Offerings of the Heart: Money and Values in Faith Communities (Book)
Rabbi Shawn Zevit, Author.  Herndon, VA: Alban Institute, 2005.

While congregational boards spend more time talking about money than any other topic, and while money is the frequent subject of biblical teachings, rare is the faith community that thoughtfully connects these two realities. Offerings of the Heart aims to make such a thoughtful connection. Rabbi Shawn Zevit states that his two goals here are (1) to help us examine the attitudes in our hearts—and behaviors in our religious communities—around money; and (2) to provide texts and tools for any faith community seeking financial resources to "build and maintain whole lives."

Zevit emphasizes that this book is not a comprehensive, "how-to" guide for raising money or spending it. Rather, this book lays the foundation for a values-based approach to financial activities. The chapters describe processes for articulating a clear congregational mission and vision, for connecting mission and vision with budgeting and planning, for understanding the ethical considerations behind capital campaigns and fund-raising, for using money to serve social justice, and for sustaining sacred community. A "Congregational Purpose Chart" provides a helpful format for tying these processes together. And a case study, sample lesson, Hebrew glossary, and set of resources (print-based and organizational) conclude the book.

Offering wisdom from ancient and contemporary Jewish texts, as well as from his work with the Jewish Reconstructionist Federation, Zevit provides a thoughtful, reflective approach to a topic with which many congregations grapple, but about which few people want to talk.

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