Giving Money to Worthy Causes
June 1, 2002
Q. Does any church designate a certain percentage of income to give to worthy causes outside the church? A local Catholic church has a standing policy of giving 12 percent of its weekly income to good causes in the community. We are considering beginning such an effort, perhaps starting at 2 percent and gradually increasing. We'd like to know what the impact is on church membership and/or income when you start something like this.
A. At First Parish in Plymouth, MA (165 members), 10 percent of each week's offering plate (not including pledge income) goes to a local charity chosen by the congregation at the annual meeting from recommendations made by the Social Action Committee, says Rev. Michael Leduc. A check is written annually. "When we instituted it at 10 percent two years ago there was great enthusiasm. The surprising side effect of this was that our plate offering increased significantly overall. Not only did the charity benefit, so did the church. Even those who regularly pledge put money in the plate where they didn't in the past. Certainly there are a few voices who say we can't afford to give that money away, we need it for ourselves. They see the church's mission as self-perpetuation rather than reaching beyond its walls."
At Dupage Unitarian Universalist (UU) Church in Naperville, IL (277), the non-pledge plate collection one Sunday a month goes to a cause picked by the Social Action Committee. "We have found that the giving on these Sundays is pretty substantial," says President Dean Reschke. "The theory is that this kind of practice increases giving across the board. So far, I think that this is true. Another aspect that I think is important is there so often seems to be a disconnect between what we do in our worship and the real world expression of our values. This practice makes a clear and intentional connection."
For more information contact interconnections @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
