--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The Church is her true self only when she…" description: "\"The Church is her true self only when she exists for humanity. As a fresh start, she should give away all her endowments to the poor and needy. The cle..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_calling_the-church-is-her-true-self-only-when-sh_473679.jpg" --- # The Church is her true self only when she exists for… ![“The Church is her true self only when she exists for humanity. As a fresh start, she should give away all her endowments to the poor and needy. The clergy should live solely on the freewill offerings of their congregations, or possibly engage in some secular calling.” quote by Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_calling_the-church-is-her-true-self-only-when-sh_473679.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_calling_the-church-is-her-true-self-only-when-sh_473679.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/3ec/dietrich-bonhoeffer-303_calling_the-church-is-her-true-self-only-when-sh_473679.jpg) > “The Church is her true self only when she exists for humanity. As a fresh start, she should give away all her endowments to the poor and needy. The clergy should live solely on the freewill offerings of their congregations, or possibly engage in some secular calling.” [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. True service means the church exists for humanity, sharing resources and living modestly from congregational support. **In simple terms:** Church should serve humanity, give away wealth, live on offerings. Key Takeaway Embrace humility and generosity. Themes service humility wealth community faith Mood reflective inspirational Type theological ethical When to use this quote - parish budgeting - charitable programs - volunteer ministries - faith‑based NGOs Key Concepts Christian ethics social justice stewardship Questions to Reflect On - How can churches balance generosity with operational needs? - What models of sustainable giving exist? A Different Perspective May conflict with institutional financial stability and leadership expectations. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Church](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/church/) [Clergy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/clergy/) [Congregation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/congregation/) [Existence](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/existence/) [Fresh start](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fresh-start/) [Giving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/giving/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Poor And Needy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-and-needy/) [Religion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/religion/) [Secular](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/secular/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [True self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/true-self/) ## Related quotes > [“To make a start, it should give away all its property to those in need. The clergy must live solely on the free-will offerings…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-make-a-start-it-should-give-away-all-its-property-to-those-in-need/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The church is only the church when it exists for others. To make a start, it should give away all its property to those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-is-only-the-church-when-it-exists-for-others-to-make-a/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [The church is her true self only when she exists for humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-is-her-true-self-only-when-she-exists-for-humanity/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [A high church for the true mediocre.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-mailer/a-high-church-for-the-true-mediocre/) [Norman Mailer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-mailer/) > [The Church is that one wherein the true word of God is preached, which Christ left to His Apostles, which the same Church hath…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-clitherow/the-church-is-that-one-wherein-the-true-word-of-god-is-preached-which/) Margaret Clitherow > [In this Year of Faith, we pray to the Lord that the Church may always be a true family that brings God’s love to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pope-francis/in-this-year-of-faith-we-pray-to-the-lord-that-the-church-may-always/) [Pope Francis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pope-francis/) > [... together we can build the people's Church, a true Church. Not just a hierarchy, or a building, but a real change inside people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rigoberta-menchu/together-we-can-build-the-people-s-church-a-true-church-not-just-a/) [Rigoberta Menchu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rigoberta-menchu/) > [Each of us has to face the matter—either the Church is true, or it is a fraud. There is no middle ground. It is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/each-of-us-has-to-face-the-matter-either-the-church-is-true-or-it-is/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [ The Christian church \[in its true identity\] does not persecute; any more than a lily scratches the thorns, or a lamb pursues and tears… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roger-williams/the-christian-church-in-its-true-identity-does-not-persecute-any-more/) [Roger Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roger-williams/) > [That I am not a member of any Christian church is true; but I have never denied the truth of the Scriptures, and I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/that-i-am-not-a-member-of-any-christian-church-is-true-but-i-have/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“In the new covenant, God is calling forth a spiritual nation made up of Jews and Gentiles, and all of them are regenerate and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-washer/in-the-new-covenant-god-is-calling-forth-a-spiritual-nation-made-up/) [Paul Washer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-washer/) > [“the path of those belonging to the Church circumscribes the whole world, as possessing the sure tradition from the apostles, and gives unto us…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/the-church-fathers/the-path-of-those-belonging-to-the-church-circumscribes-the-whole/) The Church Fathers > [This Church is true. It will weather every storm that beats against it. It will outlast every critic who rises to mock it. It…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gordon-b-hinckley/this-church-is-true-it-will-weather-every-storm-that-beats-against-it/) [Gordon B. Hinckley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gordon-b-hinckley/) > [If the Church were not true, our enemies would be bored rather than threatened, and acquiescent rather than anxious. Hell is moved only when…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neal-a-maxwell/if-the-church-were-not-true-our-enemies-would-be-bored-rather-than/) [Neal A. Maxwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neal-a-maxwell/) > [One thing and one thing alone keeps us from complete decay in this hour - the church, the true Church.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leonard-ravenhill/one-thing-and-one-thing-alone-keeps-us-from-complete-decay-in-this/) [Leonard Ravenhill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leonard-ravenhill/) ## More by Dietrich Bonhoeffer > [So the fool, as distinct from the scoundrel, is completely self- satisfied; in fact, he can easily become dangerous, as it does not take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/so-the-fool-as-distinct-from-the-scoundrel-is-completely-self/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Why do Christians sing when they are together? The reason is, quite simply, because in singing together it is possible for them to speak…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/why-do-christians-sing-when-they-are-together-the-reason-is-quite/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [What we shall need is not geniuses, or cynics, or misanthropes, or clever tacticians, but plain, honest, straghtforward men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/what-we-shall-need-is-not-geniuses-or-cynics-or-misanthropes-or/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [...Gratitude transforms the torment of memory of good things now gone into silent joy. One bears what was lovely in the past not as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/gratitude-transforms-the-torment-of-memory-of-good-things-now-gone/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Only he who believes is obedient and only he who is obedient believes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/only-he-who-believes-is-obedient-and-only-he-who-is-obedient-believes/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Who can really be faithful in great things if he has not learned to be faithful in the things of daily life?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/who-can-really-be-faithful-in-great-things-if-he-has-not-learned-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The church can only defend its own space by fighting, not for space, but for the salvation of the world. Otherwise the church becomes…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-church-can-only-defend-its-own-space-by-fighting-not-for-space/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [There remains an experience of incomparable value . . . to see the great events of world history from below; from the perspective of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-remains-an-experience-of-incomparable-value-to-see-the-great/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“To endure the cross is not a tragedy; it is the suffering which is the fruit of an exclusive allegiance to Jesus Christ. When…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/to-endure-the-cross-is-not-a-tragedy-it-is-the-suffering-which-is-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“There is only one church, the church of faith ruled by the word of Jesus Christ alone. This is the true catholic church that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/there-is-only-one-church-the-church-of-faith-ruled-by-the-word-of/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“As Christians, we needn’t be at all ashamed of some impatience, longing, opposition to what is unnatural, and our full share of desire for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/as-christians-we-needn-t-be-at-all-ashamed-of-some-impatience-longing/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [Those who love their dream of a Christian community more than the Christian community itself become destroyers of that Christian community even though their…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/those-who-love-their-dream-of-a-christian-community-more-than-the/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“From now on there can be no more wars of faith. The only way to overcome our enemy is by loving him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/from-now-on-there-can-be-no-more-wars-of-faith-the-only-way-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [“The scriptures do not present us with a series of Christian types to be imitated according to choice; they preach to us in every…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/the-scriptures-do-not-present-us-with-a-series-of-christian-types-to/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) > [We are not to simply bandage the wounds of victims beneath the wheels of injustice, we are to drive a spoke into the wheel…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dietrich-bonhoeffer/we-are-not-to-simply-bandage-the-wounds-of-victims-beneath-the-wheels/) [Dietrich Bonhoeffer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) [Explore all 711 Dietrich Bonhoeffer quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dietrich-bonhoeffer/) ## More Calling quotes > [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/) [Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/) > [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [God is not calling us to go to church; he is calling us to be his church, the hope of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/craig-groeschel/god-is-not-calling-us-to-go-to-church-he-is-calling-us-to-be-his/) [Craig Groeschel](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/craig-groeschel/) > [When you heed the calling of your heart, you are following your purpose. Having purpose in your life gives you the courage to do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rhonda-britten/when-you-heed-the-calling-of-your-heart-you-are-following-your/) [Rhonda Britten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rhonda-britten/) > [Like a child exploring the attic of an old house on a rainy day, discovering a trunk full of treasure and then calling all…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-h-peterson/like-a-child-exploring-the-attic-of-an-old-house-on-a-rainy-day/) [Eugene H. Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-h-peterson/) > [There's no greatest moment in the arts. It's a life; it's a continuity thing. You can't have a great moment because it's spiritual. It's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-neiman/there-s-no-greatest-moment-in-the-arts-it-s-a-life-it-s-a-continuity/) [LeRoy Neiman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-neiman/) > [“Duty is a done deal.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/duty-is-a-done-deal/) [Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/) > [NBC is making a movie about Martha Stewart that will cover the recent stock scandal. They are thinking of calling it 'The Road To…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/conan-o-brien/nbc-is-making-a-movie-about-martha-stewart-that-will-cover-the-recent/) [Conan O'Brien](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/conan-o-brien/) > [“There is no interaction without God with interaction with men”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/there-is-no-interaction-without-god-with-interaction-with-men/) [Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/) > [When I was a little boy, I was reading Dante and I was saying to myself 'Bravo, Dante, Bravo.' It's so beautiful, the music,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/roberto-benigni/when-i-was-a-little-boy-i-was-reading-dante-and-i-was-saying-to/) [Roberto Benigni](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/roberto-benigni/) > [ I don't see \[ Trainspotting \] as an albatross, I see it more as a calling card. It's got me out to Hollywood, I've… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/irvine-welsh/i-don-t-see-trainspotting-as-an-albatross-i-see-it-more-as-a-calling/) [Irvine Welsh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/irvine-welsh/) > [After I finished college, I got a job on Wall Street as a derivatives trader, but after a couple years of it, I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/philipp-meyer/after-i-finished-college-i-got-a-job-on-wall-street-as-a-derivatives/) [Philipp Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/philipp-meyer/) > [\*Calling someone I don't want to answer\* \*Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail. Please go to voice mail..\* Hello? -\_\_\_-](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ritu-ghatourey/calling-someone-i-don-t-want-to-answer-please-go-to-voice-mail-please/) [Ritu Ghatourey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ritu-ghatourey/) > [Sometimes you hear a voice through the door calling you... This turning toward what you deeply love saves you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rumi/sometimes-you-hear-a-voice-through-the-door-calling-you-this-turning/) [Rumi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rumi/) > [Please be slow to judge ‘brothers’ who have a different calling.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jon-foreman/please-be-slow-to-judge-brothers-who-have-a-different-calling/) [Jon Foreman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jon-foreman/) Browse all 3,811 Calling quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The Church is her true self only when she exists for humanity. As a fresh start, she should give away all her endowments to the poor and needy. 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