11/11/62

Will You Be Satisfied?

Scripture: II Corinthians 9

Text: II Corinthians 9: 7; “Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Let us begin at the beginning! We of the First Congregational Church of Wisconsin Rapids are now a part of the United Church of Christ. The United Church of Christ is a United and Uniting church. The two denominations which have most recently come together in it have been made up of 9 or 10 strains or formerly separate groups. Church uniting is in the bloodstream of our people. And the future may see other additions to this stream.

The United Church is a church of Christ. We take seriously the carrying out of the mission of our Lord. Wherever there are people who are without the good news; wherever there is sin, greed hatred, strife, injustice -- there we know our church has a mission, be it near at home or far abroad. We feel bound by the spirit which God revealed in Jesus of Nazareth, to continue the effort to make of ourselves and of the world what His purpose wills us to be.

The United Church of Christ is a free church and a responsible church. No one dictates to our local church what its decisions shall be. Freedom is guaranteed. And because we are free we have an inescapable responsibility for self-discipline and self-direction which confronts every member of such a church fellowship.

This church is a church of the people. It is not the clergy; it is not “the men;” it is not “the women,” the youth; nor any organization at area or state or national level. It is not the board of deacons and deaconesses, nor the board of trustees. It is all of these so far as we are a part of their participation. For we individual members make up the church, its boards, its policies. We determine its mission! -- both its local work and what it does in the nation and over the world. Whatever is accomplished by our church and its instrumentalities is in response to the witness and purpose and work of us individual persons who endeavor to act as a people of God.

We here are one of the basic units of the United Church of Christ. We expect to have fellowship with other churches of our order in an Association, in a state Conference of the United Church of Christ, and in a General Synod on the national level. And if we find that word “Synod” a bit new to our modern ear, it is well to remember that it was not strange to some Colonial Congregational ears. For it has had a respected history among them.

Now, what do we do as a local, autonomous responsible church in this fellowship of churches?

1) We meet for the worship of God. This we do regularly, every week, on Sunday, in a sanctuary built for and dedicated to that purpose. And we worship the Lord in our several groupings, in our families and in our individual attention to the Father of our spirits. We welcome others to come and worship with us.

2) We endeavor to serve God in numerous ways -- through our study of the ways of goodness and our endeavor to perform the same; through our teaching and learning of those ways; through our witness to the truth at home and abroad in the world-wide mission of the church, for the Church is Mission!

Our church has a mission to perform right here in this community. We have an obligation, which we gladly acknowledge, to be what we ought to be among the Christian forces of Wisconsin Rapids. Though our life as a church has its self-interest aspect, it is far more than a selfish enterprise. We maintain a good church school, and we expect it to become better, with better curriculum materials and evermore dedicated leadership and teaching. We are well aware of the need for more and better-arranged space, and we have taken a decision to move in that direction.

But we are not concerned with our own children and our own selves exclusively. We welcome and invite those who come from homes not now in the membership of the church. We have a ministry in this community, as do all Christian churches here in this city! Some of those whose children are coming to Sunday church schools and Vacation church school and perhaps to Scouting and certainly to Pilgrim Fellowship and other group activities may in time affiliate with this church. Others will not. But we have a mission to the needs of this community beyond ourselves. And who knows where the leadership of the future, for good or for ill, may be in formation right now. I know people who are now in places of Christian leadership and community responsibility all over Hawaii who were Buddhist kids, or squirming little problems in the Christian Sunday school where I was minister 30 years ago.

Twenty years ago, right here in this church, I worked with a group of high school young folk who were both the exasperation and joy of my life and the life of the lay advisors. By and large, those former “kids” have given a good account of themselves. And one of them is now chairman of the Board of Trustees in one of the largest Congregational churches in this state! All we need is a little imagination to see how the influence of our church fans out to other places and positions of Christian significance. Our church is mission at home and abroad.

The fact that our church has both a pastor and an associate minister at the present time is not a luxury nor some whimsical evidence of prosperity. It is a part of our mission here and abroad. It means a more comprehensive sweep of Christian education for young and old, a wider program of youth activity and training, more counseling than one person could handle, more study groups, wider participation in denominational activity, more attention to those who are hospitalized, increased care for the preaching ministry, and so on.

By now you have had a chance to see the printed budget which the finance committee has prepared, and which the committee urges you to underwrite for the coming year. It was not prepared lightly. It was put together carefully and critically by representatives of every phase and department of our church life meeting in not one but several sessions. Its final adoption at the annual meeting of the church will depend on our willingness to underwrite it fully.

It provides for the continued support of our music program which enriches our worship. It anticipates the various services and maintenance items necessary for plant and program. It provides for a substantial payment on the bank loan which we authorized when we acquired our latest piece of real estate. These things are necessary tools to our mission.

The proposed budget provides for a contribution for the training of ministers at a school where, like all other educational institutions, the cost has steadily risen, but where the means must be kept available for those who are willing to prepare for the ministry. The largest item in the list of proposed expenditures is the one called “benevolence.” This item needs some elaboration. And to this I gladly address myself. For at this point we definitely launch out into our wider world mission.

Our benevolence, or missionary apportionment giving, carries our influence and support all over the world. Something like 40% of it stays in Wisconsin to carry forward the work of our church fellowship in this state. This 40% will help to supply a staff for Conference and Association leadership; it will carry a measure of support for campus student work in the University and college campuses of this state; some mission aid to a few of the struggling churches in strategic areas; give a little encouragement to Northland College and the Chicago Theological Seminary and to the Wisconsin Council of Churches; provide bookkeeper, secretary and supplies for the conference office, and so on.

The other 60% of our “benevolence” dollar goes for our world missions beyond this state. In the budget that is supported by this 60% of our benevolence giving, the largest single item is for support of the Board for World Ministries. The pioneers of the American foreign mission movement knew that the field is the whole world. Every day brings fresh proof that they were right. No enterprise of any general significance today can operate within a smaller frame of reference than the whole round earth. Least of all can the Christian Church fail to take the world as its field.

In the center of the Bible teaching stands the command of the Lord: “You shall be my witnesses -- to the end of the earth.” [Acts 1: 8]. Our acceptance of this command, and its world-wide task, is symbolized in the United Church Board for World Ministries. The great traditions of the Christian world mission and Christian world service are in an integrated thrust. Through a far-flung and flexible program, we reach out to every continent with the words and the deeds of the Christian gospel. These ministries touch the whole range of human needs, from food for the body to training for the mind and light for the seeking spirit. We have no illusions that we can hope to heal all the world’s ills. But, recognizing that God’s goodness is at work everywhere, and in all kinds of ways, we can help by seeking to focus our efforts with precision and power.

Our mission support in this area meets (1) the special responsibility assigned us by history; (2) the outbreak of serious and unmet new needs; and (3) opens the doors of suddenly available opportunity. Here, the increase of faith and love is the goal. And we do not work alone at it. For our Board of World Ministries is linked with partner missions in this country and partner churches around the earth in a vast cooperative enterprise to which we contribute our share. Thus we witness in a practical way to the reconciling, community-making power of the gospel.

Our Board maintains missions in 23 countries, related to 20 indigenous churches. There are now about 514 missionaries serving in a great variety of ways. We support 36 hospitals and clinics, 201 schools and colleges, 18 social centers. Our missionaries engage in preaching, teaching, medicine and nursing, social welfare, agricultural education and extension, student work, religious journalism and research, interracial fellowships, industrial evangelism, and Bible translation.

The World Service division has projects in 58 countries; fraternal workers in 9 countries. It helps to bring disaster relief at home and overseas, social service and neighborhood house programs, self-help and rural community development, ecumenical scholarships for theological students, clothing and other materials for overseas distribution, refugee resettlement overseas and in the United States, assistance to education in social work and health services. It is a great work, and we can be a substantial part of it in our benevolence giving!

Next largest item in the United Church budget of the 60% of our benevolence dollar goes to the Board for homeland ministries. This means assistance to new church projects in every section of the nation, special rural projects, community service in urban areas, church building loans and grants, Christian education writing and preparation of new curriculum, services to camps and conferences, leadership training of many sorts, publishing of books and pamphlets, hospitals, children’s homes, community centers, agencies for the aging, scholarships for higher education, church-related schools, campus ministries in 49 states and in Puerto Rico. What a field of interest and support!

Smaller amounts of that 60% of our benevolence dollars go to the necessary work of the pension boards, the council for Lay Life and Work, council for the Church and Ministry, Council for Christian Social Action, Stewardship Council, Office of Communication and so on. One wonders at the miracle of how so modest amounts can go so far and do so much!

I have never felt that this church has given to our Christian World Mission to the limit of our ability. I am very sure that we can do more when we have a vision and sacrificial willingness to match our ability. But I confess to you that I have, nonetheless, been proud of our record of generous interest and increase through the years, especially in the last decade. For not only do I believe in Our Christian World Mission, but I believe in this church!

Now what about the tentative budget for our church in 1963 for what we call home expenses and for our Christian World Mission, and for retirement of debt on some capital expense? It was mailed to our homes this past week. Most of us have had opportunity to study it well enough to know that to subscribe it fully, our overall pledging must come up some 22% over the giving of this last year. This can be done with surprising effect, if every member, and every interested family, will undertake a fair share of the support.

We have seen what our support can do. Now let each of us look to his or her own stewardship. As some of us have already had pointed out to us, our stewardship means much more than “how much shall I contribute of time, talent and money?” Basically it means a recognition of the truth that we are managers of the very life and living that have been entrusted to our care by the Creator. The first matter that must be decided is “whose you are.” Then comes the question as to how you and I will manage what has been entrusted to our care and concern.

In the management of our own budgets, what portion shall we assign to the special service of God which we call “giving?” Are you still a student? If so, will you set aside a definite part of you allowance or part-time earnings for giving -- especially to your church? And will you sign a pledge card and take envelopes for that giving?

Are you finished with your schooling, and getting started with a job and perhaps a home? Does it feel so good to undertake this responsibility that you want to make a definite, worthy, pledge to your church as one of the obligations that you assume?

Have you gotten rather well established in life and living so that you have a decent share of the community’s prosperity in your own income? Will you undergird your church’s program with a really substantial gift or pledge to give?

Whatever you age or status, would 5 % of your personal income seem like a good figure to pledge to the current budget of your church? Or should it be less? or more? Whatever portion you decide to give, does it feel good? I covet for every member and friend of this church the experience of feeling really good about his or her giving.

As Paul said about their giving in his second letter to the Christians at Corinth: “Each one must do as he has made up his mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

Knowing the need, and the opportunity, and your own ability to meet it, will you be satisfied with your decision?

Let us remember that the church is no club. It is far more than that! The church is not my lodge; its scope is far beyond that. It is not just another “community cause.” The church is the Christian community; and we with our sister churches are a part of that community.

I hope that each one of us will give in its program until we are really happy about it!

[distribution and signing of pledge cards]

(copies of budget & covering letter on literature table)

[Dedication of pledges]

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Delivered in Wisconsin Rapids, November 11, 1962.