My name is Tim Law. Our Canvas Campaign Team leader this year, Jo Harris, invited me, as a member of the Board of Trustees, to give the testimony this morning. Jo has talked about the need to encourage a dialogue about pledging to First, I’m glad to share I can contribute to that experience.

My first memory of "church" was being on my Mother’s knee at the Malvern Bible Class as she moved her fingers in that well known way "here is the church, here is the steeple, open the doors and see all the people". Over and over, I’d have her do this wonderful trick with her hands and fingers…I was three. Those moving hands and fingers were my introduction to organized religion.

Through the years my family explored many churches. We were at various times Nazarene, Presbyterian, People’s Church, Baptist, Free Methodist, moving more liberally to United Church, then for a long stretch Anglican, and MCC Toronto. With a few assorted denominations in between and of course I spent seven years as a high school student at The People’s Christian School. But no one stopped to ask if I was a Christian. I never felt devotion to a personal "god". That was not my truth. I was a devoted skeptic on a different path. It was a long journey to the front doors of First Unitarian Toronto.

But now looking back I find myself, much to my surprise, admiring fundamentalists for the candor they have about money. They do articulate their vision, motivate the like minded and realize goals. A strong vision communicated well with a responsive community and often does bring about their dreams. A purpose driven community as we all know is a powerful force. Can their tools help us in our liberal tradition? I wonder.

Let me relate a story. As part of a course offered at one denomination my family attended, a man on social assistance lead fellow congregants through the process he went through to calculate his annual donations. He stated that the 10 percent (as opposed to the 3 percent we use here) was not his, it was God’s so he deducted his tithe from his assistance cheque first before he used the remainder for his needs. As he put it, he paid "god" first. It is an example of heroic giving, an example of how someone puts his financial resources in the aid of his aspirations.

And our own approach to giving? We talk about our financial commitments once a year during the Canvass campaign. Maybe there is a policy about it only being once a year maybe not. But, if you’re really clever and miss a few Sunday mornings in the fall you’ll never have to hear about it all year. It seems odd. As a member I own 1/400^th brick, chair, plate etc of this place. Yet equally I am responsible for 1/400^th of the bills, the salaries, helping make our Vision/Mission goals a reality. Do you know this congregations aspirations and goals? Are they being clearly expressed? Are you motivated to make these flourish?

I’m not heroic in my giving. But giving to First in fact a large part of my total giving. That’s because this wonderful, unique community is a large part of my life, my spiritual path, reflects my values and aspirations. I give to it time and attention. And money. Giving both time and money is part of the experience, part of our connection. Part of our commitment to each other. Our hands joining together in one very special place.