by the Rev. Roman Roldan, Clerical Alternate, Episcopal Diocese of Louisiana
I admit it, I don’t always welcome the bi-annual United Thank Offering (UTO) collections. I often think we overwhelm our parishes with multiple requests for funds that range from Rector’s Discretionary Funds, to Bishop’s Appeals, to Solomon Episcopal Conference Center Sunday, to “you name it” Sunday. Up until today, those pesky blue boxes were just another opportunity to shake some loose change out of our over-taxed parishioners.
I say, “until today” because the “UTO Ingathering Service” was an eye opener for me. I always knew Grace Church is very generous with these little blue boxes, as our chair shares news of collection totals with me. Honestly, however, I had no idea how generous other parishes are and the difference those little blue boxes make. At the service today we were told that over the last two years UTO has collected over 4.3 million dollars in blue box donations. Almost 20% of this total comes from Province IV, the province to which our Diocese belongs. These numbers are indicative of the generous spirit of our people in Province IV and in our Diocese.
UTO has provided ministry grants for agencies all over the world for over 130 years. We in the Diocese of Louisiana have been the recipients of many of these grants, especially after Hurricaine Katrina. Just a few days ago, UTO approved $16,000 dollars for Saint Anna’s Episcopal Church, our ministry partner in New Orleans. I was very pleased to see this, as Saint Anna’s has a special place in my heart. Millions of dollars in grants were given to dioceses in Latin America, agencies that do Haiti relief, African programs, etc. When you think of the ministry of UTO, Episcopal Relief and Development, Episcopal Community Services and dozens of other church-wide and diocesan specific ministries, you walk away with the conviction that many episcopalians put their financial resources where their mouths are. Thanks be to God that many of our people have congruent lives of deep faith and commited action on behalf of the needy, the marginalized, and the displaced. Conguence is the place where right faith and right practice meet. It is that place where Matthew 25:31-45 meets Matthew 28: 16-20 and the Great Commandment of love for the other meets the Great Commission to make disciples.
I promise all that I will never gripe again about the blue boxes. In fact, I will have an ample supply of them when I return and I will make sure each of you has one at home, one at the office, and one in the locker at your country club or gymnasium. Blessings to all, Fr. Roldan+