A Resolution to Affirm and Encourage the Pledge of Time, Talents and Treasures as a Sign and Seal of our Commitment as Individuals and Churches to Christ and Christ's Mission

Approved by the 206th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference, United Church of Christ, June 4, 2005

“Take hold of the life that is really life…be generous” (1 Tim. 6:18-19)

WHEREAS, our Statement of Faith calls on us to accept the cost and joy of discipleship; and

WHEREAS, we are called to give in proportion to our blessings (1 Cor. 16:1-2); and

WHEREAS, Christ charged us, and depends upon us, His disciples, to contribute time, talent and treasure to the advancement of the Kingdom of God on earth (John 15: 14-17 and Matthew 25: 14-46); and

WHEREAS, the Still Speaking God calls us to be the Still Serving Church; and

WHEREAS, we, the church, as the body of Christ, carry out Christ’s mission in our local churches, in our local Associations, in the Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ, and in the national setting; and

WHEREAS, Christ’s mission is advanced in the Conference and National settings through the contributions of the local churches to Our Church’s Wider Mission; and

WHEREAS, to be good stewards of time and resources it is important for all settings of the body of Christ, local, Conference and national, to have an estimate of income in order to plan and budget for the implementation of the ministries which carry out Christ’s mission;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the 206th Annual Meeting of the Massachusetts Conference United Church of Christ invites all churches in the Conference to:

1. Encourage their members to contribute time, talent and treasure to advance Christ’s mission as lived out in the local church, in proportion to their resources, affirming their commitment to Christ through a financial pledge to their local church;
2. To be themselves, as churches, good stewards of the time, talent and treasure contributed by their members by:
1. Encouraging people to serve the wider church on commissions, task forces, and other entities in Associations, in the Conference, and in the national denomination.
2. Providing a financial pledge or estimate of giving to Our Church’s Wider Mission;

THEREFORE BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Board of Directors appoint a task force to study the current financial reporting, OCWM and mission giving practices of local churches and develop new guidelines for presentation to the 2006 Annual Meeting.