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Massachusetts Conference Edition
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Skewed giving is the normby Andy Gustafson, Associate Conference Minister October/November 2007
members. There is a misconception that a ‘flatter’ giving curve would indicate a healthier church (at least giving-wise). In fact, skewed giving is the natural result of the fact that: 1) not everyone has the same income or ability to give; 2) people give varying percentages of their income, from nothing to more than 10%; and 3) the percentage of income people give has no relationship to their income except for the extremely wealthy and very poor. The mathematics of these facts create the skewed giving all churches experience. Skewed giving must be accepted as a natural fact of church life. However, low overall giving should not. We are communities of sinners, not saints. Intentional faith formation is a primary way we are faithful to Jesus’ commission to make disciples. As people are formed in their faith and they come to understand giving as an inseparable part of discipleship, the portion of their income they contribute will increase. Jesus told us our material needs would be met if we “strive first for the kingdom of God” (Matt 6:38). Thus it is that when churches strive first to help people grow in their discipleship (including financial discipleship), they find giving to the church increases dramatically as well.
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A common observation by churches, usually voiced as a complaint, is that 70–80% of their giving comes from 20–30% of their