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2008-04-01 issue:

Lehman: Use tax rebate for kingdom work

by Anna Groff

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PITTSBURGH—Many Mennonite Church USA households will receive a tax rebate as part of the U.S. government’s economic stimulus package this spring. While the goal of the rebate is to encourage spending in an effort to boost the national economy, Mennonite Church USA invites its members to view this rebate as an opportunity to do kingdom work rather than make consumer purchases.

“As Mennonites have become so assimilated into society, sometimes it’s hard to stand against trends,” says Marty Lehman, financial development director for Mennonite Church USA. “[With this tax rebate] we are all supposed to go out and be consumers. But we are already struggling with consumerism.” Giving this money to the church and charitable organizations is a way to act counterculturally, she says.

Members of Lehman’s congregation, College Mennonite Church, Goshen, Ind., plan to pool their tax rebate money before giving it away. Lehman encourages other congregations to do this, as pooled money has a bigger impact. A congregation of 30 households could receive as much as $25,000.

She hopes people give their entire rebate, but if a household is unable, she advocates backward tithing—keeping 10 percent and giving the rest.

Lehman mentions Mennonite Church USA projects for redirection of tax rebates: motorbikes for Mennonite pastors in Congo; young people to attend a Mennonite college or university; Instituto Bíbilico Anabautista, which offers leadership courses for Spanish-speaking Mennonite leaders; Mennonite Voluntary Service; helping antiracism by helping provide resources, training and coaching.—Anna Groff

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