November 1 Today in OPC History

On this date in 1949, the first “Thank Offering” in the Orthodox Presbyterian Church was initiated as members of the church were encouraged to set aside November as a month of special giving for missionary work and Christian Education in thankfulness for God’s goodness to his church. Earlier that year, the Rev. John Galbraith, General Secretary of Home and Foreign Missions, had presented the plan to the Sixteenth General Assembly and asked the churches of the OPC to set a goal of $15 for each communicant member. The goal was to divide the gifts received between the Committees in the respective percentages of 45% for CFM, 40% for CHMCE, and 15% for CCE.

Many churches immediately responded to the Thank Offering with their own plans on how to meet the requested $15 per communicant member goal. Calvary OPC, Cedar Grove, WI held a Harvest Home Supper where $3,000 was raised. Second Parish OPC, Portland, ME held a three day Missionary Rally which concluded with a fellowship dinner. Pastor Calvin Cummings of Covenant OPC, Pittsburgh, had asked members to set aside 50 cents per week starting in August so that each could give the requested amount in November. The Missionary Societies of Immanuel OPC, West Collingswood, NJ distributed dime folders to members of IOPC. The folders had room for 30 dimes each, and the plan was for one folder to be turned in each month over a period of five months to meet the requested goal.

The 1949 Thank Offering resulted in gifts of $23,850 for the Committees, Foreign Missions receiving $10,575, Home Missions $9,701 and Christian Education $3,574. The average per communicant giving was slightly less than $5 per member.

Picture: John Galbraith