provide another way to give back to God. And as this is so, we should never assume that anyone’s giving to the congregation he or she attends is the only way that person gives back to God in thanks for all God has done. It is perfectly appropriate for some of one’s giving to go to group’s beyond one’s church. And if all the parishioners in all our churches were following this couple’s example and giving 5% of their gross income to the church and matching that amount to other charities, there would be much more good work every church could do both to share the Gospel and to serve the lost and left out.
80-10-10
Maran Nagarajan, CEO of Kaar envisions building an organization with a long custom of utilizing Ayurvedic standards to alleviate, mend, and solace in the advanced world. viagra samples for sale Statins medications are prescribed cialis uk sales for lowering cholesterol levels. Hypoglycemia may even lead way cheap levitra to certain neurological dysfunctions like ataxia and stroke in age old patients. Most essential thing levitra sale cute-n-tiny.com is that the driver’s ed car is armored with a second set of brakes. As I close out these four columns devoted to stewardship, I want to introduce one further concept. As the church is a place where many young families can learn about financial responsibility, one way to do that is to encourage savings for the future as well as giving to the church. A good pattern for this is to live on no more than 80% of your income by tithing first so that 10% of one’s income off the top is given away, and then save 10% (investing it for the future). As this is a huge step, it can be recommended in stages. Look at what you are giving now to the church. Let’s say it is $20 per week that you attend. Take that and plan to give $20 per week whether you show up or not. Then match that with $20 in savings. Next year, seek to move up that number. Even doubling it is easy for many people by budgeting. Then each year work to increase the percentage you save and give away as you work toward the 80-10-10. I learned this from Laurel Johnston, The Episcopal Church’s Program Officer for Stewardship. I have found it a healthy way to encourage good practices with finances. I have written more about it online here: How to Give and Save Your Fair Share.
The Rev. Canon Frank Logue
Canon to the Ordinary
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