Advent Conspiracy urges Christians to spend less on selves, more to help needy

While you're out shopping for those last few gifts to put under the Christmas tree, Ann Thomas is launching an Advent Conspiracy.

She's conspiring to help people. To remind, or teach, others that happiness on Christmas is not just one perfect gift away. It's not about the new Xbox 360 or Kindle or iPad.

"Christmas is supposed to be about worshipping God. It's not about stuff," says Thomas, the pastor of Faith Springs United Methodist Fellowship.

Frustrated with the way the holiday has become "its own real estate bubble," ratcheting up every year to new and bigger consumerist heights, the new pastor enlisted her congregation to carry out something she heard about in seminary: a conspiracy to make Christmas more about giving and less about spending and receiving.

The Advent Conspiracy was started in 2006 by three pastors who were weary of the consumerism surrounding what was supposed to be a celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. They planned to enlist other churches as co-conspirators in encouraging people to follow the teachings of Christ and help those less fortunate, Thomas says.

One pastor was involved in Living Water, an organization that is working to provide clean drinking water to the world. The statistics show that the lack of clean drinking water kills more people than anything else, Thomas says.

"The estimated, one-time cost to bring clean drinking water to the world is $10 billion," Thomas says.

"Americans spend $400 billion a year on Christmas. They went to their congregations and said: 'Spend less. One less sweater or gift card. Just cut down on the craziness that brings nothing to our Christmas, anyway, and give some of that money to something like Living Water.' "

Thomas and the Faith Springs congregation vowed to spend less on their own holidays this year, instead using that money to fund a charitable cause.

"Really, what stuck out to me is how much we, as consumers, spend at Christmas," says Sandy Johnson, a Faith Springs member. She is currently teaching the adult Sunday school class on the Advent Conspiracy.

Even as a woman of faith, Johnson says she has been guilty of making the holiday's focus about the newest and best gifts for her kids, 6, 18 and 20. Last year, money was tight so they were forced to cut back. After the initial uproar from the kids wondering how they would get their wish lists filled, it turned out to be a great Christmas, Johnson says. They didn't even notice a difference. In fact, one of her 18-year-old daughter's favorite gifts, an iPod cover, came from the Dollar Store.

"This year, the Advent Conspiracy is giving us a good tool to teach them how to help others," Johnson says.

Thomas isn't advocating a complete abandonment of gift-giving and Santa photos or other family traditions. She is asking only for a reduction in spending and a reorganization of priorities.

"In some ways it defines what American Christianity looks like and American Christmas," Thomas says of the secular holiday traditions. "Our culture tells us you're supposed to spend money, put more lights up. Other cultures don't do it the way we do. It really has become ingrained in our society."

The name refers to the start of Advent, the four-week preparation period for Christmas. And, while "conspiracy" isn't a word that seems relatable to Jesus Christ, Thomas says it's perfect. It's conspiratorial to ask people to go against societal norms, such as embracing Black Friday and Cyber Monday and the idea that the holiday represents material goods, Santa Claus and egg nog, she says.

"Jesus was a bit of a radical himself. He shook up the system, turned things onto their heads," Thomas says. "We're embracing the idea that Christianity is supposed to be counterculture."

While Christianity is a major part of the Advent Conspiracy, it's still something that people of other faiths can relate to and possibly adapt, Thomas says.

"I think everyone can relate to the call of 'let's get off of this merry-go-round.' Let's help someone else," Thomas says. "We're calling on each other to share the blessings that we have and reduce suffering in the world."

On Christmas Eve, the church will have an old-fashioned Christmas pageant along with caroling and other holiday-oriented festivities, Thomas says. The public is invited to attend. That night, they will take up an Advent Conspiracy collection to be donated to a justice cause. A portion of it will go to a clean drinking water charity, she adds. The fellowship is small, only about 50 members. The congregation meets at Reedom Elementary School, 10025 Rumrill Street. For more information, visit the church website, faithsprings.org.

Contact reporter Sonya Padgett at spadgett@ reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4564.