Sunday, December 16, 2012

Practicing Extravagant Generosity


Some time ago, a motion was made and passed in the Board of Administration and Trustees (BOAT).  The motion was made out of a desire to live out what we had been called to as God’s stewards, as well as a desire to pass on the gifts of God to others.  The motion was to give 75% of all net profit from the Homework Club ministry during its first year at CCUMC (May 2011 – Aug. 2012) to Gum Moon Women’s Residence in San Francisco, a project with a long history of extends affordable housing and other services to women in transition. 

At the time the motion was made, BOAT had no idea what 75% would represent.  Would it be $100, $1,000, more?  Approving the motion was an act of faith and required our leaders to hold lightly God’s blessings and gifts.

In August, our Finance team reviewed the books and calculated the profits and found that 75% represented $36,400!  BOAT was as surprised as you are!  Knowing we were going to give that much money away, BOAT hesitated and questioned.  After much discussion and discernment, the original motion was affirmed but amended to direct our Missions Ministry Team to recommend how to allocate the monies and to do so by the end of the year after obtaining BOAT approval.  The only stipulation is that the monies be used for missions beyond our walls, be it local, national, or global.  The Missions Ministry Team meant this past Friday, Dec. 14th, and will do so again on Friday, Dec. 21st.   Your input is welcomed!  Please connect with any Missions Ministry Team member (Donna, Jane, Becky, Burt, Ben, Steve, Aeri) to share your discernment and God’s leading. 

This is incredibly exciting.  We invite your intentional prayers as we, together, discern how God would have us use God’s resources for God’s purposes in the world.