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Passionate Possibilities
First Congregational United Church of Christ
in Colorado Springs
pledge drive undergoes 'seismic shift'
By Terri Cotten
Born out of frustration with a tradition of year-end begging, the most
recent pledge drive at First Congregational United Church of Christ in
Colorado Springs, underwent a seismic shift, emerging as a butterfly,
filled with "passionate possibilities."
No pleading. No threats about unmet obligations. No dire warnings. Instead,
the year-long effort ended in celebration, with members giving more than
ever in joy and gratitude.
The 750-member congregation which, like so many other congregations,
once approved its budget in the fall, then pledged enough to meet that
budget. That method drove financial stewards up against a wall during
Advent, struggling to come up with the needed commitments for the following
year instead of celebrating Christ's birth.
Born out of what Business Administrator Ruth Roland called her "ideations
of suicide," the effort quickly snowballed into a team approach
for change. Rev. Benjamin Broadbent, suggested the theme of "passionate
possibilities" to drive the campaign, rather than a set budget.
A new stewardship committee began the process by talking with members
about their visions for the church ministry. From those conversations,
and their own discussions, the board of directors created a list of five "passionate
possibilities" or ways the church could expand its ministry.
"
We had decided, no matter the final amount, on Celebration Sunday (Nov.
12), we would celebrate that God was faithful," Broadbent said. "If
we can truly trust that God works through us, then whatever happens is
a blessing."
The first week of the drive was frightening. Pledges were not arriving
as the committee had hoped. Promoting a spirit of joyful giving, the
committee began drumming during worship as members walked or danced their
way to the front of the sanctuary with their pledge cards.
By Celebration Sunday, 295 of the congregation's 423 member households
had pledged a total of $595,951 -- $115,370 more than the amount pledged
in 2005 by 250 households.
"
It was a wonderful, personal turn-around for us," Roland said.
Steve Brown and Pam Shockley-Zalabak, who co-chaired the committee, were
gratified by the results. Shockley-Zalabak said several members she called
gave in the collection plate, but did not pledge because First Congrega-tional
was not as involved as they'd like to see in community issues that were
a priority for them.
"
It was many issues," she said. "That's not negative about First
Congregational, but it's about a priority of commitment. That's why I
think we have to stretch to reach the next level of what we can do in
the church. In my mind, it is about creating a culture of commitment
and engagement."
Issues and approach can make all the difference for members like Betty
Lindeman, a member since 1958. Lindeman and her family have long given
to the church in time and money, pledging and serving in the choirs,
teaching Sunday school and serving on the board.
In recent years, however, Lindeman gave only in the offering plate, because
she was not happy with the way previous church leaders "forced" difficult
changes on the membership. "Ben was asking, plainly and sensibly," she
said after this time choosing to pledge. "He was not coercing us
to pledge."
Samantha Garrett, who grew up in the church and recently returned from
college, pledged for the first time. Living on a teacher's salary, with
student loans and a car to pay off, she said pledging wouldn't have been
a priority to her if she hadn't gotten involved.
"
Slowly I rebuilt the sense of community that had slipped away, and I
did it by openly offering my time and my talents until I again felt comfortable
with where I belonged in this church."
Americans are generous, but impulsively so, said Brown. He would like
to see an emphasis on tithing a percentage of household income as a means
to consciously evaluate giving. In troubled times, percentage giving
embraces the discipline of giving, he added.
" We didn't play the duty card, but that's all most churches know how to
do… saying, 'we're going to have to cut staff, or we can't pay the light
bill'," he said. "That's a morale killer. Instead, we need to talk
about the church fulfilling its mission, its purpose of sharing God's love with
the world. It's a leap of faith."
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