Everyone knows it’s not polite to talk about politics or money, so let’s talk about politics and money!
POLITICS: Perhaps you have noticed that it’s a presidential election year?! There about seven months until the election in November, and already I think we all feel on overload! You can’t help but notice the election season, and along with it notice that in this year there is a particular intensity to what is happening in American politics – a ramping up of rhetoric, conflict, anxiety, mean-spiritedness and vitriol that appears to be uncharted territory in its breadth and intensity. As citizens, Pastor Jill and I understand the passion people feel about what is happening and what is at stake in the political realm. As pastors, Pastor Jill and I have talked together about what it means for Hope Church to be a community of faith in the midst of the passion of this political season. I’d like to share some thoughts with you about that:
– To be a church is to be a very political place, but is not to be a partisan place. I reject any characterization of faith as non-political, since gospel issues of justice, compassion and peace have much to do with how political power is carried out. But I also reject the idea that faith is explicitly linked to or against a particular party or politician. It is both the challenge and the responsibility of a Christian community to engage the political realm passionately while not engaging in partisan divisions. This is not always easy, but it is always essential.
– Our friends at the Colossian Forum (Michael Gulker, Director) recently shared this concept with Jill and me: as Christians, we are called and empowered by the Holy Spirit to have all that we do and say reflect the fruits of the Spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness (generosity), faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Just in case you weren’t taken aback by that statement, please go back and read that sentence again. That is a profound and very difficult calling to carry out, and it is only the Spirit of Christ in and among us that makes it possible. In this political season, that calling is the standard by which we live: to have the fruits of the Spirit characterize our words and actions. Such a calling more than anything else will make us a witness to a different way than the toxic political climate around us.
-Our hope as Christians is not dependent on the outcome of any election or the success of any party. Our hope is the presence of God among us in the present, living in the truth that in Christ nothing can separate us or this world from the love of God. Such hope gives us a perspective that connects us to the many places of faithfulness and need beyond our politics and borders, helping us to live first as citizens of God’s realm of love.
That’s enough about politics. So to continue our impolite conversation, now let’s talk about…
MONEY: To be specific, let’s talk about RCA Denominational Assessments! You may not think this is an exciting topic, but at Stewardship & Finance Ministry the other day we were pleased to note that a number of our members used the special giving envelope provided to make an extra gift to help Hope Church cover the nearly $100/person Assessment we pay to the Reformed Church in America. And we wanted to say THANK YOU! – this is a great help in covering the close to $47,000 annual amount Hope Church pays to the RCA in Assessments. We also thought it might be helpful to review what these Assessments are. CLASSIS Assessment, $26.26/person, supports the shared ministry of our 22 Holland Classis congregations, the leadership of our full-time Classis Coordinator, the care of theological students pursuing ordination, and the establishing of new congregations and ministries in our Classis. The REGIONAL SYNOD Assessment, $17.50/person, supports the ministry and programs of our region (primarily Michigan and Ohio), with an emphasis on new church starts and urban ministries. The DENOMINATIONAL Assessment, $53.71/person, supports the staff and programs of our national RCA denomination, including the General Synod annual meeting, Mission and Service, Congregational Support, New Church Development and Worship Resources. I have personal opinions on which of these Assessments are more helpful than others, but as an RCA congregation we annually give this faithful support to our denomination. We’re grateful to those who made a point of making a special contribution for these Assessments – and Stewardship & Finance notes that it’s not too late for more of you to do the same! Thank you!
That’s enough about money. And I promise my next “and finally” will be more polite.
Peace,
~Gordon