10% First Fruits

Grace upon Grace: A Vision for Undesignated Gifts at OGPC

In the Reformed tradition, stewardship begins not with duty, but with gratitude.

The Westminster Shorter Catechism (found in our denomination's Book of Confessions) reminds us that our primary end is "to glorify God, and to enjoy God forever." We do not give to earn God's favor, nor out of institutional guilt. We give because God has first given to us - most fully in Jesus Christ, and in every blessing we enjoy.

Our Reformed theology views all resources as belonging ultimately to God (Psalm 24:1). We are not owners; we are stewards entrusted with God's abundance for the flourishing of the whole community. When a gift arrives, it is not by accident. It is a spiritual invitation to align our church's heart with God's expensive grace. To withhold undesignated gifts entirely within our own walls risks turning a blessing into an idol of self-preservation.

Instead, we want to give back, as we believe that giving back to the wider community is the faithful response to the generosity of God because it proclaims to the church and to the world that our hope rests in God's providence, not our bank accounts.

Policy Proposal: The 10% Community First Fruits Guide

To put this theology into consistent, faithful practice, the Session of OGPC adopts the following policy for undesignated, non-operating gifts:

Trigger Condition: The church receives any single financial gift, bequest, or financial surplus that:

  • Falls outside the approved annual operating budget; and
  • Carries no restricted designation specified by the donor.

Tithe: If a gift meets the above conditions, then 10% of the total gift will be set aside upon receipt for outward community giving before remaining funds are allocated to internal projects or reserves.

Discernment Process: The Session, guided by prayer and community assessment, will evaluate current local or global needs and vote on the specific recipient(s) or cause(s) for that 10% allocation.

Transparency & Accountability: The Session will share with the congregation how the 10% was used, explicitly linking the original gift to the impact made in the community.

We worship a generous God. May God continue to bless all of us - individually and as a church - with grace upon grace, and may we become more and more and more and more a generous people...