Church leaders encourage giving
by Scott O’Neill | Presbyterian News Service
LOUISVILLE — After the commercialized rush that is Black Friday and Cyber Monday, #GivingTuesday offers Presbyterians and other people of faith the opportunity to bear witness to the spirit of gratitude as we move into the Season of Advent and celebrate the coming of Christ. Presbyterian Mission Agency (PMA) President and Executive Director the Rev. Dr. Diane Moffett thanks people in advance for their generous gifts to #GivingTuesday.
“Today (Tuesday, Dec. 3) is #GivingTuesday and I hope you are taking time to prayerfully consider what you will give,” said Moffett. “We’re in the midst of Advent and I am reminded that we’ve been called to be a Matthew 25 church, and that is to reach out and help those who are most marginalized — the hungry, oppressed, imprisoned, and poor. Your gifts today will make a difference; let’s pour into our communities, our church and the mission of Jesus and be a powerful force of light and salt in this important time.”
To make an online gift to #GivingTuesday and contribute to the many facets of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), visit giving-tuesday.pcusa.org.
In a recent Coffee with the Clerk session on Facebook, focusing on #GivingTuesday, the Rev. Dr. J. Herbert Nelson, II, Stated Clerk of General Assembly of the PC(USA), Rosemary Mitchell, Senior Director Mission Engagement & Support, and Lauren Rogers, Mission Specialist for Special Offerings, had a roundtable discussion around Presbyterian mission, stewardship, giving, engagement, and the wider role of the church in the community.
“When we talk about issues of stewardship and giving, we’re really talking about broadening not just the witness of the church but broadening the institutional power of the church to transform whole communities of people in ways we may not ever know that we did,” said Nelson.
Rogers, who is leading PC(USA)’s internal efforts around #GivingTuesday this year, said, “#GivingTuesday is an opportunity for us to come together and not just celebrate the amazing things we’re doing in the PC(USA) and lift up Presbyterian mission and the Office of the General Assembly, it’s a way for us to support what we find important and help build the kingdom of God.”
Donors are encouraged to direct their #GivingTuesday gifts to three areas:
Shared Mission — Funds are directed where they are needed most to make Presbyterian mission happen, including supporting and developing church leaders, creating resources for worship and discipleship, and supporting advocacy efforts for ministries responding to times of disaster and famine.
Special Offerings — One Great Hour of Sharing, Pentecost, Peace & Global Witness, and Christmas Joy. Gifts to Special Offerings unite the denomination to move outside church doors to take faith-based action on shared concerns and aid the most vulnerable.
Support the Office of General Assembly (OGA) — Gifts to support OGA help the church carry out the priorities faithfully set by the denominations Constitution and General Assembly, support the Moderators, connect pastors seeking calls, and provide support and counsel to mid councils.
Visit giving-tuesday.pcusa.org to donate and read stories of mission in action and learn how your gifts make this work possible.
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Categories: Ministry Engagement & Support 2
Tags: #givingtuesday, coffee with the clerk, lauren rogers, ministry engagement and support 2, office of the general assembly, rev. dr. diane moffett, rev. dr. j. herbert nelson ii, rosemary mitchell, shared mission, Special Offerings
Ministries: Mission Engagement and Support, Gifts & Financial Support