In the 1980’s, I lived in Cartersville, Georgia and attended the Episcopal Church of the Ascension where the priest in charge was the Reverend Michael “Corky” Carlisle. My husband and I both worked for Bank of America and Corky asked us to chair the annual stewardship campaign (I think because we were bankers!). At our initial strategy session, I asked Corky a question (that was a banker kind of question) — Corky, do you tithe based on your gross or net income? Corky whipped around and responded — “what do you think Jesus would say?” And I said, “I don’t think I need to ask Jesus that question — I know the answer now!!”
It’s not always easy to tithe. But for me, particularly in some of those years when I struggled to tithe and I did, it seemed that something good always happened — like a raise or a promotion or better personal relationships.
Growing up in Virginia, my parents, my brother and I all attended Episcopal schools, and St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church in Richmond. When we came to Atlanta, we settled in Sandy Springs and joined Holy Innocents’. My parents were very involved at the church and were great community and church role models. And I think that they would be proud of my brother and me for our efforts to follow in their volunteer footsteps.
When I started attending the Cathedral in the early 1990’s, I joined an usher team, was on a money counting team for the Sunday contributions, and I joined the Stewardship team (and eventually chaired the Stewardship Campaign twice) and was on the Chapter for one term. I love my volunteer jobs at the church and hope to continue as long as I can — but also happy that we have such talented leadership taking charge in the younger generation, too.
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