By the Rev. Mark Clevenger
In The Dominion, Diocese of Long Island , January 2005
Q. What is the single biggest obstacle to effective stewardship in our congregations?
A. Confusion. Most of us confuse stewardship with fundraising.
Q. So, what's the difference?
A. To be a steward means that you have been entrusted with something of value. Stewardship is stewards do in taking care of that thing. Fundraising is just one thing you may need to do in order to be a good steward.
Q. Isn't that just a semantic distinction? When it gets right down to it, we still need to raise money to support our churches, no matter what you call it.
A. My point is that the confusion is keeping you from doing that.
Q. How?
A. Effective fundraising is all about motivation. If, like most churches, you're merely pleading for more money in order to pay for all the things you need in order to run your church, you're making life very difficult for yourself. If your only basis for asking for support is appreciation for the programs and services offered by your congregation, then you'd better have t he very best programs and services that your donor base could reasonably expect to find anywhere. You'd better have evidence that your church is offering something of quality and uniqueness that surpasses any of the many other things that people can spend their money on. You're putting yourself up on a pedestal and making a claim that is probably pretty difficult to prove. In contrast, if you're making a stewardship appeal, your burden is much lighter.
Q. How is that?
A. It goes like this: at Baptism, every one of us is rendered a steward. We are made stewards of the most valuable thing in all creation, a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Some of us are good stewards of this gift, some of us are lousy stewards, and many of us are somewhere in between. One of the best signs that a person has understood and appreciated the value of this gift is that he or she is grateful— grateful that no matter what happens in life, there is a happy ending assured through Christ. Think about it. Our faith makes an outrageous claim— that but for Jesus, there are no happy endings. Accept and appreciate this gift, and suddenly the meaning of life is obvious to your donor base. Just saying the words and making the correct gestures with the correct intention will not get the job done. Your gratitude must be shining forth from you as you explain how all of creation was designed to be in relationship with God, but, as a result of free will creation fell out of relationship. The Law was one attempt at reconciling things, but eventually there was a hole in the relationship that could only be filled by God. This triggered the need for the Incarnation. As the result of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, we all have the ability to come again to God. The catch is, however, that we must choose it. It will not be forced on us. We must accept the gift and take care of it. In short, we must be stewards. Accept and appreciate this gift, and suddenly the meaning of life is revealed. It doesn't matter if you are a butcher, a broker, a mechanic, a secretary, a student, a priest, or whatever you are— the meaning of life is to engage life with a gratitude orientation, knowing that God gave His Son so that all of us can return to the Father, the source of all goodness and meaning. If you really understand this, you can't help but be grateful. When we're grateful, we naturally want to say thanks; and one of the best ways of saying thanks is with a present, a gift, a symbolic offering. This offering can be our time, our talent, our money, or a combination of those.
Q. But what does that have to do with giving to your church?
A. When the local congregation is identified as the source of God's gift, the place where we receive the most valuable thing we will ever receive, then, and only then, does the local congregation have a reasonable expectation that people will express their gratitude by making pledges to the church.
Q. But how does a congregation do that?
A. That message, the one that explains how life has no happy endings but for Jesus, must be the theme of everything said and done on Sunday morning. You've got to believe it, and then you have to connect the dots for those in the pews. You can't just assume that if you begin the liturgy on page 315 or 355 and just let the BCP do your talking for you that it will all be obvious to your donor base. Just saying the words and making the correct gestures with the correct intention will not get the job done. Your gratitude must be shining forth from you as you explain how all of creation was designed to be in relationship with God, but, as a result of free will creation fell out of relationship. The Law was one attempt at reconciling things, but eventually there was a hole in the relationship that could only be filled by God. This triggered the need for the Incarnation. As the result of Jesus' life, death and resurrection, we all have the ability to come again to God. The catch is, however, that we must choose it. It will not be forced on us. We must accept the gift and take care of it. In short, we must be stewards. Keep your focus on that, and your fundraising potential is limitless. Keep focusing on begging for money to pay your bills, however, and you have a perfect recipe for depression.
Chaplains: Keys to Engaging Youth
From The Episcopal New Yorker
There are numerous colleges and universities within the boundaries of the Episcopal Diocese of New York. One initiative of Bishop Mark Sisk is to engage the youth at these institutions through Episcopal chaplaincy. Several chaplains throughout the Diocese have shared with The Episcopal New Yorker their experiences, successes and goals as the new school year begins.
Bard College , Annandale-on-Hudson
The Rev. Virginia Grab
The Chaplaincy at Bard College engages with many different people throughout our community of diverse faiths. Our primary aim is to help people (students, staff, and faculty) develop a clearer understanding of what they believe, of how they relate to their own faiths and to those of other faiths. Our chaplaincy, which is funded by the college, has a staff of five college chaplains: an Episcopal priest, a Roman Catholic priest, an imam, a rabbi and an Anglican priest. The clergy offer study on a formal and informal basis with members of the college community who are interested in learning more about their own traditions or the faith traditions of others. Each chaplain is available for pastoral care with students, parents of students, administration, staff and faculty. We all work closely with the Counseling Service and the office of the Dean of Students.
We encourage students of different faiths to organize and celebrate regular holy observances, to organize prayer and meditation groups and groups for the study of religious texts, to develop programming for the campus, and to engage in outreach to the wider local community. The Chaplaincy supports and advises the Jewish Student Organization, the Muslim Students Organization, the Christian Students Fellowship, the Buddhist Meditation Group, and the Catholic community. In addition, the clergy offer regular weekly worship services, as well as programming for festivals and feasts that fall within the academic calendar. Recently we worked with the college to create a Jewish/Muslim Sacred Space with an adjoining kitchen dedicated to kosher/kashrut food preparation, with a separate room available for practitioners of Buddhist meditation.
In addition to our denominational activities, we also coordinate and participate in a series of ecumenical and interfaith events. Upcoming events include the annual Festival of Lights in which students, staff, and clergy in dark December share how our traditions understand and celebrate Light. On September 30 we are offering in conjunction with the Dean of Students' Office a community dinner to introduce students to the range of spiritual resources offered at Bard entitled “Introspectives: Attaining Balance through the Construction of Self.” On Friday evening during Parents and Family Weekend, the Rev. Bruce Chilton and Rabbi Lawrence Troster together will conduct a worship service in the Jewish/Muslim Sacred Space.
Columbia University , New York
The Rev. Winnie Varghese
This August was the beginning of my third year as the Episcopal Chaplain at Columbia University . A chaplain colleague from South Africa tells me that it takes 5 to 10 years to build a student community that is multi-faceted and self-sustaining. I hope that time moves faster in New York City .
At the beginning of year three, I see the beginnings of a vibrant, creative Episcopal presence at Columbia . This year begins with a retreat at the Community of the Holy Spirit on 113th street , three blocks from Columbia 's front gates. This retreat is designed for student leaders to take some time to re-orient themselves to the neighborhood from a slightly different perspective, and to consider their personal commitments to this academic year. The retreat is partially funded by a small grant from Lilly Endowment Inc., administered by the Fund for Theological Education. We are privileged to be included in FTE's continuing work to create the resources chaplaincies need to foster young adult leadership, both lay and ordained.
Our weekly worship services are Wednesday evenings at 5:30 pm in St. Paul 's Chapel on campus. These services have ranged from an intimate mid-week Eucharist to a service for over a 100 for feast days and special celebrations. Our weekly Eucharist is a time for Episcopal students to come together for prayer and fellowship and is also our most public witness to the campus. This year, Isaac Everett, an accomplished musician and composer and a recent New York University graduate, will be joining us as our musician. We hope to do worship in ways that authentically represent and support the Columbia community in liturgy and expand the offerings of Episcopal worship in the Morningside Heights neighborhood. We are extremely proud to have co-sponsored for ordination one Barnard student, now a graduate, who begins her first semester of seminary this year.
In response to the interest of a number of community members in issues of discernment and vocation, we now have a small group that will meet as a discernment group for both those who are discerning a call to ordained ministry and those who are making other kinds of vocational and life decisions within the context of their Christian faith. A graduate student fellowship group is forming to address the particular needs and interests of older students, including house Eucharist and connecting to religious communities as young adults. Undergraduate students have asked that we continue the prayer and discussion groups that we have done in the past, and this year we are hoping to add a service component by developing projects like an interfaith group that can join the Cathedral congregation in working with Habitat for Humanity in Harlem .
William Dalrymple joins us as our distinguished lecturer this year. Dalrymple is a fellow of the Royal Asiatic Society and a renowned travel writer, historian and documentarian. He will be with us on November 2, Election Day, at 6 pm on campus. The room has not yet been assigned. More details will be posted on the Diocesan Web site and on our Web site <www.churchwerks.com/myWebSite/ColumbiaECM> as they are available. This event is free and open to the public.
Finally, we are working with Campusource, <www.campusource.com>, to increase our programming capacity by generating a program budget from individual donors. I find the work of supporting and inspiring young adults to engage and lead in the life of the Church an exciting ministry and one with quite mundane concerns including outfitting an altar, rehabbing vestments and buying cheese platters. I am thankful for the generous support this chaplaincy has received that will take us to that 5- and 10-year mark of becoming an established, student-led presence on this campus.
Manhattanville College , Purchase
The Rev. Gawain F. de Leeuw
In the late 1990s, the chaplaincy at Manhattanville College became the Duchesne Center for Religion and Social Justice, to foster community leadership and service-learning. With the encouragement of the vestry of St. Bartholomew's, White Plains , I began serving Episcopal students there in the fall of 2003.
Manhattanville College is a small, private competitive liberal arts school with Roman Catholic roots. At one time it had one of the finest programs in liturgical music.
Last year, I led sessions on Mysticism and Resistance and Pop Culture and Religion, with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and The Simpsons episodes. Bishop Catherine Roskam spoke on women in the Episcopacy.
This year, the chaplaincy will include workshops on practical ethics, politics and pop culture. I am also leading two sessions called common grounds — informal gatherings to discuss current issues. I also hope that the partnership with Manhattan College will invigorate St. Bartholomew's Church. Students at Manhattanville will be instrumental in developing the choral and educational programs at St. Bart's.
State University of New York New Paltz
The Rev. Paul C. Walley
I have been creating ecumenical campus ministry for some 33 years now — and I am still in the process of creation. I use that word intentionally since there is no one model that I know of that can be imported to your campus ministry. In my experience, it's very much a unique approach that is needed for each distinctive campus community.
At SUNY New Paltz, our campus ministry is supported and funded by five major church denominations: Episcopal, Lutheran (I'm an ELCA pastor), United Methodist, Presbyterian and Reformed (the United Church of Christ supports us without funds). In some cases, our financial income is directly from headquarters (e.g., Diocese, Synod), in others regional offices (Methodist Conference, Presbytery) and in others given from local congregational budgets. Quite a mixed bag of fiscal resources!
Programming involves a wide variety of offerings here. I do several retreats a year with our students, including one to the Brothers of the Weston Priory in Vermont , a small group of Benedictine monks where we learn about this ecumenically-open Roman Catholic group as well as a spring retreat at Stony Point Conference Center , which is run by the Hudson Valley Presbyterians.
We have an annual hunger outreach to the campus called Skip-A-Dinner, which enlists over 1,000 students in the campus dining halls. We also involve students from clubs and sororities/fraternities in the community CROP Walk – with SUNY and the SCC raising the most funds organizationally last year. SCC students, with Habitat for Humanity
Having an ecumenical ministry, we attract both Protestant and Roman Catholic students to our campus programs and activities. This makes us a very inclusive Christian campus ministry — perhaps more so than any other group at our university. I utilize a variety of elements in our worship, including Holden Village Evening Prayer (Lutheran), the Brothers of the Weston Priory (Roman Catholic) and the Post-Eucharistic Prayer of the Episcopalians.
Our Sunday evening program centers around a shared supper (main dishes prepared by our supporting churches), Bible study (student-led along with myself), songs and prayer.
We focus on a different theme each semester with the Parables of Jesus this Fall. My intention is to offer basic grounding in the teachings of Jesus and the Biblical testaments.
Another advantage of “going ecumenical” is having wider appeal to faculty and staff, not only students. I invite the entire faculty and staff to a monthly lunch discussion, using short fiction on “The Varieties and Vagaries of Faith” (edited by C. Michael Curtis) with authors from different faith traditions. Some Jewish faculty, a Buddhist staffer, a Baha'i, both Catholics and Protestants, plus an agnostic, have graced our gatherings. They have expressed a welcoming hospitality while respecting our own Christian sponsorship.
Currently I serve as Northeast Rep for National Campus Ministry (NCMA) and am Coordinator of our 2005 annual summer conference in New York with the theme New York , New York : Campus Ministry, the Arts, and All That Jazz. This will be a truly ecumenical gathering of campus pastors and other professionals in higher education (July 5-9, 2005, at Columbia University ) with speakers, musicians, dancers and more!
United States Military Academy at West Point
The Rev. Judy Ferguson
As chaplain to the Episcopal families, cadets and alumni at the United States Military Academy ( West Point ), I attend bi-weekly Chaplains staff meetings with the military chaplains to keep up with what's happening with the people, hearing about upcoming events and going over wedding and funeral assignments.
When Episcopal alumni or their families request an Episcopal priest to officiate at a wedding or funeral at West Point , I'm contacted by the Chaplains Office. Usually I do one or two weddings and around 25 or more funerals a year.
I'm available to the current Episcopal families and professors at West Point for counseling, questions and answers, and they can receive the sacraments at church during their off post (time to leave the campus) each Sunday.
Most Episcopal families, professors and cadets come off post to our parish churches: The Church of the Holy Innocents, Highland Falls , for the 10 am service or the 8 am service at St. Mark's Chapel, Fort Montgomery . I serve as pastor for both.
Our campus ministry to the Episcopal cadets at West Point through the Canterbury Club is one of our parish's most important outreach programs. Before I started working with the cadets in July 2001, the Rev. Doug Fisher established initial contact with the chaplains at West Point and started the Canterbury Club in the late 1990s. West Point 's Canterbury Club has grown from about 10 cadets to 35 who meet every Tuesday evening in Thayer Hall. One of our goals this year is to raise attendance to 50 cadets.
In a given year we have speakers from the school and from outside who speak on a variety of subjects determined by the club's leaders. Topics have included prayer, leadership, Christianity and science, world religions, medical and professional ethics, Christianity and the military, the afterlife. We also watch videos and discuss them. Last year one of the highlights was watching Bowling for Columbine together, which provided a very lively discussion.
Each week we provide pizza and soda, sometimes candy and ice cream.
Two major retreats are the Plebe Retreat in late August which provides a time for the freshman (Plebes) to rest and relax after basic training and get to know the upperclassmen and the Winter Retreat when we go away to rest, eat a lot of junk food, go skiing, watch a lot of videos together, and get a lot of needed sleep. The cadets also help out with community service projects such as Habitat for Humanity in Newburgh and Shepherd's Kitchen (the soup kitchen at The Church of the Good Shepherd, Newburgh ). Cadets also are Sunday School teachers at Holy Innocents. At Holy Innocents, we provide a pancake breakfast for Plebe-Parent Weekend in early October.
I am always available to talk with cadets when they have questions or problems. The most common issues are study habits, grades, relationships at West Point or back home and honor code violations. Our group is known for being open in its views, so we draw cadets from other denominations or cadets exploring their faith. We encourage everyone to speak their mind, be open and participate in the discussions and issues.
It's a great privilege and blessing to serve the families, professors, alumni and cadets at West Point and in our parish.
News from Holy Trinity Music School , Haiti
Greetings from Holy Trinity Music School ! Every day we pray fro a better world with more peace, tolerance, and wisdom.
The academic year 2003-2004 was very difficult for the school because of the political situation. Still, most parents have been supporting this particular ministry in coming with their children for their music lessons. The different orchestras and choirs went through their normal schedule. We had about 200 campers in the traditional summer camp, although it was held in August, instead of July. Most of our teachers were present, especially Dr. John Jost. On August 8 he was honored by the Haitian minister of culture: Mrs. Magalie C. Denis and Mr. James be Foley , U.S. Ambassador, recognized his work promoting Haitian culture for more than 30 years, not only in America , but in the entire world.
The regular Elementary Music lessons began in September. Unfortunately, the private courses could not start in October because of turmoil in the streets. Even the Philharmonic rehearsed twice in another place for the members' safety. Now things are getting better.
On November 3 we were visited by Cynthia Katsarelis, orchestra conductor and violin teacher with the Colorado Youth Symphony Orchestra. She conducted the Philharmonic Orchestra and the boys' choir for the St. Cecile's Day concert on November 21. This concert opens the 25 th anniversary of our Auditorium, which is dedicated to Saint Cecelia. Ms. Katsarelis also lead some pedagogic classes for our faculty. Many thanks to our brothers and sisters from the Haiti/Colorado Project and St. John's Episcopal Church, Boulder, CO, for making this all possible. We hope our music will bring peace to the world, and especially to Haiti .
Province II could do much to help those in Haiti by making donations to assist students at Holy Trinity Music School . This is a unique school in Haiti . Supporting one student for the year costs only $300 US, but many parents of students at the school are affected by the difficult economical situation in Haiti and by the flooding this past year and cannot pay the tuition. Your donation and sponsorship can keep a young talent in the school and away from the violence and threats of juvenile delinquency. This program is a particular ministry of the Episcopal Church in Haiti in its outreach to young people. Your prayers, concern and interest are truly appreciated even in this chaotic situation.
Rev. David Cesar
Doctor in Arts
Director, Holy Trinity Music School
Agape Flights
7990 15 th St. E
Sarasota , FL 34243-2718
Note: If you or your parish are interested in making a donation, please contact
The Reverend Petero Sabune
354 Hunter Street , Ossining , NY 10562-5442
psabune@yahoo.com 917-941-0108 X4820
He will be able to help you make sure that your donation actually gets to the school.
News from The United Thank Offering
The Mission of the United Thank Offering is to expand the circle of thankful people.
To achieve this mission, we encourage daily prayers, offerings and awareness of the abundance of God's blessings.
UTO 2004 Grants
In 2004 the United Thank Offering Committee approved 123 grants totaling $2,741,965.54. Grants will fund projects and programs which meet compelling human needs and/or expand the mission and ministry of the church. The average grant amount was $22,292. The largest grant, for $120,000, went to the Church of the Holy Spirit in Tela , Honduras to completely rebuild their church. Each United Thank Offering grant, large or small, is in response to needs identified by dioceses and provinces throughout the Anglican Communion.
Province II Grants:
-
Albany , Christ Church , Disability Access, Duanesburg , NY , $3,150.00
To help install an entrance ramp for an historic church, making it accessible to people with disabilities. -
Convocation of American Churches in Europe, Church of St. Augustine , The "New Ministry" Undercroft, Weisbaden , Germany , $30,000.00
To purchase land adjacent to the existing church to accommodate the New Ministry Undercroft, allowing expansion of church and outreach programs. -
Diocese of Haiti, Vehicle for Theological Seminary, Port au Prince, $25,000.00
To purchase a vehicle for use by the Dean of the Episcopal Theological Seminary in Haiti
- Long Island, St. George's Community Development Corp., Vehicle Purchase, Brooklyn , NY , $30,000.00
To purchase a shuttle bus to pick up senior citizens for church and to benefit the youth program.
- New Jersey , St. Augustine 's Episcopal Church, Handicap Access Project, Asbury Park , $7,800.00
To install a unisex bathroom as part of a project which would renovate the entire church to be accessible to people with disabilities.
- New York , Church of the Holy Apostles, Holy Apostles Soup Kitchen, Manhattan , $29,457.42
To help repave the courtyard which is so deteriorated that it is unsafe for the many persons who come as Soup Kitchen guests, to receive meals and other basic services.
- Incarnation Center , "Summer Watch" Project, Ivoryton , CT , $20,000.00
To expand the services available to youth at this summer camp by building a challenge course.
- Newark, Episcopal Community Development, Inc., "YouthBuild" Learning Workshop, Newark, NJ, $10,000.00
To purchase equipment for a woodshop where youth will be trained in carpentry skills as part of a diocesan community development program focusing on vocational skills for disadvantaged urban youth.
- The Apostles' House, Multigenerational House, Newark, NJ, $6,665.00
To furnish a multigenerational house where teen mothers will be able to stay for up to a year, with assistance from mentors, to create a safe, extended family environment.
- Rochester , Episcopal Diocese of Rochester, Exploring Ministry, Diocesan wide, $15,000.00
To help develop strategic models for youth ministry in the diocese.
- The Church of the Epiphany, Connecting Epiphany, Rochester, NY, $7,500.00
To construct a walkway between the parking lot of a church and a senior living community.
- Diocese of the Virgin Islands, St. Andrew's Seek & Serve, Inc., St. Thomas , $40,000.00
To improve programs offered to the elderly, including recreational activities, and to start up intergenerational vocational and musical programs
Muriel Sobers
Province II, UTO Committee
murielsobers@aol.com
137-07 174th Street
Jamacia , New York 11434
Primary Phone: 718-341-0712
Fax: 718-341-0712
Once again we find ourselves beginning a new year. By now, many of us have already given up on our New Year's Resolutions. As I write this, we are fast approaching Ash Wednesday. Some of us are hoping that Lent will be a time when we can focus anew on the many blessings we have in the face of a world in which so many live in want and fear. One of the effects of the global news services is that we can all be aware, if we pay attention, of the many places where people are victims of hunger, fear, and oppression. We can also find the many places where those who have are reaching out in love toward those in need. From a web-search for prayers, I found a site from the Anglican Diocese of Portsmouth focused on Tsunami Resources. Here is a prayer for those who suffer:
From the comfort of my home, where we can relax and feel safe,
Our hearts go out to those who have lost everything.
From the warmth of the circle of our friends,
Our hearts go out to those who grieve the loss of people they love.From the happy memories of Christmas and New Year festivities just passed,
Our hearts go out to those whose New Year is already not happy.Lord God, help us to feel the pain of those who have lost everything, not the coldness of those who don't understand.
Take our hearts, our prayers, our money, and use them to bring hope to the people of the Indian Ocean.Amen
Please enjoy this issue of The Grapevine. Remember that it and back issues are available on-line at the provincial website: <www.province2.org> Material for the next issue is due to me by April 17, 2005. If possible, please send them by e-mail to <jrpaxton@earthlink.net>.