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A Few Words About Proportional Giving
Any regular, intentional program of giving a specific amount of money is, in a way, "proportional" giving.
The Bible states a specific obligation to "tithe"—that is, to give back to God one-tenth of what we have received from God. One-tenth! Ten percent! The Bible sets the bar very high—maybe too high for most of us to think about at first.
We encourage you to begin your commitment to proportional giving with a small step: Promise to give two percent each year, or three. The average pledge to churches nationally is 2.6 percent of income, and maybe that's a good place to start.
The important thing is that the Biblical notion of proportionality is the ultimately fair way of giving. You pledge and give in proportion to what you have or make. There's no hidden standard, some sort of "dues" structure, though some people mistakenly imagine there is. A senior citizen living on a fixed, modest income who gives 5% is a more faithful proportionate giver than the rich man who dashes off a check for $10,000. Sound suspiciously familiar? Sounds like Jesus.
Some people here at St. Bart's do "tithe"—a few even exceed the Biblical tenth. The wonderful diversity of our community is reflected, in part, by our varied attitudes toward (and comfort levels with) annual pledging and proportional giving.
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