There has only been one article written about The Gathering since we began in 1985 – and that one had a negative slant.  It was titled “Hush-Hush: What Makes Christian Philanthropy Christian?”  This was the opening paragraph: “Two years ago they gathered at the swank Four Seasons in Seattle. Last year they gathered in Cancun. Next week to the Ritz-Carlton Philadelphia they will doubtless come again bringing their checkbooks with them for a Nov. 1 and 2 conference. ‘They’ are scores of wealthy believers looking for ways to use their earthly riches to advance the heavenly kingdom. In a good example of upper-class understatement their organization is called simply The Gathering. What the group lacks in rhetorical flourish however its members more than make up for in net worth. Imagine Abraham Job and the father of the Prodigal Son getting together for a seminar ” and you have a pretty good idea of The Gathering.” 

Since then” I have been reluctant to talk about The Gathering with the press but during a trip to Portland this month a columnist Steve Duin of The Oregonian was part of our group and seemed to be more positive about who we are and what we do.  So with some hesitation ” I sat down and talked with him about The Gathering.  I’ve included the article that was published after our visit.  I think I was right about him and thought it would be useful to share what he wrote.  Tell me what you think.

Quite The Gathering in Portland to educate a community of givers

“Oh” I get it ” I tell Fred Smith: 

You want to mobilize Christian philanthropists so they can combine resources and aim them at the most significant target” ” right? 

Smith — president of The Gathering — is a Southern gentleman” ” but he looks at me as if I've lost my mind. 

We've all seen” he says ” where that strategy ends: "Power corrupts. We rationalize it. We baptize it. We call it 'influence.' 

"I don't care about that. I'm a schoolteacher” ” not an evangelist. This is education. Applied learning for people who give money." 

The Gathering grew out of a casual 1985 meeting of five charitable trust program heads in Arlington” Va. It has evolved into a community of 1 500 each of whom gives at least $200 “000 annually to Christian ministries. 

That level of generosity has its traps and snares. 

"You can either fall into the ditch of cynicism and disillusionment” or the ditch of pride and arrogance " Smith said. "People don't do what they say. Or they say what they need to say as they entertain you ” feed you and laugh at your jokes." 

To educate this "community of givers" on the issues competing for its attention” Smith organized recent trips to Burma Cuba and Cambodia ” the last to confront the complex forces that drive the sex-trafficking industry. 

Last week” 20 members of The Gathering toured Portland ” eager to discover what happened in "unchurched Oregon" when the churches united to meet the needs of a city. 

"Portland is the first place I've seen a cohesive effort instead of disconnected ministries” “" Smith said. "Someone has connected the dots. This was an effort to understand the phenomena." 

To that end” the group hit Roosevelt High the most visible beneficiary of the Luis Palau Association's "Season of Service “" which partnered churches like SouthLake with area high schools. 

They lunched with a half-dozen pastors at Imago Dei and were briefed on the latest gang violence prevention efforts. 

"These are people” " Smith said ” "who have been given the opportunity to give away money. I want them to do it well. 

"You need to take your giving as seriously as you take your golf game. It's a calling. It's a craft. I don't think there's genuine joy in anything unless you're competent." 

The Gathering group included Bob and Sylvia Caldwell — Bob was a classmate of author Pat Conroy at The Citadel — who are seeking ways to transform Christian philanthropy in Spartanburg” ” S.C. 

John and Charlene O'Shea flew in from Houston” ” where their foundation serves inner-city Catholic grade schools. Charlene O'Shea was looking for a better understanding of what inspired a corporation like Nike to join the festivities at Roosevelt. 

Oh” ” I don't know: Kirsty Dickinson's pasta feeds? Christian Swain's coaching? Rich Recker's work ethic? 

Christine Sommer's definition of love? Mike Schrunk and Norm Daniels' comeback? Kevin Palau's trust? Deborah Peterson and Neil Lomax and Ahoefa Ananouko and Charlene Williams and 

"The sheer energy of the vision is what spoke to Nike” “" senior designer Wilson Smith told the group. "We like to come alongside things that are happening." 

Happenings that are sometimes years — of sacrifice” ” promise and serendipity — in the making. 

"For me” this was a seed “" O'Shea said. "It may take a few years for the tree to grow." 

And that's just the sort of lesson plan Fred Smith wants to leave with another Gathering of the students of Christian giving.