 Moderator's column  The Presbyterian Layman Volume 33, Number 3, Posted May 22, 2000
The church buildings are old, many in need of major repairs, many not well-heated by our standards, and resources are limited. The Waldensians receive several hundred thousands of dollars from a designation taxpayers may make on their annual returns. It would make sense for the church to use that money to supplement salaries or take care of maintenance costs or subsidize their own programs. But that doesn’t happen. The money goes to mission projects beyond the church or in the church to serve other than church members … to day care centers and homes for the very old or homeless, to literacy programs and to skill training. It is indeed humbling to see such commitment on the part of the church. In a Presbyterian church in northern New York state, a line item in the annual budget is dedicated to the church’s on-going building fund. Doing it annually removes the necessity of a capital campaign when something needs attention. This congregation tithes its building fund, making available to other churches and community organizations grants to begin new mission projects. It is humbling to see such commitment. Many individuals and congregations are involved with the Presbyterian Foundation, the Presbyterian Investment and Loan Program, as well as with other programs that give them ways to be partners in mission with people here and abroad. If humility or gratitude or compassion or simply a call to heed Jesus’ invitation to “go into all the world” speaks to any of us as individuals or as congregations we are only a phone call away from finding out where and how we can minister in Christ’s name in and through the church. Worldwide Ministries and National Ministries in Louisville, any of the financial entities of the denomination, and a host of contacts around the world can hear your call to serve and direct you to those who wait for that cup of water, that visit, that healing that we do in Christ’s name and for those whom God loves. Jesus said that we are his faithful disciples whenever we “do it for the least of these” and thereby for him. Freda Gardner |
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