Making Giving More Meaningful

The following highlights are gleaned from the Stewardship Committee’s Adult Education class offered in the fall of 2021.

W⁵ + H = Why, Who, Where, What, When & How

Objectives:

• Help us examine our giving practices more deeply
• Help us develop deeper and more meaningful spiritual practices
• Help us enhance our relationship with our world and the Lord

Session 1: Why We Give

We are called to give: “Do not withhold good from those to whom it is due, when it is in your power to act.” [Proverbs 3:27]

We have received the greatest gift: “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” [John 3:16]

In Biblical times, giving was an act of sacrificing what one had. Giving was an act of giving thanks. People brought items such as grain and animals to the altar where they were offered to God as burnt offerings.

A Giving Spectrum

Giving has evolved over time, from “unconditional” and “sacrificial” giving to more “directed” giving. When a gift is unconditional, the giver expects no control over how the gift is used. When a gift is directed or intentional, the giver provides instruction on how the gift is to be used.

Just as giving has changed over historical time, it also tends to change with the various life events we experience. Some events that might impact our giving are: Confirmation, Graduation, Marriage, Parenting or Grandparenting, Significant Illness or Loss, World Events, Retirement.

All reasons for giving are “right” reasons and giving at any place along the Giving Spectrum is a right reason to give.

What organizations do you give to? What do your choices reveal about your relationship to the world and to God?

Session 2: Who and Where We Give

For this week’s class, we dove into who we give to, as well as where we give. Ultimately we strove to inspire each other with our diversity of ideas and share meaningful experiences that might lead others to make equally meaningful gifts.

To whom do we give? This, of course, is not limited to money; we give our time and our talents, too. It might sound obvious, but we shared some ideas: Our family–one participant shared that he had a family member who hadn’t had the easiest time managing finances, so he would give to that family member from time to time. We might give to our neighbors, our church, our community, charitable organizations.

Where do we give? This probably has some overlap with “who,” or it may be much more literal. If you find yourself in a different place on Sunday morning, such as on vacation or out of town, is your habitual giving impacted? If so, how?

Some members shared that they love to attend ELCA Lutheran churches wherever they may be vacationing. Some folks also said that if they attend a church other than St. Andrew on a given Sunday, they will make sure to give an offering to both churches that same week. Wow–sounds like where we give really does make an impact. Perhaps you’re giving double your normal offering!

Next, we opened up the floor to everyone to share any personal experiences they had with particular charitable organizations they have donated to. It was inspiring to hear that members of our congregation give to all sorts of terrific groups. One participant shared that she has continued to support a group she used to work with, not only because she believes in the work that the group does, but also due to the long-lasting friendships she formed.

How do you decide who you will give to? After seeing such a broad spectrum of choices, even just amongst those groups that class participants mentioned, there is so much choice that it can be overwhelming.

What if I can’t decide where to give? NonProfitLeader.org has some advice:

Choose a cause you care about
Check for legitimacy and transparency
Beware of “founder’s syndrome”
Ask if the program has been evaluated
Consider the organization’s political stance

http://www.nonprofitleader.org/how-to-decide-where-to-donate/

We discussed different charity evaluators you can use to guide your research, as well as considering other criteria such as the transparency of the group or how accessible it might be. One participant recommended taking a look at how an organization compensates its staff, especially to consider if the CEO is taking too high a salary.

Rachel Roberts

Session 3: How We Give

In today’s world, we have access to many mechanisms for giving. Some of these are traditional, while others have developed and been relied upon more and more in an age of computers.

But, even more important than the mechanisms for giving is the GIVING EXPERIENCE. How do you feel when you give? What is in your heart? How does giving impact your relationship with God?

Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

2 Corinthians 9:6-7

Class participants shared significant giving experiences in their own lives, considered how their feelings toward giving have changed over the years, and reflected on how their acts of giving bring them closer to God.

Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you again for all you have given us. Help us find joy in giving back to you and to others what you have first given to us. Help us become Cheerful Givers as you share your love for us with others. We ask this in your name.
Amen.

Dwight Jerde

Session 4: When We Give

The “when” of giving encompasses multiple perspectives.

“When” from a congregational perspective:

• weekly mission and ministry budget items
• special fundraising efforts (such as a “burn the mortgage” initiative)
• special programmative needs (designated funds to send our youth to Holden Village, for example).

Each category above presents donors different timing factors. The first provides the opportunity to give on a regular basis, while the others link giving to a special purpose. Both periodic gifts and special or one-time gifts are important to enable the work of the church.

More than just a “Chronological” definition of “When” we give, we also discussed our emotions and state of mind when we give, especially as we looked at “Individual” perspectives of giving.  Giving when joyful, compassionate, attempts to be more connected to God, giving thanks, when humbled, as we participate in our community, and our desire to honor God were all situations we reviewed.

“When” from a synod perspective:

Synod needs are similar to congregational needs. We designate a percentage of giving revenue to synodical giving, recognizing that we are part of a larger organization doing God’s work in our community and world.

“When” from an individual perspective:

What are your timing triggers? Do you prefer to give on a periodic basis, perhaps each week or every month?

Takeaways

• Giving to others is giving to the Lord.
• Simply helping others is good cause enough.
• Generosity does not mean you have to give everything you have. It simply means you should be charitable within your means.
• Those who share their time and talents are equal contributors in the eyes of the Lord.
• Sharing with the mission of the congregation is one way to honor the Lord.

Discussion

Participants were asked to recall giving experiences that were especially meaningful to them. Why? How did you feel, both at the time and later in reflecting on your experience? Did you feel God’s presence when you made the gift or as you reflect on it? How can you “grab that win” and recreate it?

Closing Prayer

Dear Heavenly Father,
We thank you for guiding us as we give. We also thank you for the joy we experience as we experience how our giving impacts our world. We thank you for allowing us to be partners in your plan. Bring us closer to you each day. Help us find joy in giving back to you, and to others. We ask this in your name.
Amen.

Dwight Jerde