Factor #5. Contribution in Community
Observed Community Reality Score (1-10) = _____
Observed Congregational Reality Score (1-10)= _____
Observed Congregational Mission Score (1-10) = _____
"He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasure; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, "Truly I tell you, this poor widow has but in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on."
Statement of Reality
In the contributing community, people want to give. Giving is especially important if it is to something that satisfies a need. The people accept and celebrate the contributions of all persons. The people know that what they are doing is worthwhile. Systems are in place to enable every person to make their own contribution to the well being of the community. The church is in a leadership role in the development of these systems.
Jesus’ words about the scene in front of his audience were more than a call to the poor to give. He was, it appears, calling for the church to accept and recognize the gifts of even the poorest.
Big industry is a temptation for current society. We often assume only major international corporations can provide economic salvation for our communities. Fayette, Mississippi, panicked when General Motors closed a wiring harness assembly plant there. Navajos feared the prospect of a major coal company being forced out by politics or high wages. In both cases, small industry might supply jobs and benefits, given support in the proper areas. The church can be a major supplier of that support.
Even in slavery many have contributed to the goodness of life for the community. Many African-American and Native American slaves not only learned to read and write, but taught others. Many taught their children and the children of other slaves. Some even taught their masters and the masters’ children.
The migrant labor communities of the 20th century required cooperative living. Those who could no longer work in the fields often tended and taught children. Some cared for elderly, or cared for whatever homes they could. The great civil rights struggle of the 20th century has been to give everyone the opportunity to contribute and also the right to receive.
As pastor I have served congregations that barred certain persons from collecting the offering. Some were the wrong gender, or the wrong race (whatever that means). Others were not old enough or too old. Perhaps the silliest complaint was that some did not wear the right clothes. It is not certain why a dark suit and tie are essential parts of passing the offering plate. Now I can not even ask. Unfortunately, most of those congregations are now out of business.
The matter of race is a matter we must all address. In our lifetimes we have seen this go from the all-important issues of the personal quality to something quite different. Today we understand that race is nothing more than family genetic history combined with ethnicity.
Every family has a unique genetic code. This determines such things as color of eyes, hair and skin, and how the kidneys work. Combined with the ethnic accidents of history, this is our world. Some families have lived in Europe, some in Africa and some in Asia. The problem here is that folks from different families get together. They combine genes, history, creeds and values. It is in the mixing of family genetics that biases and prejudices become nonsensical.
The word and the sense of race are always a matter of greed and false pride. The sense of race bars many from participating in the drive toward the vision. We can cure this division, and the church bears the primary assignment.
Questions for Evaluation:
/ Does our community consciously develop systems that ensure that we include everyone in its life?
/ Is everyone included in the giving and receiving and speaking no matter ethnicity, physical characteristics, age, or their own faith community?
/ Do we openly seek the opinions of those presumed to be the weakest or least important of the community?
/ Do we make certain the doors of opportunity and service are open to all persons?
Examples of Programs which may improve the ability of all to make their contribution:
( The congregation can look at its rolls each year to discover segments of the population left out of congregational life.
( The congregation can continuously look at its activities to discover if we bar some persons for any reason of ability or disability, gender, education, etc. Persons with hidden or silent disabilities are particularly vulnerable to such slights. Cardiac disease is perhaps the most common in this area. Another area of vulnerability is chronic sleep deprivation.
Persons with these disabilities often go undiagnosed throughout their lives. The church can and does frequently dismiss these persons as simply lazy, mentally ill or just unfaithful.
( The congregation can develop and lead community events that pull persons together of different segments. One of the most successful events in Winslow, Arizona, was the showing of a NASCAR race car. The congregation and the local Chevrolet dealer sponsored the event. The highlight of the day was the variety of persons who climbed through the window of the car just to pretend they were driving. Elderly women, young men, Navajo, Hopi, Zuni, Latino, Anglo, children, and everyone else who wished could picture themselves at Daytona Race Track.
( Two other events at Winslow were presentations of the United Methodist Church and the Presidents of the Navajo and Hopi Nations. A total of about 500 people attended the two events. These led to participation by both in the annual community Thanksgiving and Christmas parade. About 10,000 witnessed this parade. The parade was the first appearance by leaders of the two nations at the same event in recorded history. Almost everyone credited the nations and the church with bringing about the appearances.
( In Louisiana and many other parts of the world, Mardi Gras is a major event in local communities. The entire community lives out the sacred drama as witnessed in the faith. At Grand Marais, a community of less than one thousand, 20,000 show up for the big parade. The parade is mostly high school bands, walkers and many semi-trucks hauling people. Those on the trucks throw strings of plastic beads at the crowd. Not a bad turnout for a family show.
( At Little Rock, Washington, we received a request from a pastor in Australia for help. He was preparing a special wedding service for his daughter. He needed suggestions for the service.
At one Family Day worship service, we took a computer terminal into the sanctuary. Then, in the sermon time, we discussed family and marriage. While we discussed the potential service, my wife, Donella, wrote several lengthy e-mails to the pastor in Australia. By the end of the service we had sent him several very strong suggestions. He had immediately sent us, and we had received, his first responses in return.
We did, however, neglect one task. We should have sent these same e-mails to our own congregation! We did print them out later for everyone.
What are your own brainstorms and creative thoughts to help everyone making their own contribution to the community?
1. What evidence have you found to support the rating you have given your own community?
2. What evidence have you found to support the rating you have given your community?
3. What programs might work in your church and community?
4. What will be your work in this process?
5. How will you reveal these thoughts to your church and community?
