Amish/Mennonite Benefit Dinners & Auctions

[mike]

I think the Benefit auctions are an excellent way to learn more about their faith “in action” as well.

Many plain people would disagree with this statement, and there are some who would consider it a danger to attend such an auction at all.

Yes, there is a fairly large percentage of Plain Anabaptists who don't attend benefit auctions and dinners, and can't understand how it makes sense to...
1. Feast so that starving people can have food. Why not fast or eat little, and give the money you might have spent on the food to the poor instead?
2. Buy something you don't need, in order that a portion of the sale can go to help those in need. Why not just give the money to the poor?
3. Spend a day at an auction, when you could spend the day in gainful employment and give the income to the poor?
3. Gain recognition for how much one was willing to spend on an item in which a portion of the sale will go to the poor, whenever Jesus taught that almsgiving should be done in secret.

I think this topic deserves its own thread.

These understandable concerns mean something to me if those who hold them are actually lavishly generous themselves in other ways.

I don't live in an area where there are very many of these sorts of events. I've been to a benefit dinner as a guest of someone else where the fundraising work was really annoying and overbearing, not that the ministry itself (not an Anabaptist organization or event) didn't have some value. But there's one annual local event that I like, and have been to a few times. The Old Order Mennonite community puts on a benefit auction for the Clinic for Special Children. The Old Order Mennonites are sort of low key about it, and at the auction, items tend to sell for reasonable to slightly inflated prices, as opposed to ridiculously high prices like I hear of at some of these events.

They put a massive amount of work into the event, which is also an informational experience with doctors and staff from the clinic present, giving information on things like medical breakthroughs and the long-term results of treatment. The high level of genetic diseases in the OOM community is a huge issue for them, and for other adjacent groups as well. I look at it this way. If my family were affected by a rare disease, it would mean a lot to me to see the support of the community for events like this. It is about fund-raising, but it is also about supporting these people in their community.

Yes, all these people could stay at home and send the clinic money in the mail, but at the same time, they choose to use their money to make crafts, donate products from their businesses, and make food, and offer the public a chance to buy these things knowing all the money is going to charity, while giving them a chance to learn about the charity. I find it hard to criticize and condemn this.

I remember a few years ago being at an Amish benefit auction for my cousin's child who had significant medical expenses. It was a largely Amish-attended event, and it was quite fascinating. As usual, all food and auction items sold were donated, and all proceeds went to the medical expenses. It was the most informal auction I've ever been to, with the auctioneering done by a whole variety of Amish men and boys who likely weren't licensed auctioneers but were nevertheless pretty good at the game, and there were no clerks - it was on the honor system. You simply tracked your purchases and put the money in a bucket. I suspect that the Amish really like these events because they are just plain fun, and they like giving their goods, skills, and money to someone who needs it.

All of that said, the concerns Ernie mentioned are not without merit.

[Ernie]

These understandable concerns mean something to me if those who hold them are actually lavishly generous themselves in other ways.

I don't live in an area where there are very many of these sorts of events. I've been to a benefit dinner as a guest of someone else where the fundraising work was really annoying and overbearing, not that the ministry itself (not an Anabaptist organization or event) didn't have some value. But there's one annual local event that I like, and have been to a few times. The Old Order Mennonite community puts on a benefit auction for the Clinic for Special Children. The Old Order Mennonites are sort of low key about it, and at the auction, items tend to sell for reasonable to slightly inflated prices, as opposed to ridiculously high prices like I hear of at some of these events.

They put a massive amount of work into the event, which is also an informational experience with doctors and staff from the clinic present, giving information on things like medical breakthroughs and the long-term results of treatment. The high level of genetic diseases in the OOM community is a huge issue for them, and for other adjacent groups as well. I look at it this way. If my family were affected by a rare disease, it would mean a lot to me to see the support of the community for events like this. It is about fund-raising, but it is also about supporting these people in their community.

I remember a few years ago being at an Amish benefit auction for my cousin's child who had significant medical expenses. It was a largely Amish-attended event, and it was quite fascinating. As usual, all food and auction items sold were donated, and all proceeds went to the medical expenses. It was the most informal auction I've ever been to, with the auctioneering done by a whole variety of Amish men and boys who likely weren't licensed auctioneers but were nevertheless pretty good at the game, and there were no clerks - it was on the honor system. You simply tracked your purchases and put the money in a bucket. I suspect that the Amish really like these events because they are just plain fun, and they like giving their goods, skills, and money to someone who needs it.

These sound like events I could appreciate and maybe even attend.

[Soloist]

You don’t have to overeat. Of course if you struggle with it, you shouldn’t go.

[Undershepherd]

I grew up as part of a conservative Mennonite group that frowned on benefit auctions and dinners. I don't ever remember going to one as a youngster. Now I am a professional auctioneer that provides fundraising services to non-profits and organizations and I sit on committees/boards for Mennonite/Anabaptist organizations that derive a significant portion of their operating funds through benefit auctions and similar events. I can see both sides of this issue.

I am a little like Mike, if those who complain about such events are generous in their own ways then I respect their position. I have also learned to really appreciate the community oriented aspect of fundraising events where individuals and businesses pool their resources, time, and money to raise a significant amount of money for a good cause. Often the results exceed what would have been possible with individuals donating separately. There is some energy and synergy that happens - not to mention a little good natured competition that can really make it successful.

Do I think it is right for every organization or non-profit? No certainly not, but I do think it has a place - especially when community involvement and interaction is a desired by-product or part of the main mission.

[Neto]

I grew up as part of a conservative Mennonite group that frowned on benefit auctions and dinners. I don't ever remember going to one as a youngster. Now I am a professional auctioneer that provides fundraising services to non-profits and organizations and I sit on committees/boards for Mennonite/Anabaptist organizations that derive a significant portion of their operating funds through benefit auctions and similar events. I can see both sides of this issue.

I am a little like Mike, if those who complain about such events are generous in their own ways then I respect their position. I have also learned to really appreciate the community oriented aspect of fundraising events where individuals and businesses pool their resources, time, and money to raise a significant amount of money for a good cause. Often the results exceed what would have been possible with individuals donating separately. There is some energy and synergy that happens - not to mention a little good natured competition that can really make it successful.

Do I think it is right for every organization or non-profit? No certainly not, but I do think it has a place - especially when community involvement and interaction is a desired by-product or part of the main mission.

I've tended to be on the 'skeptical' side of this, but I have been to a number of these, especially for the private schools our children attended, and now, the school our congregation operates. We generally don't buy very much of anything except for some baked goods, and also support the school a bit by eating there.

Another facet is that many people from the area attend the auction, I suppose to hopefully get a good deal on something. But this could also be the only exposure some people will have to the congregation or ministry that operates it. Is it a positive influence on them? We can hope so.

[Ernie]

These understandable concerns mean something to me if those who hold them are actually lavishly generous themselves in other ways.

I grew up in a church community in which people gave lavishly without any gimmics.
A simple postcard arriving in the mail with back text describing the need was enough to get people to write out large checks. The same was true when small outlying congregations who were not part of our conference wrote a letter asking us to help with a large medical bill or a house fire, etc. And when it was time for the school offering, people of all ages gave of their abundance. Some gave sacrificially.
Many people with the largest incomes drove the same Chevy's and Ford's that everyone else did and driving past their homes, you would not have guessed that they were richer than anyone else. Sometimes they had newer vehicles or newer equipment, but that was about the only way you could tell. Even then, some people borrowed money to get such things so the fact that someone had new things didn't indicate that they were doing well financially.
And they worked hard too in order to be able to give as much as they did.
Sometimes when I traveled to outlying congregations not part of our conference, I would get ribbed about coming from the "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania". But these folks didn't get started with barn chores until several hours after the farmers in my church got started in the morning, and they spent a lot of time going to youth socials and so forth. I didn't begrudge them the extra sleep and didn't begrudge them their social life, but it didn't really seem right to criticize wealthy people who were willing to forgo some of those things so that they would have more to give.

[Ernie]

As I mentioned earlier, I am fine with a fundraiser or auction that fosters community involvement as long as it does not militate against Jesus's teachings.

not to mention a little good natured competition that can really make it successful.

I don't doubt that this results in a more financially successful fundraiser. But isn't this sort of spirit the very thing that Jesus admonishes against in connection with giving?

[Undershepherd]

As I mentioned earlier, I am fine with a fundraiser or auction that fosters community involvement as long as it does not militate against Jesus's teachings.

not to mention a little good natured competition that can really make it successful.

I don't doubt that this results in a more financially successful fundraiser. But isn't this sort of spirit the very thing that Jesus admonishes against in connection with giving?

I guess for me it depends on which side of this you look at. If I am buying something (a quilt, a piece of furniture, tool) and there is some friendly competition to urge me to pay more for it, that looks different than competing to see who will give the highest direct donation. In the first case what I am really doing is rewarding the person who donated the item or their time - making their donation go further than it would have otherwise. And I am getting something of value in return. That feels more transactional and less like a gift - even though the proceeds are going to a good cause. In the second case where it becomes more or less just bragging rights and showing off how much we are giving, then that seems to be working against the spirit of what Jesus was teaching.

[JohnH]

US, that seems like a rationalisation. When I see people bidding 10X what an item is worth, they are simply making the amount of their donation publicly known. It seems to be the exact opposite of what we should be doing.

[Ernie]

As I mentioned earlier, I am fine with a fundraiser or auction that fosters community involvement as long as it does not militate against Jesus's teachings.

not to mention a little good natured competition that can really make it successful.

I don't doubt that this results in a more financially successful fundraiser. But isn't this sort of spirit the very thing that Jesus admonishes against in connection with giving?

I guess for me it depends on which side of this you look at. If I am buying something (a quilt, a piece of furniture, tool) and there is some friendly competition to urge me to pay more for it, that looks different than competing to see who will give the highest direct donation. In the first case what I am really doing is rewarding the person who donated the item or their time - making their donation go further than it would have otherwise. And I am getting something of value in return. That feels more transactional and less like a gift - even though the proceeds are going to a good cause. In the second case where it becomes more or less just bragging rights and showing off how much we are giving, then that seems to be working against the spirit of what Jesus was teaching.

I still don't understand why a person wouldn't just go buy the item from the person in private, and pay them the same amount they would have paid at the auction. Then the seller can give the extra money to the charity. And they could give more money to the charity as they wouldn't have to pay the auctioneer. And nobody would need to know how much was given except the buyer and seller.
Sorry US.
Or maybe you do your services for free.