Who Gets Us?

After the Super Bowl, my social media feeds filled up with criticism of the “He Gets Us” ad. The ad, created by a conservative evangelical organization, promoted Christianity by underscoring Jesus’ inclusive message.

Most of the comments I saw contained a consistent critique. “The 17 million dollars spent on a Super Bowl ad could have fed so many people.” “If you think Jesus wants 17 million spent on an ad, then you don’t get him.”

At first, I found myself nodding in agreement. But then I remembered the moment in the Gospel when Mary poured out expensive perfume on Jesus’ feet. Judas reprimanded her: “Why was this perfume not sold for three hundred denarii and the money given to the poor?” (John 12: 5).

Reading the Gospel story made me curious about the reaction to the Super Bowl ad. What lay behind the criticism?

You might think it arose because UCC churches spend more than others caring for the poor. But when you look at self-reported data from UCC congregations, you see congregations retaining more and more of their dollars for their operations instead of social service work. Over the past 11 years, for example, UCC congregations increased their spending on themselves while cutting wider mission spending by more than 21%. Even more concerning is that while most faith communities spend 17% of their resources on wider missions, UCC congregations average only 6%. For all the indignation provoked by the Super Bowl ad, it sees that the typical UCC congregation doesn’t spend much on caring for people experiencing poverty.

It can be hard to talk about money. Shaming others about “wasteful” expenses doesn’t make it easier. Instead, we can engage in vulnerable and spiritual conversations about our relationship with money.

A church council might begin by looking at broad categories of spending. Start by asking “What does our spending prioritize?” And from there, think more deeply about your choices. How do you feel about those priorities? What spiritual values do those priorities reflect? Would you instead prioritize something else? What would need to change to focus on that priority?

A conversation like this moves us from critiquing what other people do with their money to reflecting on the choices we make with money.

Additional study guides for developing a theology of money can be found in the stewardship materials provided by the UCC.

Webinar: A Good Pitch – Understanding the Hopes of Our Donors to Create Change

Once a upon a time, donors gave out of a sense of obligation and loyalty. Today, most donors care about the impact they make in the world. How do we understand the motivations of our donors? What kind of change do they want to make in the world? Join Wisconsin Conference Development Director Andrew Warner at 6:30 p.m. April 24 on Zoom to learn about five basic ways donors look to create change and how you can talk about your congregation’s impact in your community. Register today.

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