Moderator’s Musings
by Blaine Miner
A long time ago, when I still lived with my parents, I regularly watched the TV documentary series “Connections,” featured on the local PBS station. The premise of the show, and that of a book of the same name by James Burke, was some simple, ordinary event that ended up having a major influence over time on how the world would evolve.
Connection is an integral part of our Christian faith. God continually reminds the people to look after the widow, the orphan, and the alien (foreigner, immigrant) – the latter especially as the reminder that as emigrants from Egypt they were beholden to charity from those whose land they immigrated into. When we answer God’s call to extend charity, meaningful connections are made.
In the book “A Spirituality of Fundraising,” co-authors Henri Nouwen and Nathan Ball speak to the connection between asking and receiving donations. One story which intrigued me focused on a relationship Nouwen had with a banker. This banker found some books by Nouwen and was intrigued with the message he found there. He wanted to ensure that Nouwen continue writing, so he offered to bea sponsor for Nouwen’s writings. The initial inquiry came while Nouwen was away for several months. However, Nouwen encouraged his assistant to go to dinner with the banker to develop a relationship. When Nouwen returned, he joined the assistant and the banker for dinner, and the banker once again issued his offer to donate money to Nouwen’s writing efforts. When the banker was asked why, his response indicated that he knew about money, and that as a writer, Nouwen was not as knowledgeable about money and finances.
What struck me about this exchange was first the bias of the banker’s thinking as a seeker, in contrast to Nouwen as a spiritual being. Nouwen goes on to write that they had many dinners together before money was discussed again. Nouwen was more concerned about the banker as a person than his utilitarian use as a revenue stream.
We as the church balance our lives between caring for our community – local and global – and having enough resources so that we can do our ministry. We see ourselves as a faith community as being different as compared to other social networks we belong to. When we do something on behalf of the Church, we claim to be in ministry. Nouwen writes about ministry in this way: “Ministry is, first of all, receiving God’s blessing from those to whom we minister: What is this blessing? It is a glimpse of the face of God (from Here and Now}”.
Related to this idea of ministry is vision. What is the Church’s vision for ministry? In order for the church to give, it also needs to receive. A successful fundraising campaign needs as its base a clear vision of what program looks like and a focus on that which excites. In contrast, a stewardship campaign that focuses on building upkeep and paying a pastor begins to feel depressing. There is not excitement. But where there is a plan, a mission, and something to be excited about, giving can increase.
I find the TV show Shark Tank to be mildly interesting. It is a prime example of connection between the donor (The Shark) and the asker (The Entrepreneur). Both have strengths. The Shark has the money, the Entrepreneur has the vision and idea. In the asking, the Entrepreneur needs to answer questions presented by the Sharks. If the vision and idea are clear and precise, a deal is struck. If not, the connection is not made and the idea is not funded.
A lack of resources is not a reason to hang our heads, but a lack of vision may be . Let us ask for God’s guidance for vision so when we ask for the resources to do the ministry we are called to do, meaningful connections are made.
A long time ago, when I still lived with my parents, I regularly watched the TV documentary series “Connections,” featured on the local PBS station. The premise of the show, and that of a book of the same name by James Burke, was some simple, ordinary event that ended up having a major influence over time on how the world would evolve.
Connection is an integral part of our Christian faith. God continually reminds the people to look after the widow, the orphan, and the alien (foreigner, immigrant) – the latter especially as the reminder that as emigrants from Egypt they were beholden to charity from those whose land they immigrated into. When we answer God’s call to extend charity, meaningful connections are made.
In the book “A Spirituality of Fundraising,” co-authors Henri Nouwen and Nathan Ball speak to the connection between asking and receiving donations. One story which intrigued me focused on a relationship Nouwen had with a banker. This banker found some books by Nouwen and was intrigued with the message he found there. He wanted to ensure that Nouwen continue writing, so he offered to bea sponsor for Nouwen’s writings. The initial inquiry came while Nouwen was away for several months. However, Nouwen encouraged his assistant to go to dinner with the banker to develop a relationship. When Nouwen returned, he joined the assistant and the banker for dinner, and the banker once again issued his offer to donate money to Nouwen’s writing efforts. When the banker was asked why, his response indicated that he knew about money, and that as a writer, Nouwen was not as knowledgeable about money and finances.
What struck me about this exchange was first the bias of the banker’s thinking as a seeker, in contrast to Nouwen as a spiritual being. Nouwen goes on to write that they had many dinners together before money was discussed again. Nouwen was more concerned about the banker as a person than his utilitarian use as a revenue stream.
We as the church balance our lives between caring for our community – local and global – and having enough resources so that we can do our ministry. We see ourselves as a faith community as being different as compared to other social networks we belong to. When we do something on behalf of the Church, we claim to be in ministry. Nouwen writes about ministry in this way: “Ministry is, first of all, receiving God’s blessing from those to whom we minister: What is this blessing? It is a glimpse of the face of God (from Here and Now}”.
Related to this idea of ministry is vision. What is the Church’s vision for ministry? In order for the church to give, it also needs to receive. A successful fundraising campaign needs as its base a clear vision of what program looks like and a focus on that which excites. In contrast, a stewardship campaign that focuses on building upkeep and paying a pastor begins to feel depressing. There is not excitement. But where there is a plan, a mission, and something to be excited about, giving can increase.
I find the TV show Shark Tank to be mildly interesting. It is a prime example of connection between the donor (The Shark) and the asker (The Entrepreneur). Both have strengths. The Shark has the money, the Entrepreneur has the vision and idea. In the asking, the Entrepreneur needs to answer questions presented by the Sharks. If the vision and idea are clear and precise, a deal is struck. If not, the connection is not made and the idea is not funded.
A lack of resources is not a reason to hang our heads, but a lack of vision may be . Let us ask for God’s guidance for vision so when we ask for the resources to do the ministry we are called to do, meaningful connections are made.
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