Passing The Basket

This is from Karl Keating's E-letter dated December 16, 2003. I wholeheartedly agree with his sentiment. While the first ten things on the list are good, the two additional things that Keating suggests would have an effect on me.

"The Parish Management Handbook" gives a list of "Ten Ways to Increase Parish Giving." Here they are:

1. Get the pastor actively on board.
2. Make the connection between spirituality and giving.
3. Emphasize the mission of the parish rather than the budget.
4. Stewardship formation and education needs to touch all parishioners.
5. Give equal emphasis to time, talent, and treasure.
6. Encourage proportionate giving (rather than tithing).
7. Encourage pledging.
8. Support U.S. bishops-approved special ("second") collections as a part of stewardship.
9. Be transparent and accountable in all parish financial matters.
10. Remind parishioners that contributing through estate planning is good stewardship.

Sorry, guys, but these ten things are insufficient. They have been tried and found wanting. Let me propose two sure-fire techniques that should be added to the list:

11. Teach the faith clearly and completely from the pulpit, not avoiding any of the hard issues.
12. Celebrate Mass in a reverential, "vertical" manner, with absolute fidelity to the rubrics.

-Karl Keating