I Love to Raise Dough!

We are shaped by our giving

Responding to my previous post (read it here) is Pastor Ron Glusenkamp. Ron served from 2014-2020 as the director of Always Being Made New: The Campaign for the ELCA, a five-year, $198 million comprehensive campaign that established a strong culture of stewardship which is allowing this church to boldly do God’s work in Jesus’ name throughout the world. The total dollar impact was $250 million. (Full bio below)

“The root of joy is gratefulness...it is not joy that makes us grateful; it is gratitude that makes us joyful.” ― Brother David Steindl-Rast

Thank you for reading this dialogue between Paul Hanson and myself. You are a key part of this conversation. The purpose of these “chats” is to put something out there and hope that readers are stimulated and motivated to take this advice to heart. Subsequently, when you respond and comment, all of us learn from each other. Ultimately the goal is to better serve our organizations and donors. Thank you for taking the time and energy to participate. And thank you to Paul for his kind and gracious words.

One of the ways I introduce myself to individuals and groups is by saying, “I really love to raise dough.” Then I talk about being involved with development as well as being a baker. People normally laugh but more importantly they get the connection. I firmly believe “Jesus is the Bread of Life” (John 6). Bread is a basic commodity in our world. We talk about “breaking bread” when we intend to share a meal with someone. “Bread” is also used as a synonym for money, as is the word “dough.”

One time I mentioned utilizing a banneton when I was doing a bread baking workshop and talking about our call to share “bread” with those who have food insecurity. I commented, “There are many reasons to use a banneton. Here are two of them: one, it helps proof and shape the dough; two, it creates a pattern.” A participant said, “That wicker basket looks like an offering plate.” I agreed immediately and it came to me — we are shaped by our giving. Our giving shapes and forms us. It’s that simple and it’s that complex.

For example, the final stage of dough rising is called proofing. Proofing helps the yeast create carbon dioxide which helps form the bread with an airy or fluffy shape. I would submit to you that our monetary contributions are “proof” of our commitment to the mission of the organization and to our craft. We are shaped by our giving.

Paul is absolutely correct in highlighting the need for us to make a financial gift to the ministry in which we are asking others for contributions. Seriously, how can we have authenticity in our hearts and voice if we aren’t also donors? Conversely, when we are donors, there is a truth that resounds in our voice and we can speak passionately from our hearts. Donors hear that and respect it. When we interact with donors we intend to inform, inspire and invite them to invest in the mission of our organization. In turn, if we are listening and paying attention, they inform and inspire us, shaping our thoughts and words while at the same time creating a pattern of giving in our own way.

What pattern does your giving have? Brother David’s statement at the beginning rings so very true with me. Sometimes I get mixed up by thinking or feeling that if I was more joyful or happier then I would be more generous. But, it’s the other way around. In truth gratitude is like yeast or a sourdough starter — it gets everything in motion. And a little bit of gratitude goes a long long way in raising the entire mixture of salt, water and flour.

When I was named the Director of “Always Being Made New — The Campaign for the ELCA,” my wife Sue Ann and I prayed about what our gift was going to be. We were new to the field of development at this scope and magnitude. In the parish we had always tried to lead by example. So, we prayed about our giving. We decided to push ourselves to what we felt was something significant we could do. At first it was not easy. But, then it became a pattern --a routine--and we often found ourselves making additional gifts because we could. I am grateful for Sue Ann’s commitment and deep sense of gratitude and joy.

I usually include this prayer when I give a loaf of bread to someone. I try to pray it every day. It’s like a recipe for me.

“Abba Jesus,

You ask me to follow.

Let me follow you as bread.

Knead me and rest me.

Raise me, bake me and

Break me.

Set me at the centre

And disperse me.

Let me be absorbed by others

Multiplied in their hearts.

Let me be collected as manna

Or as leftovers.

Let me be in twelve baskets

When your work is done.

You are the bread of life.

I trust you to feed me with a

Fragment;

To fill me with the smallest

Crumb.”

Amen

Barefoot Prayers, A Meditation a day for Lent and Easter By Rev. Stephen Cherry. The Rev. Dr. Stephen Cherry is the Dean of the Chapel, King’s College, Cambridge.

Bon appétit!

Ron Glusenkamp is a graduate of Concordia Senior College, Fort Wayne, Indiana (BA in Greek) and also a graduate of Christ Seminary-Seminex (M. Div. Biblical Studies). He was ordained in 1981.

From 2006-2014 Ron served as Senior Pastor at Bethany Lutheran Church in Cherry Hills Village, CO and previously served at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Wichita, KS; Immanuel Lutheran Church, Kansas City; Gethsemane Lutheran Church, St. Louis, MO. Ron was the Vice President of Customer Relations for the ELCA Board of Pensions (now Portico), and was a guest Lutheran Preacher on Day 1 (formerly the Protestant Hour).

In 1998 Ron published a book titled Signs for These Times (CPH), which is a practical resource that helps church leaders use their church signs as a venue for getting their congregation known in the community and connecting faith with daily life and community happenings. He co-wrote God’s Standard or Gold Standard?: Studies in Proverbs (Book of Faith) with Peter Mayer, which follows readings from Year B, Lectionaries 23-25.

Ron has been married for 49 years to Sue Ann Glusenkamp, who served (from 2019-2024) as the Faith Community Nurse at Augustana Lutheran Church in Denver. Together they have three adult children. Ron is a bread baker and a pretzel maker. He likes “to raise dough” literally and figuratively! Ron is committed to the vision and mission- “Jesus is the Bread of Life” & “that all may be fed.”

Pastor Ron retired at the end of 2020. He served as the Interim Pastor at Desert Hills Lutheran Church, Green Valley, Arizona.

You can reach him at Ronaldt.glusenkamp@gmail.com