Chairs

I recieved an email tonight. One of those 'Youth Group Update' emails. You know the ones; they give the information for the sunday night activities, updates on the junior high mission trip, sign-up deadlines for the lake trip and the like.

The one I recieved tonight was no different from the usual ones -- until I scrolled to the bottom. And this is exactly what was written, "The youth area is undergoing renovation. Just as our logo reminds us that we are never the same once we encounter Christ, the youth area will never be the same again. By the time school starts, the youth area will transform into The Zone. We know that you are excited about 'your' youth area and we want to give parents and teens the chance to be a part of this awesome renovation project. We need to purchase 125 chairs (75 from IKEA, 50 stackable). Don't miss out on the opportunity to furnish your youth area with these amazing chairs. Parents, we want to encourage you to purchase chairs in honor of your teen(s). We want to make sure that no teen is left behind without a chair. Buy a chair!!! Chair donations are not limited to parents of teens..."

And there was a picture:

They are asking parents and others to donate almost twenty-thousand dollars in order to purchase chairs. And, they will very likely recieve the entire amount.

Seriously. This isn't a joke.

Now, I can understand needing chairs (although, we already have some). But wanting to spend $225 on a single chair?!!? Times 75?!?!

By the way, I got on IKEA and that model of chair does cost that much money (they added a little extra, but nothing significant); they price is not inflated in order to cover any significant "donation" to the youth group.

$20,000 on chairs. I think I'm still in shock.

With that same money, 148 families could have access to clean drinking water. Or 2,000 families could be given life-saving malaria nets. Or would provide 2 orphans with 4-year college scholarships. Or 88 families could be fed for an entire month; more than 7 families could be fed for more than a year.

$20,000 can change lives. If you were to give a single person who was considered at or below the poverty line in the U.S. that much money, you would be giving him/her more than double that person's yearly income.

They want to spend $20,000 on chairs. And knowing the people who are being asked to give that money most will do it with no hesitation.

I'm livid. Is this not ridiculous?

Comments

[gavin]

ew, this kinda hits a nerve. we are in the same type of re-imagining process. though i might say that we handled it a bit differently than what your church is doing. we spent a year in discernment and visioning. totally rewrote our vision statements, brought it more in line with where the church is going. also there was a need to update our facilities with chairs, some focal pieces, audio visual equipment, and a gallery set up for photos and artwork.

in all, it's a big price tag, which was/is something we struggle with. our only hope is that what we put together will be a blessing for the church and the community. i'd say that a chair that is 225 is a bit much what is more of bad form is the presentation. it is too much about image, not about ministry

[Lorna (see-through faith)]

put it into perspective - in the Baltic countries UMC pastors average wage is about the same as one chair PER MONTH

that means for the same cost you could sponsor a pastor there for 75 months - that's erm 7 years ... or 7 different churchs for a year each ...

a pastor in the Baltic countries (e.g. Latvia Estonia) often pastoring two churches for that below minimal salary can barely live on the wage if s/he is single which shows how impossible it is (without God's grace)for pastors with children etc. The Northern European conference has started a fund to address this need - but we are still way off target - not because we are buying IKEA chairs though.

20 000 Euros is a lot of money - but I do think it's great that they are involving parents to raise the money. My question I guess is, would those same parents, be willing to sponsor a UMC pastor in the Baltic States? I like to think so, because Methodists in the USA have been very generous. Our seminary in Tallinn, Estonia could never have been built without your donations and your prayers.

Blessings

[don't eat alone]

I don't think you're being ridiculous.

I think many churches need to examine how they ask for money beyond tithes and pledges and how they spend it. If they want to rasie $20000 for chairs (though I'm sure there are cheaper chairs that are still cool), why not match it dollar for dollar and pay for the pastors in the Baltics?

Peace,
Milton

[gavin]

i am thinking i want to sponsor a pastor in the baltics now. &:~)

[Beth]

I'm just thinking that when I was in UMYF we would have killed anyone who tried to take away our old ratty furniture and replaced it with snazzy chairs like those. But I guess that's a completely different issue ;)

[johnnybrower]

man...
i felt guilty when our youth program spent $4000 for a renovation. we purchased new couches, tables, chairs, lamps, posters, etc. we debated for several days as to whether or not this was a necessity, and what else we could do with the money. we eventually did it anyway and it's been great. but i can't imagine $20 grand on chairs alone. WOW.

[DogBlogger]

I keep thinking, "This is the kind of thing that leads to amazing people like Shane Claiborne leaving United Methodism." Although, I believe in his case it was $120,000 to be spent on stained glass.

[Dalton]

You know, they say that your church has the special ability to pay for things that other churches in the Conference cannot. I always assumed they were talking about missional programs. Clearly, they were talking about office furniture.

[1-4 Grace]

This is absurd. I admire your wisdom and insight.
Also, I dont think these look liek fun chairs. I had a set of chairs donated for my office, very pretty, but not comfortable. I wnet out and bought a "moom chair" and that is where my youth, children and many adults will sit.
I say send your money to a worthy cause of your choice and go find you a chair at a second hand shop. One that gives income to worthy cause. Get a chair that reflects your personality and fits you.
It may only be one chiar and $75, but it is a heck of a statement.

[Jason Sansbury]

Natalie-
I understand your outrage and passion. But I would ask you to think of other ways where massive amounts of money are spent:
For example, how much is spent every year on annual conferences for their weekly annual gathering?
How much is spent at each of the National Youth Worker Conventions?
I can assure you that it can be a massive amount of funds that could likewise be used in a different way.
Personally, as someone who is about to embark on re-shaping a youth room, we won't use the approach your church is. But I am not there and don't understand their context enough to outright say they are wrong.

[Natalie]

Jason -- Thanks for your comment; I've been thinking a lot about what you've brought up.

And things like Annual Conference, etc. frustrate me as well. However, the difference I see there is that there is potential for growth, and change and for God to work in and through the 'space' provided by such events.

I have a much harder time seeing that same potential in overpriced chairs. Especially when chairs of such a sort are not required; much cheaper chairs could suffice.

Personally, I don't think there is any case or any context where that much money spent on so few chairs is good stewardship.

The difficulty with this whole topic/idea, is deciding where 'the line' is. If I don't believe that this sort of thing is good 'Christian practice', then why not also believe that good 'Christian practice' means that I should sell everything I have and give it to the poor (something I obviously have not done)?

It's a tough topic.

Thanks for the comment...

[Lorna (see-through faith)]

just saw your photo over at that rev gals 'big event' meet. wow

seriously if anyone of you would like to help support a UMC pastor in the Baltic state - or if your church would like to sponsor one - I can (after August) get more information to you from the bishop's office. (He's on sick leave now - so prayers for him really appreciated too)

[A.Lin]

That is an outrageous price to provide chairs. Why doesn't each person in the youth group donate a chair themselves? I know one of the issues is stacking them, but surely space can be found. It would make a statement by having a room not be so perfect and instead using the money in a better way.

[rev mommy]

You go girl!

Even if all you do is to get the people at the church to THINK, you have accomplished something. Maybe you can suggest a 100% matching fund for mission? Give $225 for a chair, give $225 for mission?

And $225 is more than I make per month. I practice dust bunny ministry -- I don't know where I heard the phrase, but we don't have money for diddle squat, so I reach in the (empty) cupboard for two dust bunnies and make up lessons about dust bunnies. You have seen my church; I couldn't even bring myself to purchase tablecloths for lunch and just made do with what I had. You should KNOW how this hit me. We did VBS for 19 little kids who probably had never been in our church before; where the snack for VBS may have been the only "treat" they get on that day -- red juice and stale butter cookies.

Eh, Uhm, Don't get me started....

[Leah]

Hey, this is my first visit to your wonderful blog (after noticing your were at the Planning Event) and needless to say, I concur with everyone else's comments. Keep on keepin' on!

[Mrs. M]

*standing and applauding*

I'm right there with you on the priorities, and I'm very proud of you.

[jim]

I'm getting on this late, I know....

I'm impressed by your desire for social justice and the role of the local church in that justice.

Have you spoken to the youth leader about your concerns? Direct dialogue is always better than airing dirty laundry.

[Natalie]

Yep, Jim. I sure have...