Giving

This past year, a number of people have asked me about electronic tithing. I must admit, I was hesitant about it. I think there is something beautiful about people placing their tithe into the plates and having it offered as part of the service. But the more I talked about it with some of you, the vestry, and other priests, I have come to realize that perhaps I was conflating an act of meaningfulness with what is true. In other words, just because something is meaningful doesn’t mean that it is the only way. While I certainly want to protect against mindless giving where a person's heart and mind are not in the offering, that doesn’t automatically dismiss electronic giving. 

I have talked to some other priests about how they ensure people are mindful of their offerings to God when giving electronically. One said they have wooden coins that people who give online can place in the offering plates to be a physical representation of their giving. Which, on the one hand, I think is great; on the other, it is a little too close to giving God wooden nickels (maybe that is just the curmudgeon in me). Perhaps, a better option is just that I invite you to mentally join me in the prayer I say silently when lifting the alms basin, “Almighty God, may you use this for your glory and the advancement of your kingdom. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Ghost. Amen.” Money in the alms basin is not the important part; just as the alms you gave to help the poor and needy throughout the week is also given for the glory of God.

God delights in a giving heart, and he knows your heart. Yes, there is a theological richness and fitting liturgical action to the offering plate. But again, I am more concerned about the heart. As the priest, I want to facilitate cheerful and obedient giving unto the Lord. However, it is easy for me to hyper-focus on my role and forget that ultimately it is God's perspective that matters most. I can only witness words and actions, but God knows your heart.

So, having thought it through with the vestry and wrestling with the initial idea, it has been decided that in the coming weeks the church will be rolling out an electronic giving option. If you still want to put money or checks in the plate, or continue your usual method of giving, please do! However, if you would like to give electronically, in the coming weeks, you will be able to use the secure CDM+ link that will be on the website. We will make an announcement when the webpage is live.

This option allows for secure recurring giving. It also permits you to allocate special gifts to different causes or guilds. Additionally, while we run the Capital Campaign, there is an option to give to that directly. What you need to know in addition, however, is that there is a small processing charge depending on how you are giving electronically. When giving, there will be an explanation of these charges; it is something along the lines of 3% + $0.30. So if you give $10, there is an option for you to offset the charge and pay $10.60, or it will be subtracted from the offering, and the church will receive $9.40. If you choose to give this way, I wanted to be upfront about the charge so no one is surprised; and, again, the charges should be posted for you to see at the time of giving. 

So, is there any spiritual benefit to electronic giving? In talking to other priests (if there is anyone who can “discern” a spiritual benefit out of something, it is us priests), I had one tell me that it was helpful for his church to see it through the lens of “first fruits.” By setting up your recurring tithe at the beginning of the year and thus being intentional about giving, you offer to God 10% of what is projected. You don’t give him 10% of what you have left over after you splurge on that new couch or after you had a busy week and ate out too much. The first fruits are the fullest, sweetest, and best harvest, not the 10% worthy of discard. This means we might have to be more thoughtful of how we use our money and trust God in difficult situations when unexpected bills arise, or when we are just a little too impulsive. Trusting God, not just in the moment, but in advance, is truly a spiritual discipline, one that we will all constantly be learning throughout our lives, be it money or difficult situations. 

And since we are called to be good stewards, if you want to know how your tithes are used, what God is doing here at the Church, and the parish’s needs, please come to the Annual Parish Meeting on November 1st, and we will talk about it all.

God’s Peace,

Fr. Aaron