Talking about money was not a common practice in my household growing up. Even now there are times I recognize how my upbringing informs the way I show up to conversations about financial planning. For any number of reasons, it can feel uncomfortable at times talking about money. Every person’s situation is unique, not only in the value and scale of financial status but in the experiences that shape our perspectives, the history of our successes and hardships and the obligations we have in our current lives.
During the SHINE ministry campaign kickoff activities this past Sunday, campaign co-chairs Marlys Melius and Nathan Lemke guided us to the “preparing to respond” handout that was mailed to households in the campaign materials and is also available on the church website. What I love about this handout is that it grounds our financial giving in the power of our faith and the role our financial gifts can play in spreading God’s love in our communities and the larger world. When our financial decisions are guided by prayerful reflection, we lean into the knowledge that our faith will embolden us to navigate uncertainty in an evolving economic landscape and to overcome future hurdles. The exact dollar amount, while important, no longer takes center stage. Instead, we envision how our contribution supports something bigger than ourselves in pursuit of our collective goals. It is in this common pursuit that we can shed - or, at least manage - our hesitations about money conversations, knowing that these decisions are grounded in our core values and the ways God is calling us to shape CtK. Let’s face it - the future of our faith community relies heavily on having the funds to thrive, and each of us has a powerful opportunity to be part of it.
Within the campaign materials, I also found the “creative ways to give” handout especially helpful. It supported our discussions at home as we considered how and what to give for the campaign. Because the ministry campaign financial commitment is a separate commitment from our annual operating budget and fall stewardship efforts, it felt especially important to consider all of our options for an additional pledge that would work with our monthly expenses, household budget and regular annual giving commitment. Instead of committing via a cash donation to the ministry campaign, we decided to transfer stocks that we purchased during the market crash in 2008 from our taxable account to the church. This should allow us to maximize our campaign commitment by not paying tax on the capital gains from this investment. This is one of the many avenues available to contribute to the campaign.
It’s not always easy to connect the mechanics of finances to our faith experiences, which is why the SHINE ministry campaign has been built by many hearts and hands. From the formal campaign brochure and materials, daily devotionals and musical experiences to the art collaboration that will debut during Pledge Sunday on May 11 and individual voices of reflection we have heard through video, blog and Sunday worship… This is a moment in the CtK story that will shape the direction we go next. It is through deep commitment, faithful hope and unwavering trust that God will lead us there together.
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