Going For the Gold

Going For the Gold

March 26, 2006

The Rev. Penny Rather

The Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laramie

Once a month the ministers of the Front Range Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association assemble at one of our churches for lunch and conversation. We gather to support one another and learn from one another and to nourish our personal and professional connections. Usually the group consists of ministers and seminary students from the Denver-Boulder area, but occasionally colleagues from Colorado Springs, Greeley, Fort Collins, and Cheyenne join us. I represent both this fellowship and the UU Fellowship in Lafayette, Colorado where I am an Affiliated Community Minister.

After we share casual conversation over our brown-bag lunches, we check-in, sharing events and feelings of importance in our personal and professional lives. At our March meeting, two ministers who are retiring this year commented on how odd it felt to be experiencing the coming of Spring without facing the task of planning for the next church year. A little further around the check-in circle another colleague declared, “I’m a little unsettled by our retiring colleagues’ supposition that the rest of us are planning for the next church year. I am just trying to make it from day to day this year.”

Now I suspect that both positions were somewhat overstated – perhaps an occupational hazard for ministers. In most Unitarian Universalist congregations Spring is the time for setting the budget for the upcoming year and for the annual pledge drive to satisfy the Income side of the balance sheet. I know very well that the minister who said he is “just trying to make it from day to day this year” is faithfully supporting his budget and financial planning and canvass committees in this important work. And that my two retiring colleagues are doing the same, with the commitment to leaving financially sound congregations to the Interim Ministers and the next Settled ministers.

So when we, here at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Laramie, embark on our annual stewardship drive today, we are in communion with UU’s across the continent. We join in spirit with religious liberals who believe that the world is in need of our liberating message of religious freedom, justice and compassion, environmental responsibility, and the right of conscious. Who believe that the members and friends of our congregations are nourished by a religious community that respects their inherent worth and dignity, supports their search for truth and meaning, and encourages their noblest efforts in the world.

These are lofty goals. But we can meet them if we adopt an Olympic attitude of “Going for the Gold.” As a religious movement – as a congregation – as individuals – we can do whatever we set our hearts to do. As long as we support our heart’s desires with our commitments of time, talent, and treasure. Which is exactly what stewardship means: Stewardship is about taking care of something we value and enabling it to grow. It is about managing the resources with which we are entrusted responsibly, and passing them along to the next generation in a healthy condition.

Stewardship in a religious community includes enabling it to grow in all three dimensions – in breadth and depth and length. It involves helping a congregation grow in numbers of members and numbers of programs. And in the depth of meaningful experience for members and friends. It involves reaching out to the community and to the oppressed of the world more often and more deeply.

It means paying attention to the longevity of the community. This fellowship exists today – is beginning its second half-century of Unitarian Universalism in Laramie – because of the stewardship of its members 50 years ago. It will be thriving and serving religious liberals 50 years from now because of our stewardship.

We are good stewards of the resources of this fellowship that we value when we are generous with our time, our talents, and our treasure. This morning, and for the next two weeks, we are focusing on the treasure part of that formula. We need an income to fund the good work of this religious community. That is pretty simple. But I won’t talk this morning only about money. We will meet our goals only if we are likewise generous with our time and our talents.

In the class I teach at Naropa University on Inter-religious Dialogue, we have been engaging in pairs and in groups in dialogues about different aspects of religion – spiritual practices, myths and stories, social action, and theology. But what we’ve discovered is that these aspects are not separate; stories influence theology, theology informs social action, social action motivates spiritual practice. The same is true with stewardship. Our gifts of time, talents, and treasure are inter-related. As are the rewards of each. When we have more members, we can offer more varied programming. We have more diverse voices in our discussions. We have more adult role models for our children. When we offer a variety of opportunities for spiritual exploration and learning and service, we will be more visible in the community. We will attract more people. And we can make a bigger difference in the world.

So, yes, this morning I am encouraging you to be especially generous with your financial support. But I will also touch upon generosity of time and talent. Likewise, throughout the year, from time to time as I talk about the shared ministry of this fellowship, I might remind you of our financial needs. Stewardship – however it is expressed – is not a one-time issue. All through the year, the Board and various committees are diligent in responsible attention to the Expenses side of the balance sheet. We need to pay attention to the Income side, as well, more regularly than once a year.

Our newly forming financial planning committee is working toward improving our fiscal responsibility in a number of ways. Developing a long range plan, so that we are poised for growth and prepared for inevitable and unexpected expenses. Making financial management and decision making transparent to the congregation, so that you can be confident about the wise use of your monetary gifts. Bringing attention to money out of the two-week Spring closet and into the ongoing culture of this fellowship.

This third objective is hard. It is uncomfortable. In our culture talk about money is awkward. An anonymous Quaker, observing this discomfort, said, “Money is to our generation what sex was to the Victorians – which is to say that many people are willing to read about how others handle and mismanage it, but few are ready to disclose their own involvement with it.”

I know this discomfort firsthand. Our attitudes toward money are usually borne from our earliest experiences with it. My father was always saying things like, “If you (meaning at various times my mother, my siblings, or myself) keep spending like this, we’ll end up in the poorhouse.” In my youthful naïveté, I envisioned – I actually had nightmares about – a Dickensian scene, complete with coal dust, rats, and gruel. My mother was so intimidated that she would borrow – sometimes with permission, sometimes without – grocery money from her children rather than ask him for more if she ran out.

It is no matter that he made a fine living – statistically we were upper middle class; that I lived in a nice house in a wealthy suburb; that we never really wanted for anything. The attitude toward money that I developed still makes me uncomfortable talking – even thinking – about it. It still makes me retreat upstairs to my home office when my husband is doing the taxes or balancing the checkbook. It makes it hard for me to stand here and ask you to give generously to a budget whose largest component is my compensation……Not uncomfortable enough not to do it, however; perhaps this is part of my spiritual growth.

And if money in general is a modern taboo, there is an especially strange aura surrounding money and churches. As if it is crass to talk about such worldly concerns when we should be paying attention to loftier matters. That is kind of an odd view in Unitarian Universalist circles, since we are generally more focused on worldly than other-worldly themes. But I think that money is such a loaded topic that some of us will embrace any excuse not to talk about it.

Through the work of the financial planning committee, and with everyone’s cooperation, I believe we can be a healthier and wealthier congregation if we talk openly about both the Income and Expense sides of the budget. And when you understand how important every pledge is, I hope you will be as generous as you can be.

One of the reasons that many Unitarian Universalists state for less generous pledging is that they give to other worthwhile causes. I’m sure that is true, but think about it. Do you really think that religious conservatives who tithe – that is give 10% – to their churches refrain from donating to their selection of worthwhile causes? Like the National Rifle Association, National Right to Life, or the Heritage Foundation that supports drilling in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge? Could you not see clear to continuing your donations to your favorite causes and still be more generous with your pledge to this fellowship?

And when you think about it, where does your financial contribution have more relative effect? In organizations with large budgets, such as the Sierra Club or Amnesty International? Or in your religious community where our budget is slightly more than $53,000? What could this fellowship do if each of us committed more generously to its support? Last year we made a significant jump in giving. That generous 30% increase enabled you to hire me for one year. It ended several years of deficit spending. It got us in the game.

But we still rely on fundraising events for part of the operating budget. And we have only modest reserves to deal with unexpected expenses or income shortfalls. What if we caught onto the spirit of the Winter Olympics that occurred last month and took pride in stretching our imaginations and our resources to reach a “personal best?” What if instead of being satisfied with the relative comfort of the status quo, we entertained a dream of Olympic proportions? What could this fellowship do if, instead of being content just to be in the game, we committed to “Going for the Gold”?

The leadership of this congregation has taken the challenge. I spread my charitable giving out by trying to give 5% to church and 5% to other causes I support. I divide my church pledge between this congregation and my home church, and because of a combination of increased income – thanks to this ministry – and increased commitment I am raising my pledge here to $600. The Board and the Stewardship Committee have pledged a combined $22,170, or 40% of the budget. That represents an average 9% increase over last year.

The Stewardship Committee has asked those of you who took the “Penguin Challenge” last year and increased your giving by 30% to consider beating your personal record by reaching still further, or to at least stay the course. And for those of you who didn’t, as Jeff and Nancy put it, “catch air” last year, to consider a 30% increase, or as close to it as possible, in pledging this year.

I am so impressed with the choir this year. It is always a joy to have them sing in the service. The singers, and our choir director, Jim Erdelyi, and pianists, Dave Perry and Bill Reiners, give generously of their time and talent. What could we do if we had a budget healthy enough to add some of our treasure to the music program? We could buy sheet music for the choir. We could have guest musicians from time to time. Maybe we could buy some instruments for the children’s program. What about a set of hand bells? We could send some of our music volunteers to events sponsored by the UU Musician’s Network, where they could share ideas with other UU musicians.

In a growth workshop at General Assembly last year, I learned that the Number One factor leading to church growth is the music program. We are in the game. What could we do if we went for the gold?

A generous Chalice Lighters’ grant last year enabled us to replace this building’s inefficient windows with ecologically and economically efficient ones. Many of you gave of your time and talent to defray the costs by removing the old windows. What could we do if our budget was robust enough to use more of our treasure for building improvement? The Building and Grounds Committee recently had a brainstorming session and generated a “Wish List” of ideas for upgrading our worship, religious education, social and outdoor spaces.

Sometime in the not too distant future, the roof of this building will need to be replaced. That will be a big expense, possibly requiring a Capital Campaign. But in the meantime, there were over 40 items on that wish list. If our budget allowed for it we could add insulation to the attic, put a bike rack out front, replace the worn carpet in the social room, install better lighting in the kitchen. Or nearly 40 other things that were identified.

My home church in Colorado met in rented space for 25 years before getting a home of our own. Having a building is immensely important for fellowship life and growth. We have a good building here in Laramie. We are in the game. What could we do if we went for the gold?

The Social Action Committee has been resurrected and is active in many projects. They used their entire budget for this year as seed money for buying organic fair-trade coffee to use here at the fellowship and to sell to coffee drinkers for use in their homes. Hopefully this project will become self-sustaining. This committee is investigating efficient landscaping, has instituted “Change for Change” to contribute to causes for justice in Laramie and beyond, and is investigating the Green Sanctuary Program sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association in support of our Seventh Principle – respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. The Chocolate Fiesta partners each year with a non-profit in Laramie to support their good works. This year we helped The SAFE Project raise nearly $2000.

A budget is a moral document. It reflects the values of the individual or the institutional that develops it. What would our budget say about us if we supported more worthy causes directly or sent some of our members to conferences where they could learn from other congregations. We are in the game. What might we be able to do if we went for the gold?

Our religious education program is hopping. Lisa Erickson has invested much of her time and talent – and treasure – to enliven the religious education of our children. These children are the future of our movement. But increased numbers call for increased resources. We need better walls and doors to section off the classrooms. We need a place for changing diapers. We need more adult presence – paid or volunteer – in the classrooms Sunday mornings. We are lucky to have dedicated volunteers and separate rooms for RE. These things have gotten us in the game. What could we do if we went for the gold?

There are so many other areas that could be grown in depth and breadth and length if we had the financial resources: Religious education and enrichment programs for adults, social events, new member integration. We could defray the costs for members to attend General Assembly, District meetings, and Leadership School. What are some areas of interest to you that could benefit from an increased budget – or any budget?

Let your imagination soar with ideas of what this congregation could do if we each stretched our resources to not only make this year’s projected budget, but to exceed it. And think about the impact your pledge could have on the programming and facilities and outreach of this congregation. And if any of you who pre-pledged, thinking of the ways you’d like to see this fellowship grow, feel inspired to increase your pledges, I’m sure the bookkeeping changes could be accommodated.

The ancient proto-scientific and philosophic discipline of alchemy sought ways to turn base metals into gold. If that process were to work for us we would not have to ask each year for a pledge to sustain this fellowship. But, alas, as far as we know, that is not an option.

There is another kind of alchemy, though, that might work in the same way. In her memoir, The Spiral Staircase, theologian, author, and former nun Karen Armstrong writes:

Faith [is] not about belief but about practice. Religion is not about accepting twenty impossible propositions before breakfast, but about doing things that change you. It is a moral aesthetic, an ethical alchemy. If you behave in a certain way, you will be transformed. The myths and laws of religion are not true because they conform to some metaphysical, scientific, or historical reality but because they are life enhancing. They tell you how human nature functions, but you will not discover their truths unless you apply these myths and doctrines to your own life and put them into practice. The myths of the hero, for example, are not meant to give us historical information about Prometheus or Achilles – or for that matter about Jesus or the Buddha. Their purpose is to compel us to act in such a way that we bring about our own heroic potential.

Religious myths in nearly every tradition tell us in one way or another that generosity is transformative, both to the giver and to the recipient. I invite you this morning to engage in a little ethical alchemy. Stretch your budget a little to reflect your stewardship of this religious community. Let the practice of generosity help this congregation “Go for the Gold”.

May it be so.

Reading

There are two kinds of people in life--those who reach and those who reach.

In the first category are those who reach in the sense of attaining. They arrive at whatever it is they may be seeking or wherever they think they want to go. This kind of reaching makes one feel that one has achieved something, that one has been successful. It gives a person a sense of worth and happiness, worth because something sought after has been attained and happiness because it is a pleasurable thing to get something you want. It makes us feel as though the gods are smiling on us and the fates are kind.

The only problem with this kind of reaching is that it does not always foster growth. This kind of reaching too easily discourages us from further seeking, too easily encourages us to seek only those goals we have a very good chance of attaining. It suggests to us subtly that being comfortable and happy are really the most important values in life for which to strive. It offers support for the status quo, or change at a very slow rate, because keeping things as they are with minimal change is always within our grasp. It is a shallow kind of reaching if it is the only kind we do.

There is a second kind of reaching that is defined by the process of stretching ourselves out toward some vastly higher goal than we are ever likely to achieve. It is aiming at some wondrous ideal that will probably always elude us. . . .

This is the kind of reaching that makes us extend ourselves beyond what we thought we were capable of doing. It is the kind of reaching that calls forth inner resources that sometimes we are not aware that we have.

There is a problem with this kind of reaching too. If we never achieve what we are reaching out to take hold of, we will inevitably feel ourselves to be failures. We will inevitably feel a sense of unworthiness and inadequacy. These in turn can quickly make us sour and bitter, and turn us from any reaching at all.

Isn't the deeper truth of human life that the two kinds of people are really two aspects of the self in very one of us? . . .

We need the satisfaction of reaching some of our goals, but we also need to have ideals high enough so that achievement of our goals does not leave us smug.

Let us all reach and then reach again.

Let us all reach plateaus of accomplishment and rest in rightful pride.

Let us then reach for yet higher levels of achievement and greater dimensions of goodness.

"Reaching [adapted]," Aspirations….Of A Humanist Heart, Kenneth W. Phifer