| Do the Right Thing! Walk into Spirit of Christ Church, in Arvada, Colorado, and look up. On a high beam above the altar you will see a crystal bowl. The bowl is filled with stewardship pledges—commitments of time, talent, and treasure promised to God during the current year. No one sees the contents of the bowl, but members of this parish take their commitments so seriously that the church is now able to tithe or give away 14% of its income to outreach programs. This year, Spirit of Christ is donating more than $240,000 to nonprofit agencies that perform a variety of works of mercy. Their stewardship program actually began in 1974, the year the parish began. The Parish Council decided the community needed “to walk the walk.” They began by giving away 2% of the parish’s income. At the same time, they began teaching from the pulpit on the meaning of stewardship. Their program evolved into a three-Sunday effort each fall, much like other stewardship programs. (Click here for some sources of information on stewardship.) They have also created a meaningful community ritual for their giving. On the third Stewardship Sunday, just after the homily, parishioners receive a stewardship card. Each card has a perforation down the center. Parishioners fill out both sides. One side they keep at home to remind them of their pledge; the other half is brought up at the Offertory and placed in the crystal bowl. The bowl remains in view above the altar until the next year when those pledge cards are burned and a new pledge year begins. No one ever sees what is written on the cards. That, the Parish Council says, is between each person and God. The parish does not even offer suggestions as to how much an individual’s gift should be. How does Spirit of Christ distribute the funds? First, the parish determines its annual budget. Whatever remains each year is considered gift―to be donated. Recipients are divided into three categories—local, national, and international nonprofits—and each category receives approximately one-third of the available funds. In September, organizations that want to be considered for funding are asked to apply by providing background information about their work and their budgets. The ministry responsible for distributing the parish’s annual gifts is composed of representatives from various outreach ministries, the Finance Committee, and the Pastoral Council. The group meets and considers each application individually and in alphabetical order. Cathi Politano, a Pastoral Associate, facilitates the discussion, and decisions are made by consensus voting. In a recent outreach budget, of the 66 organizations that applied, funds were granted to 36. The grants ranged from $720 to $36,000. All budget figures are published annually in the parish bulletin. Spirit of Christ followed its initial inspiration. Parishioners “walk the walk” and their sacrificial giving has indeed made a difference—not only in the lives of community members, but also in the lives of many thousands of others who are helped by the agencies that Spirit of Christ helps. Click here for five ways to set up such a ministry in your parish. |