STEWARDSHIP 2008:
Toward Greater Generosity

Christian Stewardship Is

• The grateful and responsible use of God's gifts in the light of God's purpose as revealed in Jesus Christ. Christian stewards, empowered by the Holy Spirit, commit themselves to conscious, purposeful decisions.
• What I do, with all that I have, after I say, "I believe."
• Using the gifts God has given us, to do the work God is calling us to do.
• Prayerful use of our time, our talent and our treasure.

The Fall Stewardship Initiative is geared toward helping us think about sharing our "treasure." We ask you to give prayerful thought to increasing your pledge this year.

WE NEED YOUR PLEDGE OF SUPPORT

What is a pledge?

A pledge is a good faith commitment, usually paid in regular installments throughout the year-weekly, monthly, quarterly, or even annually-you choose.

How do I make a pledge?

You may fill out a pledge card and bring it to church on Sunday, November 4 for our Gathering of Pledges. If you will not be in church that day, please mail your pledge to the Church Office.

Why should I pledge?

Your pledge is vitally important in planning for the ministries of this parish. Without promises of support, we would have difficulty in preparing a realistic budget for the coming year.

WHAT DOES MY OFFERING SUPPORT?

SPIRITUAL GROWTH

The spiritual growth of parishioners is an ongoing and significant activity and one of which we should never lose sight. As we examine the spiritual growth of the congregation, we have many reasons for gratitude. Lives are transformed. People have found God. Much is done that inspires others so that they might continue the growth process for others, as well as for themselves.

WORSHIP

The worship of God is at the heart of all we do at Trinity. We reach deeply into our Anglican tradition, building on it to explore new ways to give glory to God in our prayers and preaching and music.

EDUCATION

Christian education is available for all ages.Programs include the Children's Church; Junior Youth Group with a new curriculum; and Senior Youth Group focusing on discussion and community service.

For adults, we will have a new adult forum and intergenerational program with supper on the second Sunday evening of each month. Education for Ministry (EFM) meets on Sunday afternoons.

OUTREACH MINISTRY

We reach out to youth, the homeless, the hungry, and the dispossessed. As a Jubilee Ministry Center of The Episcopal Church, we open the doors of our hearts, as well as the doors of the church, and value each human being as beloved by God.

The HAVEN - an after-school program for high school youth

Ministry of space - over 30 community groups use the church for meetings, including Upward Bound, Helping Hands Clothes Closet, Boy and Girl Scouts, and support groups.

Food Ministry

•  Canteen on Wheels: Saturday Night Meal Delivery to the homeless

•  Sunday Lunch Canteen: a hot meal served at church to the homeless and hungry.

•  The Friends' Dinner: for persons infected or affected by HIV/AIDS

•  CHOW (Community Hunger Outreach Warehouse) food collection and support of the annual CHOW walk.

 

BUILDING AND GROUNDS

Our church and rectory properties must be maintained.

There is also expense for

• Utilities
• Insurance
• Repairs
• Upkeep
• Supplies

The Building and Grounds Commissioin is developing priorities for a case statement for use in a capital campaign. We have re-contacted Holliman Associates to explore the feasibility of the campaign.

STAFF

A professional staff is needed to carry out the pastoral, musical, educational, administrative support, and maintenance functions of our ministry and programs.

We are blessed by the careful guidance of our interim rector, The Rev. Paul C. Donecker. As the year 2008 unfolds, we will begin the process of self-evaluation and organization for a search committee for a permanent rector.

WHERE DOES OUR MONEY COME FROM?

OUR 2008 BUDGET

The 2008 budget for running our church is just over $374,000, excluding the Living Church Fund and Hoyt Funds. Less than half of this amount comes from current members.

Pledges and plate collection pay for

• the rector and rectory
• our fair share of running the Diocese
• insurance
• heat, light and essential maintenance
• postage and office supplies

Don't we have a large endowment? What do we do with that money?

Trinity has about $3 million in endowment funds. For 2007, we used 5.8% of those funds to supplement our pledge income. (For 2008 we have budgeted 6.175%.)

Endowment income enriches our parish life by providing for

• our music program (staff and equipment)
• office and custodial staff
• Christian education director
• outreach ministries
• building and grounds maintenance

For several years, our Vestry has been reducing the yearly draw on our endowment funds, with a goal of reaching 5% by 2008. Unfortunately, we had to reverse that trend in 2007 when Vestry relunctantly voted to withdraw 6.2% of endowment funds to balance the budget.

How do we make use of the Living Church Fund?

The Living Church Fund has an endowment of about $320,000 and the funds are meant to support pilot programs and develop the members and staff of our church. Wonderful examples of the use of this fund include

• sabbatical education leave for our clergy and music director
• support to people training for the ministry
• conference and continuing education for clergy, staff, and parishioners
• pilot programs, such as the new drama group

HOW SHOULD I THINK ABOUT MY GIVING?

Tithes, Tips and Membership Dues

There are at least three common perspectives when it comes to church pledges:

The first perspective is payment of dues. Just like Rotary, Lions Club or the Monday Afternoon Club, one pays a membership fee for the privilege of belonging. The challenge is that we are already members. Payment does not make us members. God's love does.

The second perspective is tipping.
Just as we reward servers at a restaurant for good services performed, we also bless God for all God so faithfully and lovingly does for us. The challenge is that at a restaurant we pay 10-20% of the check, depending upon generosity and quality of service. Would we give God less?

The third perspective is based on God and the biblical teaching of a tithe.
The first two stem from our response to what we receive from God. The third is focused on God and our desire to honor God out of a heart of love and devotion. Perhaps, you might ask, "Since God has given so much, how might I respond?"

Proportional Giving

St. Paul, a builder of churches and unashamed of spelling out the practicalities of giving wrote: "On every Lord's Day, each of you should put aside some amount of money in relationship to what you have earned and save it for the offering."
(I Cor. 16:2)

Some givers select a percentage of their income and base their giving on it. It doesn't have to be 10% - though that's the only percentage mentioned in the Bible. Average Protestant church pledging in the U.S. is about 2 - 3 % of income. Many have started there and found that the good habit not only helps the church but also helps their own personal financial stewardship. They further report that once committed to a percentage, they work each year on increasing the percentage.

Although you may not know exactly what your income will be this next year, you can make a pledge based on a reasonable estimate of your annual income and then add to it if things work out better. The beauty of proportional giving is its essential fairness. We give in proportion to what we have. Without some forecast of our income, we can't make a responsible church budget. We need you to pledge.

Increased Giving

Trinity's pledge income for the 2007 budget was approximately $10,000 less than in the prior year and the pledge income for 2008 threatens to be less than last year's due to departures and deaths of parishioners.

Our Stewardship Steering Committee asked all members, if possible, to raise their pledges by at least 10% this year in an effort to reverse our downward trend in giving. A continuing downward trend will necessitate cutting programs and salaries or impairing Trinity's endowment funds.

OUR STEWARDSHIP INITIATIVE FOR 2008

• A telephone calling team invited all members to attend our kick-off event – a pot-luck dinner on October 21, 2007, at which this brochure was distributed and discussed.
• The brochure was mailed to all who did not attend the dinner and the calling team contacted those members to determine if there were any questions about the brochure.
• The calling team contacted all members to urge them to attend services on All Saints' Sunday, November 4. At the services there was a presentation and thanksgiving for our pledges.
• A fourth call was made to those who had not pledged by November 4.
• The Finance Committee met later in November to prepare a budget for approval by Vestry at its December 9 meeting.

Time

Talent

Treasure

We need your pledge

What does my offering support?

Our 2007 Budget

How should I think about my giving?

Stewardship Initiative
for 2008