Spirituality and Fundraising
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by Mansfield Kaseman
Upon arriving in my new parish I was told by some that "spirituality" was considered a four-letter word. My esteemed predecessor, who was admired for his integrity, sound moral principals, and capacity for making God's Word relevant to life, associated "spirituality" with a false sense of piety deserving criticism for being otherworldly and sentimental.
I came to love this crusty man of faith who remained active in our parish following his retirement. Thanks to a bond of mutual respect, we could disagree and enjoy the creative tension that generated in the congregation. One can imagine the conversations when I entered Shalem's Spiritual Guidance Program early in my tenure.
That was 1980 and now in my retirement I am gratefully reflecting on the impact of Shalem on my life and ministry. The programs and soul mates have been marvelous sources of guidance, healing and spiritual renewal. Worship came to include periods of silence; seminars and small groups came to deal with spiritual formation; and the Church Council came to use a contemplative bell for calling decision-makers back to prayer. In short, "spirituality" became a twelve-letter word laced with promise.
Upon joining the Shalem Board I was told that "fundraising" was a problem for some because it seemed at odds with trusting in the leading of the Spirit. For them, Shalem was like a precious pearl that when found generates gratitude and generosity. To engage in fundraising would mean distrusting this Spirit-led process and possibly falling prey to the values and anxiety of the dominant culture.
Yet I believe that fundraising at Shalem is indeed Spirit-led and, like spirituality in my church experience, provides many opportunities for connecting our lives with divine purposes. And I feel inspired in reaching out and encouraging financial contributions because Shalem is an authentic spiritual community in which lives are being transformed and leaders are being prepared to help others delve deeper into the love and peace of God. Nothing in this world is more important, and it seems irresistible not to share such good news and to seek support that makes it possible for others to gain the same benefits.
I trust that "fundraising" at Shalem will be as positive an experience as "spirituality" proved to be for our parish. With your help, we can make it so.
Mansfield "Kasey" Kaseman is a Shalem Board member and chairs Shalem's Development Committee.