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Connection
PRESBYTERIAN
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to find my own authentic voice and to use it to combat injustices. When he died and my mother was giving my sisters and me some of his posses- sions, she gave me his pen, which was per fect. He always reminded me that the pen was mightier than the sword.
What is one surprising thing you’ve learned about the PCC so far? How dedicated staff are to their efforts to serve others and how thoughtful and generous people are in the PCC. There is a depth of con- viction and faith that has truly sur- prised me.
What are you most grateful for?
The list is so long! I’m so blessed by all of the people who have touched my life—even the challenging people because I’ve learned something about myself and others in the process. I’m grateful for my life and all of the ex- periences I’ve had—the good and the ugly; and for all of the abundance of love I have in it. My husband for sure, children-by-marriage (steps), my lifelong friends and sisterhoods. I could go on, but I won’t.
If you could have one super power, what would it be and how would you use it?
I’d love to have an invisible cloak. Does this count? Yes, I’m a huge Harry Potter fan! And I suppose I’d use it for good—I hope I would!
Interested in connecting with Jan- ice? She can be reached by email at jmeighan@presbyterian.ca or by calling 1-800-619-7301 ext. 257.
gether, then Nouwen’s discoveries and experiences will help empower you in your fundraising ministry.
3. You will be inspired!
It is inspiring to see fundraising as a spiritual practice, as much as prayer. Nouwen inspires us to consider mon- ey in new ways; to see people, with and without money, in new ways. He encourages us to engage in meaning- ful conversation about money with at least one other person (or with your- self in journal format, perhaps).
If you have not considered doing this, you will be inspired to do so. One last quote from Nouwen’s book: “When fundraising as ministry calls us together in communion with God and with one another, it must hold out the real possibility of friendship and community” (p. 49).
In reading this book you will learn about blessing, abundance, generos- ity, conversion and gospel. This book does not lay out steps to follow nor how-to’s. But it does provide chal- lenge, empowerment and inspiration for you and me as we embrace fund- raising as ministry and as a spiritual practice.
presbyterian.ca
SPRING 2017
Introducing Janice Meighan
INTERVIEW
and strategies and to find the gaps in the current fundraising efforts and to strategically plan for ways in which to address and fill those gaps.
I am collaborating and connecting with others across the denomina- tion—whether congregations, pres- byteries, synods, or specialized min- istries—to offer suppor t, resources, best practices and encouragement in all fundraising effor ts (annual, ma- jor, legacy and planned giving). I am also developing a three-to-five-year philanthropy plan for the national church. Essentially, for me, fundrais- ing is about empowering the gener- osity that already lives in the hearts of everyone.
What are your hopes and dreams for The Presbyterian Church in Canada? I’ve actually been asking this ques- tion myself. I’ve met with about 60 people so far, in the three months since I’ve arrived, and this is one of my key questions. My own hopes and dreams for the church lie in
serving others. I want to empower the hopes and dreams of others as I meet with so many people who love this church.
What part of your job do you enjoy the most?
Working with people in congrega- tions, staff, and meeting donors and members across the denomination.
What kind of impact do you want to have on the people you work with? I hope to empower them to share their authentic voice and to realize their own hopes and dreams, whatever that may mean for the individual person I’m connecting with at the time.
Rumour has it you’re related to Winston Churchill. Is it true?
Yes, it’s true. Wow, information trav- els fast! My paternal great-grand- mother was Delia Har t (nee Church- ill) and she was a cousin of Winston Churchill. However, the extended Churchills were not a par ticularly close-knit family. For those geneal- ogy buffs out there, this probably makes me his 5th or 6th cousin sev- eral times removed.
If you were to tell one person “thank you” for helping you become the person you are today, who would it be and why?
This was a hard one because there have been so many people. However, I would say it is my father. He has been deceased for seventeen years now and as I get older and reflect back, I think it is he who helped me become the person I am today. He taught me to speak up for myself and
ing professional who empowered him, by telling him, “I ask for money standing up, not bowing down, be- cause I believe in what I am about. I believe I have something impor tant to offer.” (p. 19). Nouwen learned that many people who go to church already have very generous hearts. They don’t need you to convince them to give, but they do need to be empowered. If you believe in your church, its mission and its ministry and in what you can accomplish to-
Written by Barb Summers, Associate Secretary, Communications Office
Janice Meighan began working at the PCC national office in Toronto on Oc- tober 16, 2016. Janice has taken on a new role as Development Manager, which involves working closely with congregations and Presbyterians in fundraising effor ts. Janice took a few minutes from her busy job to help us get to know her a little better.
Can you tell us a little bit about your background?
I’ve had a varied background. I start- ed out in banking with Royal Trust as a banking system business analyst, connecting with all stakeholders and depar tments across the bank. Over the decades, I have been a consult- ant and I’ve helped implement sys- tems and operational policies and procedures for the United Church of Canada in their stewardship depar t- ment, and for the Observer maga- zine; for Ryerson University in their advancement depar tment, and for others. Most recently and for over five years, I worked for a company in Toronto that specialized in Legacy giving. As the director of operations, we structured legacy campaigns and branding for a lot of charities in Can- ada and the USA.
Along the journey some fifteen years ago I also became a certified bereavement educator and counsel- lor with a specialization in trauma suppor t from those bereaved by suicide and homicide. I also obtained my bachelor degree (York University) in religious studies for the perspec- tive of humanities and history with a minor in biblical studies. My honours degree was in ritual studies with a specialization in feminist religious practice. I went on to do a master’s degree at University of Toronto in re- ligious studies with a focus on Chris- tianity in the Public Sphere.
In the last decade, I have also of- ficiated wedding ceremonies and fu- nerals (over 400) for those estranged from their religious affiliations and for those who consider themselves spir- itual but not religious but who still de- sire some meaningful ritual at these threshold moments in their lives. And like many others, I’ve cared for ailing parents and in-laws, and helped raise two terrific stepchildren all along the way. Phew! And now I am combining all of these varied experiences and skills in my role here at the PCC.
Can you tell us about your role at the PCC?
My key responsibilities are to inte- grate existing fundraising activities
The Top 3 Reasons to Read
A Spirituality of Fundraising
Written by Janice Meighan, Development Manager, Stewardship & Planned Giving
Henri J. M. Nouwen wrote a real gem of a book in less than 60 pages, pub- lished in 2010 by The Henri Nouwen Legacy Trust. It gathers together some of the prime wisdom and per- sonal experience from Nouwen on the topic of fundraising as ministry. He is an internationally esteemed priest and author of more than 40 books on a variety of topics concerning spiritu- ality. His publications have garnered great interest around the globe since his sudden death in 1996. Having been translated into 22 different lan- guages, more than two million copies of his books have been sold.
If you have not come across A Spirituality of Fundraising, or if it’s been on your bookshelf collecting dust, now is the time to give it a serious read (or re-read). This book would be an excellent choice for a
study group or book club.
Why read A Spirituality of Fundrais-
ing? For three compelling reasons: 1. You will be challenged
Most of us in the church tend to think of fundraising as going to congrega- tional members for the dreaded an- nual appeal or capital campaign. We often leave it to the finance or stew- ardship committee, or push it around, like a hot potato, from one committee to another. We almost never think of fundraising as ministry.
Nouwen puts it brilliantly: “From the perspective of the gospel, fund-
raising is not a response to a crisis. Fundraising is first and foremost, a form of ministry” (p. 16).
After reading his book and reflect- ing on the gospel, you can begin to see how fundraising is not something left up to one person or committee alone, but something for us all to en- gage in. Nouwen fur ther challenges us as readers to consider our own re- lationship with money. We will never truly be able to ask for money or en- gage in conversation if we do not first understand its power and the place it has in our lives.
2. You will be empowered
If you’ve ever had to ask for money, you know how it can make you feel. The majority of us feel rather anx- ious by the prospect. And often in the church, if we even risk asking, we tend to do it in rather apologetic ways. Even our appeal letters tend to be apologetic.
Nouwen learned from a fundrais-
We almost never think of fundraising as ministry.