Envelopes, Elevators, and Empathy

Two Stories Remind Us That We’re All in This Together

 

I recently had the pleasure of working with several congregations in a weekend cluster event we called a Stewardship Saturday. During one session, a participant shared a wonderful story of how she brought home to her congregation that we make our commitments not just to our church and to Unitarian Universalism, but also to each other – one on one, personally. With permission, I am pleased to pass on this good news story.

On the Sunday that kicked off their stewardship drive, the stewardship chair was in the pulpit. She had asked the ushers to give everyone who entered a sealed envelope she had provided, with instructions not to open it until asked to do so. After the regular offering had been collected, she invited everyone to open the envelopes. Inside each one they found a $10 bill. People were, obviously, surprised and a bit confused. What was this all about?

She told them that all those $10 bills represented her entire pledge to the congregation for the year. She had put her pledge in their hands; she trusted them with her hard earned money just as she trusted them with the future of their congregation. She then announced that the offering plates were coming around again and she invited people to put her pledge – and theirs, in the form of their commitment cards – in the plate. They did so; all those $10 bills came back in, each and every one. And the congregation had an opportunity to exercise trust in each other, to be in community, and to empathize with one of their leaders who understood that yes indeed, we are all in this together.

At another point in the day, I shared what I have come to call my “Unitarian Universalist Stewardship Elevator Speech.” Most of us are familiar with the original Unitarian Universalist Elevator Speech idea. The concept is based on the recognition that we are not known to a lot of people. Imagine you step into an elevator with someone, they learn you are a Unitarian Universalist, and they ask you what that means. You see them push a button for a stop about 10 floors away. What will you say in that brief time that succinctly and clearly says who we are, what we stand for, and why all that calls to you?

My stewardship version of that exercise is based on the premise that we often do not articulate very well to each other or to ourselves why we choose to make meaningful and sustained financial commitments to underwrite all that we do as congregations and as a movement. Reciting this has always been an impromptu verbal exercise for me – I have not written it down before. But someone always asks for a copy, I am pleased to say, so I thought it was time to put pen to paper.

So, for whatever utility is may have for others, herewith the Unitarian Universalist Stewardship Elevator Speech:
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This Unitarian Universalism are where my values are anchored and centered.                           This congregation is where I see those values lived out, day after day.
This is where most of my friends are.
This is where I find people that share my values, priorities, and sensibilities.                                  This is where I have my best discussions and good, healthy arguments.                                              This is where I know both my mind and my heart are welcomed – and challenged.
This is where I want to next generation to learn its values and to see behavior modeled.

So, if all that is true – and it is –

Why should my congregation or my UUA always seem to be struggling to get just 5% more in resources to do what we ask them to do for us and in our name?
Why, of all places, would I short this gathering of  resources needed to live out our values?

I know I am lucky to be a part of all this. Others who came before me left all this for me.
In turn, I will leave it for future generations not even born yet.
I will not, on my watch, leave them a legacy of shortfall or a mindset of scarcity.

This is a rich heritage we have and an important future. There is work to be done.
I will do my part to feed and fuel this engine of hope and change.

 

How about you? Do you have an Envelope or Elevator sort of story to share with us all? We would love to hear what moves you and reminds you of our covenants with each other.

Bill Clontz is a stewardship consultant with the Stewardship for Us Team, supporting the UUA. Bill can be reached at bill@stewardshipforus.com, via UUA Congregational Life, (http://www.uua.org/finance/fundraising), or via regional staff.
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Comments and discussion are always welcome; share your experiences and ideas with us.