Quite a ride to becoming a 50/50 church
by Merv Thompson
Teaching pastor
Excerpts from a recent Pastor’s Update.
Two words this week have engaged my imagination like few others. These two words are “50/50.” Doesn’t sound all that provocative or world-changing, but as Pastor Mike has begun to articulate more and more the vision of becoming 50/50 church, I have just begun to understand in very elementary form the radical and revolutionary nature of these words.
If our congregation would seriously pursue and accomplish this goal, nothing about the church would ever be quite the same. Therefore, during this update I would like to invite all readers to let our imaginations run a bit wild. Of course, we proceed with the understanding that the entire life of faith is a radical idea — the teaching that God became human and walked among us, dying on a cross for our sins, rising from the dead and offering us eternal life.
If we accept that amazing grace, then we can also probably embrace the idea of a 50/50 church.
Fifty-fifty is simple enough on the surface – 50 percent of all offerings go toward outreach.
What is the big deal? I am glad you asked. Almost every religious institution of which I am aware allocates roughly 90 percent of all of its income toward in-house administration, staff, buildings and grounds. Ninety percent. Often the “faith” goal is to be able to set aside 10 percent, the biblical tithe that can be given away beyond the walls of the local congregation. Some of this goes toward global, national and local missions, other goes to denominational entities. Not surprisingly, whenever push comes to shove in a tough economy, it is usually this 10 percent that takes the hit.
If there is anyone who has the audacity to consider becoming a 50/50 congregation, at least three realities must be thoroughly considered:
*One. Change is difficult, sometimes impossible.
*Two. To change the DNA of religious institutions, one would need to go back to the future. Some 500 years ago Martin Luther and the Reformers extrapolated from the biblical teachings something they called “the priesthood of all believers.” What this meant is that every baptized believer is called to be a minister, a priest. This means that a congregation does not just have one or a small handful of pastors, but rather hundreds or even thousands.
*Three. The potential ways to help. Just imagine the kind of impact a congregation could have if it became a 50/50 church.
Do I think that Housholder has lost his marbles? I guess not, just another piece of evidence on what a risk-taker he continues to be. Hopefully the results of this “Building Hope 4 the World” giving campaign will bring us much closer to this transformational idea.
It will certainly be quite a ride.
