Can we talk about apportionments again...
Not long ago I mentioned a bit about apportionments in the UMC. You can read that original post here which talks about apportionments as an expression of dying of self.
Recently I was thinking about apportionment again and I wanted to share more.
Every charity has a grade that is given to them by different groups on the way they use their monies. The higher the grade the more of your money that goes directly to the mission of the non-profit. The best agencies rock at a 95% rate, good ones are able to give 90% directly to people. So if you know that ninty cents or more of each dollar that is given goes directly to aid, then you know you are making more bang for your buck.
This is where the UMC really can shine.
When you give to the agencies of the UMC, such as UMCOR, 100% of the money that is given goes directly to aid. Let me say that again, 100% of the money you give to UMCOR, goes to the people on the ground. The reason 100% of what is given to UMCOR goes to aid is even possible is because of apportionments.
The United Methodist Church funds all the overhead, all the administrative costs, all the paychecks of staff and all the sundry of costs. So, the giving of people in the pews allow the giving of others to make a larger difference. People of the UMC are funding non-profit's costs so that new people can know more of their money goes to direct aid.
So the people of the UMC give to the local church to amplify the giving of others. Additionally, when members of the UMC give their second mile giving or their offerings (that is anything beyond the tithe) then their gift also is amplified as the overhead is already take care of.
So the UMC gives not only for those who need aid, but we also give so that others giving can be more effective.
This is where the UMC really can shine.
When you give to the agencies of the UMC, such as UMCOR, 100% of the money that is given goes directly to aid. Let me say that again, 100% of the money you give to UMCOR, goes to the people on the ground. The reason 100% of what is given to UMCOR goes to aid is even possible is because of apportionments.
The United Methodist Church funds all the overhead, all the administrative costs, all the paychecks of staff and all the sundry of costs. So, the giving of people in the pews allow the giving of others to make a larger difference. People of the UMC are funding non-profit's costs so that new people can know more of their money goes to direct aid.
So the people of the UMC give to the local church to amplify the giving of others. Additionally, when members of the UMC give their second mile giving or their offerings (that is anything beyond the tithe) then their gift also is amplified as the overhead is already take care of.
So the UMC gives not only for those who need aid, but we also give so that others giving can be more effective.
Economy
If you are like me there is a huge question mark about the why we are in the current economic situation, but more than that a larger question mark over a way out. While this video does not offer practical solutions, it does highlight some obvious facts about wages and a large justice issue.
Agree or not, it does feel like the majority of us are fighting over scraps (as the video says). I don't recall when the economy was benefiting from the 90's web explosion, massive immigration laws passed (well known) in Arizona and (less known but stricter) in Alabama.
As Gandhi said "There is enough in the world for everyone's need; there is not enough for everyone's greed."
As another point of thinking about justice and distribution of wealth
Agree or not, it does feel like the majority of us are fighting over scraps (as the video says). I don't recall when the economy was benefiting from the 90's web explosion, massive immigration laws passed (well known) in Arizona and (less known but stricter) in Alabama.
As Gandhi said "There is enough in the world for everyone's need; there is not enough for everyone's greed."
As another point of thinking about justice and distribution of wealth
From Good - Rich people have a hard time reading emotions
Here is the link for you to read up on.
Just further examples for those Girardians and systems theorists out there to help articulating the power of systems to influence people behaviors. It just goes to further show that I cannot know how I would act in another shoes. If I am a "higher class" would I also become harder? If I were born in Nazi Germany would I be able to overcome the "Hitler Youth" rallies? Can I condemn those for whose systems I do not understand? (I cannot excuse behavior which is evil but I can better understand it I hope.)
Just further examples for those Girardians and systems theorists out there to help articulating the power of systems to influence people behaviors. It just goes to further show that I cannot know how I would act in another shoes. If I am a "higher class" would I also become harder? If I were born in Nazi Germany would I be able to overcome the "Hitler Youth" rallies? Can I condemn those for whose systems I do not understand? (I cannot excuse behavior which is evil but I can better understand it I hope.)
Be the change by Jason Valendy is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.