Our Biggest Challenge
Note: Over the next couple of weeks, we will be conducting a "second effort" to secure additional financial pledges for All Saints' ministry. A significant number of our active households did not make a pledge for 2006, and we will be asking them to re-consider. The Vestry is currently working with a deficit in our budget-currently a shortfall of $3,400 (but which was some $7,000 short at the time the budget was submitted to the Parish Meeting). 1 think that many of our people are simply unaware of our needs and how easily those needs might be met, both for now and in the future. See below...
I would be derelict in my responsibilities to this congregation if I did not raise the alarm about the critical need for the majority of our households to take their financial stewardship for All Saints' more seriously. Two basic problems must be addressed.
MAKE A PLEDGE IN THE FIRST PLACE. Fully 38 of our congregation does not make a pledge. This handicaps All Saints' severely. Most of these people do indeed give regularly, but they feel unable to make a formal commitment for various reasons (usually, variability of income or the fear of being unable to fulfill a pledge). If this is you, my suggestion for a win-win remedy is to turn in a pledge card at some very basic level, and then give as you normally do above that. We make the budget only from our actual pledge cards in hand. Don't be embarrassed to turn in a card for $10 or $20 a month—we really do need that (yes, our budget is that tight!) Consider this: we have 77 active households that did not make a pledge for 2006. If they had all pledged an average of just $15 a month, we would have an extra $13,860 for our budget! That would have made an enormous difference for 2006, not counting what they would be able to give above that basic $ 15.
PROPORTIONATE GIVING. Most people simply pledge a convenient round figure. Also we have too many people who pledge the same amount year after year (that clobbers us). A good way to begin proportionate giving is to find out what your present pledge is in terms of a percentage of your income. For example, if your income is $36,000 annually and your pledge to All Saints' is $1,800 your stewardship is at 5%. Then, next year you increase percentage (not thinking in terms of the dollar amount). Using the Biblical norm of the tithe (10%) as the standard, you raise your percentage incrementally over time toward that goal:
"OK, I'll commit 6%. 6% of $36,000 is $2,160.
Therefore, $2,160 is my pledge for next year."
Or, perhaps that's too much of a leap as you grow into this way of stewardship. So work with half-percentage points:
"I'll go to 5.5%. 5.5% of $36,000 is $1,980.
Therefore, $1,980 is my pledge for next year."
For following years, you go to 6% or 6.5% and then to 7%, etc. You won't believe how easy it gets as you adapt to this! It even becomes very rewarding and energizing. And if our households committed to proportionate giving, the difference for All Saints' and what we could do here for program and ministry would be astounding.
Most people would be embarrassed or shocked to learn just what the percentage level their pledge actually is. Studies show that the majority of Episcopalians are at less than 2% -this despite how much they say their faith and faithfulness means to them.
Even though I have focused here on the raw-dollar, "practical" realities facing All Saints' your pledge is first of all a spiritual matter. It is about your Christian life—your faithfulness to the Gospel. What you provide for the mission and ministry of the Church is part of your response to Jesus Christ This is not just about All Saints' and our budget: it's about you! Do what you can, but do what you can.
Faithfully, Shannon +
