Guest Post by Robin Stemen, Stewardship Team Chair

It sounds funny, but there was a time when QUUF puzzled over what napkins to use. Cloth? Paper? Did it matter? We chose to have a culture of cloth napkins, of explicitly caring for the environment.

We care about justice and wish to be unambiguous about it: we have a rainbow fence and a Pride banner flying; we have Black Lives Matter signs and a Green Sanctuary sign. We are a Welcoming Congregation, and we want to both act like it and show it.

We also believe in economic justice – but it’s hard to talk about money in our culture. The Stewardship Team learned that use of the UUA’s Suggested Fair Share Contribution Guide is a way for a congregation to embody economic justice; it’s an economic justice tool.

The Guide doesn’t ask people to just give, give, give, or to give the same amount or percentage. That’s not fair. Instead it’s progressive: it starts with 2% and goes up to 10%. It’s a suggested guide that rises with capacity and commitment. It’s private and flexible.

First, you answer three key questions:

• What is my income?
• What is my personal financial situation?
• What is my level of commitment?

Second, you look at the chart to see your Suggested Fair Share.

Fundraising books say you inspire people with a big vision or an exciting goal. QUUF knows that: years ago, when we realized we needed more room to welcome people and to live out our mission, we had a successful capital campaign to expand our building. Fully funding our mission and work is an exciting goal that we can accomplish together.

Congregations with vibrant stewardship are clear about what is needed. If you just ask people to be generous, how can they know what to pledge? The Fair Share Guide lets people know what their fair share is.

By the way, the team has a special treat in the QUUF foyer: a display of artifacts from the Museum of Stewardship I created years ago. The display includes our first cloth napkin, as well as a replica of a pre-historic Fare Share guide! (Giving according to our means is a tale as old as time; even then the guide was progressive.) Another artifact in the exhibit is a list of every single capital campaign pledge. Stunning! Please stop by the Stewardship Table near the office and check out the relics.

QUUF members have the opportunity to become a congregation in which we ask “What’s my fair share?” One where we each consider giving according to our means and understand that contributing more for those who can’t is economic justice. We developed a cloth napkin, Green Sanctuary culture. We can develop a Fair Share culture as a way of thinking and a way of giving.

The Board and the Stewardship Team were polled anonymously about use of the Fare Share Guide. Ten people indicated that they are making Fair Share pledges; two that they are moving toward Fair Share pledges; one person checked “none of the above” and one person was not available for polling.

If we want to live out our mission and do our work, we need to fund it. Becoming a Fair Share congregation could mean more income and help us close the deficit and achieve our goals. Please join in this effort.

After the service on Sunday, March 17th we’ll pass out packets with a beautiful brochure, a Suggested Fair Share Guide and your pledge form. We’ll mail the rest on Monday the 18th.

As our campaign mascot Chrys Flutterson says, “The sky’s the limit!”