| What is Mission and Services - Not Just Another Charity* |
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As I was reading a United Church congregational brochure one day I was surprised to see a mention of collecting gifts for the Mission and Service Fund charity. I looked around the empty hall wanting to say, "The Mission and Service Fund is not a charity." Since no one was in earshot, I saved my response for here. Many organizations work for a better world by addressing one cause or another. The Mission and Service Fund, on the other hand, is the unique way we as United Church witness to God's love, whether it be with overseas partners, in Canadian outreach, in hospital or university chaplaincies, in supporting small congregations, or in assisting intern ministers. It is not really possible to compare the M&S Fund to any charity-it is much bigger, more encompassing than any of these. It is the church. The M&S Fund represents our collective way to be God's presence in the world—to be the church, to love and serve, to seek justice, to live with respect in creation. It gives us a collective voice in advocating change, justice, and peace, whether through the Canadian government or in work with our ecumenical partners. The M&S Fund ensures that we are participating together in all of this work and more. It has been said that "for Christians giving isn't an option," and for United Church members, M&S shouldn't be. We all make decisions about which charities we want to support. For United Church members, the M&S Fund should not be part of that decision. M&S is not a charity; M&S is who we are and what we do. It's the United Church faith in action. *From United Church of Canada Website http://www.united-church.ca/funding/msfund/about/101 |