PIGS
May 5, 2008Brent and I are gathering in south Florida with a group of fellow grantmakers this week. It’s our annual informal get-together of the PIGS, the humourous acronym for Professionals in Grantmaking Society. And already, before events have officially begun, we are learning, sharing information, and being mutually encouraged in our work.
Question of the week for us is: what is missional philanthropy? In other words, how can a foundation act on and express through its activities the mission of Christ in our world? To me, it means targeted granting to initiatives which benefit not the church, not Christians, but the broader society. If Christ came (comes) to touch the world with love and grace, we should not be the main beneficiaries. It’s all about giving it away to remind our society of the love the Father has for our world.
The way we do it also is important. Our philanthropy must be self-sacrificial, other-centred, and generously cooperative in contributing to a society in need.
Any thoughts on this? I welcome your comments…
May 5, 2008 at 4:26 pm
Mark,
I saw your post on Chris (H) blog immediately thought that it was you and so I followed the trail to your blob. And then looking down your post could not help but be drawn to something titled “PIGS”.
Liked what you wrote - and I would add finding those that are doing just that and jumping on board for an extended period (whatever that means - it certainly is not “one off” grants). And it most certainly will not always produce those measurable outcomes in twelve months.
Blessings,
MM
May 5, 2008 at 6:19 pm
If missional is tied up with being a bearer of shalom …. in perhaps some very dark places (economically, physically, emotionally, spiritually) …. then that includes the bearer of shalom through the ministry of presence (long haul, often notoriously difficult to measure ….) with the firm hope that simply being there is itself transformation. With a legacy of telling much more than listening, of fixing and agendas more than incarnational presence - frankly of seeking power rather than surrendering it ….. it could turn the Christian community upside down to have some leading PIGS influence other PIGS to get behind those who serve in a counter-cultural manner through shared suffering and shared poverty rather than triumphalistic empire building.
Onward and upward Mark!
May 5, 2008 at 9:47 pm
What I am most looking for is the diversity of understanding of what missional philanthropy is or could be. I’ve already seen some examples of what you’re talking about among some of the people I’ve talked to tonight.
This may be an interesting sample of the much larger discussion going on in the North American church around our purpose and priorities in this world.
(Thanks for the invite to PIGS, it is very worthwhile).
May 5, 2008 at 11:49 pm
Thanks Mac, Wendy and Chris for your comments. I am co-hosting a discussion tomorrow morning on this question, so appreciate your thoughts and will weave them into the conversation. It will likely lead to a further post on this topic I am imagining!!!
May 6, 2008 at 12:40 am
I wonder if this is an ends/means issue? In an effort to reach (transform? reconcile? bring wholeness to?) the “broader society” (the end), is it reasonable that grants should be channeled through/into the Church as Christ’s Redemptive Agents (means)? Maybe benefitting society need not be mutually exclusive with “benefitting” the Church?
Just my thoughts …
May 6, 2008 at 11:35 am
mark, so glad you are there and, more importantly, that you are blogging.
I just emailed Lee Behar and suggested he blog some thoughts for us to link to. He is twittering a bit from PiGs but content is limited.
anyway - if you blog it, i will link it. love to hear what is going on there.
May 7, 2008 at 7:32 am
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