Frequently Asked Questions About Giving to OSC
We don’t talk a lot about money at OSC, but every June we invite you to become a Supporting Member by giving weekly, monthly, bi-monthly, etc. Because many churches have abused people and their money through the subject of giving, we find it’s helpful to respond to a few frequently asked questions:
Don’t see your question below? No problem. Just contact us directly and we’ll be happy to answer your questions.
HOW MUCH OF MY MONEY IS OSC entitled to?
Absolutely none! OSC is not entitled to the money God has entrusted to you. Your giving should be a voluntary expression of your value for our mission and your trust in our integrity. That’s why we work hard to make a tangible impact with our funding and why we are deeply grateful for whatever support you choose to give.
HOW DOES OSC SPEND THE MONEY WE GIVE?
Our vision is to reclaim a Christian spirituality of love, liberation, and a recognition of the image of God in all people. That means we welcome all people to the table of God’s grace regardless of creed, ethnicity, class, gender, or sexuality; we seek to understand and live out this beautiful message of grace as embodied in the person and work of Christ; and we faithfully serve our poor and marginalized neighbors because we recognize no difference between us and them. That’s what we do in a nutshell. We work hard to stretch every dollar so we can make the biggest possible impact on people’s lives for the wholeness of this gospel. At the annual congregational meeting, which always occurs the last Sunday in June, we propose a detailed budget for the coming year. If you would like a copy of our current budget, just shoot us an email.
Are my gifts to OSC tax deductible?
Yes! The Oceanside Sanctuary is a registered 501(c)(3) public charity, Tax ID# 95-2074879. All financial and in-kind donations to our organization are fully tax deductible. (Please note: The Oceanside Sanctuary is a dba of First Christian Church of Oceanside.)
ARE WE REQUIRED TO GIVE MONEY TO BE PART OF OSC?
Absolutely not! We certainly hope you will give. As a charity, we can’t operate without charitable giving. But the church is not entitled to the money God has entrusted to you. And all people are welcome to participate in the programs of our church whether they give or not. There is only one exception to this general rule: according to our bylaws, someone must be a regular financial supporter (in any amount) to be eligible for nomination to our Elder Board. We think it’s a matter of integrity that those who bear the responsibility for spending other people’s charitable contributions should themselves be contributors.
ARE THERE OTHER WAYS TO GIVE ASIDE FROM MONEY?
Certainly! You may believe God is calling you to give your time, or your abilities, or your financial gifts. We need volunteers to help with our social impact programs, our Sunday gatherings, administration, finance, technology, etc. We are grateful for any expression of sincere giving you have to offer. If you’d like to volunteer in any capacity, click here to find out more.
WHAT IF WE CAN’T AFFORD TO GIVE FINANCIALLY?
Sometimes people want to give but cannot give as much as they would like. God honors that. In the story of The Widow’s Mite (Luke 21:1-4), Jesus teaches that the smallest gifts of the poor count for more than the largest gifts of the wealthy. That means everyone can participate equally in the dignity of contributing to good work regardless of how much or little you are able to give.
Other times, people cannot afford to give money at all. God honors that as well. We find it morally reprehensible when churches pressure people who struggle to pay their own rent, utilities, or food to give money to the church. To put it bluntly, that is a gross perversion of how the economy of God works. In 2 Corinthians 8:13-14, the Apostle Paul writes:
“I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance.”
Paul’s point is simple: those who have more are asked to give more so, collectively, we can provide for those who have less. If you don’t have enough money to live, please don’t give money to this or any other church. Let us know how we can help. That’s what the community of God, operating by the economy of God, does.
SHOULD MY FAMILY BE “TITHING?”
Sometimes people are surprised to learn that we do not teach “tithing” – which is the ancient Hebrew practice of sacrificing 10% of your harvest, livestock, and income. But the Apostle Paul reveals a better economic model, found (again!) in 2 Corinthians 8:1 through 9:15. In this passage, Paul teaches that the economy of God operates much like it did in the old Hebrew story of God sending Manna in the Desert. Quoting from Exodus Chapter 16, Paul writes:
“I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need, so that their abundance may be for your need, in order that there may be a fair balance. The one who had much did not have too much, and the one who had little did not have too little.”
In other words, churches are supposed to be micro-economies of generosity, where those who have much share with those who have little, thereby creating a fair balance.
It if works for you, contributing 10% of your resources is a fine rule of thumb. But like Paul, we recognize that wealth is unequally distributed. Many people may be genuinely unable to give 10% and feel guilt or shame about it, thereby distancing themselves from the life of our community. Others may be perfectly able to give more than 10%, but are excluded from the gift of relieving others’ hardships because they gave less than they were able.
In either case, what you have, what you need, and what you give is between you and God. As a church, we are not entitled to that information. Each of us must take responsibility for what we give and what we receive. That is why, later in his letter, Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7:
“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”
So then, HOW MUCH SHOULD WE GIVE?
That is entirely between you, your partner (if you have one), and God.
Here’s some context to consider: On average, American households that give to charity donate $114 per week. But that is an average across a wide spectrum of income levels. By income level, charitable American households give between 3% and 13% of their income:
American household earning $50,000 to $99,000 per year typically gives about 5% to charity
American households earning $100,000 to $199,000 per year typically give about 3% to charity
Of course, these figures count giving to all kinds of charities, not just religious organizations. You may be giving to a variety of charities, not just OSC. And that’s good!
The rule of Peace & Joy
We recommend you first prayerfully consider what you desire to give. We’ve found most people are generous by nature, and would love to give more than then they are truly able. Next, do the math. Check your budget and ask what you can give sustainably. Then, sit with that number for a while and pay attention to what your body and spirit are saying. Do you sense both peace and joy about it?
We believe that is the very best test is to determine what you’re able to give both joyfully and peacefully. When we give less than we are able, we are robbed of joy. When we give more than we are able, we are robbed of peace! Again, as Paul writes in 2 Corinthians 9:7:
“Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver”
This passage doesn’t mean you should force yourself to be cheerful about your giving. It means you should give whatever you are able to give cheerfully.
WHY DO YOU ASK FOR supporting members every june?
Every June we ask people to consider becoming Supporting Members for two reasons: First, our fiscal year ends on June 30th, so this is the month we are finalizing our budget for the next fiscal year. When you pledge or re-affirm your support in June for the coming year, it helps us build a more accurate and responsible budget. Second, our charitable work is more effective throughout the year when we have stable monthly contributions.
WHAT IF WE CAN’T CONTINUE OUR regular giving?
Circumstances change and sometimes people are not able to sustain their monthly giving. That’s okay. God is faithful. We trust you to be the best judge of your own money and we trust God to sustain us as a church, no matter what happens. We will never nag you about your giving or try to “collect” on what you pledged (that would be gross).
CAN I SETUP AUTOMATIC GIVING?
Absolutely! You can setup weekly, monthly, bi-weekly, and bi-monthly automatic giving by clicking here.
CAN I GIVe by mail?
Certainly! Some Supporting Members prefer to send a check irrespective of recurring bank draft to us by mail. If that is your preference, be sure to send your donations to our mailing address:
The Oceanside Sanctuary
PO Box 360
Oceanside, California 92049