Just a Transaction?

In my meetings with synagogue leadership, the different types of synagogue leaders are easy to spot. One can often tell just from the discussion. There are people who are really into social action and social justice. There are people who are into worship and adult study. And then there are the “bean counters”, board members who have a business background and apply this acumen to their approach to the operational and management aspects of synagogue life.

I have been reading some blogs and group chats lately about dues models. There has been a lot of discussion lately, particularly about the voluntary dues option. For some, the excitement of something new seems to have worn off. “There are people who are always looking for a deal”, one synagogue leader shared. Another one stated “a lot of people aren’t honest”. Another said “most people are honest” (I am one who believes this statement to be true).

Transparency is a good thing. You can share with congregants the actual per member costs for operations. You can share income history from religious school and Early Childhood tuition, and other fees. If you have an endowment fund, you can share projections as to the 4-5% that will be available for the budget. The likelihood is you will still need to have a plan for additional fundraising – High Holy Day and annual appeal, Major Gift programs, events, and even ongoing efforts to grow the endowment – to cover all of the budgeted expenses.

Yes, you don’t want people to think of synagogue dues in the same way they think of dues for a health club. If I am only going 3-5 times a year, is it worth it? One might say it is all about choice. You are choosing to worship 3-5 times a year. When a life challenge happens – death, illness – might the synagogue play more of a role in your life than just being a place to pray at the High Holy Days and maybe when you want to remember a loved one? Or when you have nothing else to do on a Friday night?

For these people – maybe they read the weekly newsletter, and follow the synagogue on Facebook. Has the rabbi, cantor, or even a board member called them in the past 2-3 years to make a time to get together for coffee and asked them how they are doing? Emails and social media posts are certainly a form of engagement. It is the personal engagement of human conversation, through a phone call and a face-to-face encounter that always has deeper impact.

Ron Wolfson calls it Relational Judaism. It really comes down to caring about each other. If you show you care and engage congregants, beyond just their showing up to stuff, whatever dues model you have will be successful. People won’t question the value of being synagogue members and whether shelling out $2000, or $3000 or whatever the amount, is worth it.

And such caring will also impact fundraising, whether it be for the High Holy Day appeal, a capital campaign, or a planned giving effort. Show you care and the payment of synagogue dues is not just another financial transaction.

Rather it is a statement about the importance of community.