By Ted Fahy, LCUUF Bookkeeper

The decision to join any organization involves a commitment to contribute… something. Sometimes commitment is implicit – sometimes explicit.  Unitarian Universalism has a uniquely explicit and expansive approach to this – one that I personally love.

I’ll talk about contribution in a moment, but let’s start with what we share.

We share a common space – not simply here in this hall, but in our decision to be here – together – in another country – really, in another world.  A world which I wager for many of us was never on our radar screens 20 or 10 or even 5 years ago.  I certainly never envisioned it!

We are here for mutual support, for company, for play.  Some have come to find answers, others in need of solace.  What else?  We come to gain insight; to hold one another’s hands; to break bread together; probably to fill needs we’re not even aware of ourselves.

We also come to celebrate our differences, realizing that after all, a mirror gets to be a really boring place. Joy comes from our individuality.  From being together and discovering our differences. Through you, I continue to discover that how another sees the world teaches me to be a far better human being.  Our differences are really our most valuable assets.

Well, those differences extend to our available resources.  All of our resources.

Not everyone has significant or even stable financial assets – but each of us has gifts.  Many gifts.  More than we realize.

Most of us are retired, so I know we all have some spare time, although it rarely feels like it….and the wealth and diversity of knowledge and skill of those I see around me in this room and of those who I know are listening online is remarkable.

THAT is why UU’s formal sharing phrase is: “Time, Talent, and Treasure”.  Notably, Treasure is not first – it’s last.  Being part of this community commits us to sharing one another’s effort, skill, and where possible, funds.

When I became bookkeeper, I discovered how complex even a small formal group could be.  I must tell you I was stunned at how much effort goes into decisions and system development that have nothing to do with counting money or using a spreadsheet but are involved in Finance.  This ‘simple’ Pledge Campaign involves art and logo design, wordsmithing, imagination, decisions about timing – and most importantly,  many discussions about our goals.

Pledging is not about asking for money.  It’s about four fundamental questions:

• Who are we?
• What do we want to be?
•  Who do we want to help?
• How do we make that happen?

It’s also about sharing the work – the load – necessary to get there.

Most organizations approach budgets in crisis mode.  The attitude is fear and the model is scarcity – “Will we have enough?”  “What if people don’t Pledge?”  “OMG, what will we do??????”

Because of that crisis mode, Pledge Time tends to be just before the next budget needs to be constructed and approved.  It’s intense, and it’s all about the money.  The campaigns are usually short but they feel interminable and are definitely annoying.

Over the next year or two our Board and our Finance and Stewardship teams plan to move to a different budgetary model – a model of abundance and trust.  A model in which first we envision and articulate what we as a Fellowship want, share our vision, and trust that such a vision will create the energy and desire to contribute that makes it a reality. 

Pledging then becomes a year-round process of ongoing discernment to answer those four questions.

Then we won’t make lists of what we need and then run around trying to fund them.  Instead, we will clarify who we are and want to be, share our vision, and invite all to join to make it a reality by contributing their skills, their time, and yes – some dinero. 

One of our UU Values is Generosity, which says:  We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and our resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.

To repeat: A pledge is NOT simply about the money.  It’s about all three resources.

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