A report to Synod that few elders want to miss is the one that talks about our giving to Reformed Presbyterian Missions and Ministries (RPM&M). This is because free M&Ms are often given out to remind us about the importance of RPM&M. Munching on our mini chocolates, we hear numbers and names that together make up a comprehensive look at who we are as a church and what we are doing for our world. Gifts to RPM&M contribute to that collective, comprehensive sense of our work as a church.

The RPCNA is a small denomination that supports independent institutions like Geneva College, the Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (RPTS), and the RP Home. These ministries can be greater than the Synod in size and yet still answer to Synod in some way. We also have much smaller works, like committees and commissions, who see to the operations and interests of our church. In between, we have boards who manage large operations like missions or publications.

With our limited resources spread out among so many worthy works, the RPCNA has to be strategic about its financial priorities. Giving to RPM&M dovetails with the strategic priorities set by our Synod for our work as a church. This is Presbyterianism applied to our finances.

Synod evaluates our missions and ministries by several different criteria in order to set our collective and comprehensive strategic financial priorities.

RPM&M takes into account differing abilities to fundraise. Geneva College enjoys a large pool of alumni who are not Reformed Presbyterians and hopefully has an equally large stream of donations from those grateful graduates. The alumni of RPTS are fewer in number and generally in lower paying, ministry-minded jobs. The financial needs of our educational institutions differ, and RPM&M takes note of that.

RPM&M takes into account otherwise unfunded commitments of the denomination. Synod en-trusts its work to various committees: the preservation of our history (Church History Committee), the attainment of terminal degrees (Graduate Study Committee), the revitalization of congregations and pastors (Vital Churches Committee), and the discipleship of our youth (Youth Ministries Committee). These ecclesiastical priorities have little external aid and are our denominational responsibility. RPM&M supplies their needs.

RPM&M takes into account complex and varying situations. The publication of our literature generates some independent revenue but seldom enough or predictably (Education & Publication Board). The work of church planting is exciting and can elicit funds from generous donors, but success and timing depend entirely on the sovereignty of God’s Spirit (Home Mission Board). The outreach of our denomination requires steady support through the various seasons of feast and famine. RPM&M maintains this stable stream of funding.

This brief survey does not account for Global Missions, Synod Operations, the Central and South America Committee (CASA), and others. Who can keep track of all these commitments and give them their proper priority? RPM&M does that. When looking at two request letters from separate RP ministries, a donor might wonder which one to support. RPM&M answers: both. It seeks to balance and support all the needs of the denomination. Giving to RPM&M empowers the denomination to distribute funds in an equitable and comprehensive manner.

Jesus taught that money reflects values. Where the wealth goes, there goes the heart (Matt. 6:21). What do you want to love? Give generously and there your love will grow. Loving the specific missions and ministries of the church is right and good, so give directly to them that your love for them might grow. Love for the church is also right and good, so give to RPM&M that your love for the church’s comprehensive vision and strategic financial priorities grows. Give to the missions and ministries of the church.

M&Ms make a tasty addition to any Synod report, but they complement the RPM&M report beyond their similar sounding name. Just as a bag of M&Ms comes with various colors, the RPCNA enjoys an array of missions and ministries. And just as the colors in the M&M bag have varying amounts (so few blue and so many orange), the RPCNA needs to decide how to properly distribute its resources. Gifts to RPM&M are an expression of gratitude for the work of the denomination and submission to Synod’s vision for the whole church.