1.
Who should pledge?
Anyone
who feels a meaningful connection to St. Paul’s should
consider making a pledge of support.
2.
Why not just put money in the plate?
Your
pledge is a covenant with our community. It helps our leadership
plan responsibly for the upcoming year.
3.
How does my pledge help St. Paul’s?
Our
community exists by God’s grace and through your
contributions. Your pledge supports the life and work of the church,
through salary support, operating and building expenses, and
program.
4.
How is giving to the church different than other charitable giving,
say, to the American Red Cross?
First,
we celebrate and encourage all giving. If you make charitable giving
a regular practice, good for you! Often we give to a charitable
organization because its mission is important to us. This is also
true of our giving to the church, but true Christian giving is more
than this. As Christians we are called to be a generous people. The
path of Christian Stewardship involves intentional “giving
back” in gratitude for all that God has given us. It is more
than mission-based giving; it is spiritual practice, a “holy
habit.”
5.
How should I approach deciding how much to give?
In the
Episcopal Church, tithing is the standard. Tithing is giving away
10% of what we have. That being said, tithing may not be possible
for everyone. We encourage you to engage in proportional giving—that
means a percentage of what you earn. If you are new to the practice
of pledging, start at a comfortable level, say 0.5 to 1 %, and be
realistic.
Suggested
steps:
Look
for God’s grace in your life
Give
thanks for what you have received
Take
a look at your finances.
Follow
the adage, “first you give, then you save, then you live on
the rest”
Consider
a gift that is in proportion to the importance of God and St.
Paul’s in your life
6.
How is pledging good for ME?
Pledging
encourages our spiritual growth and trust in God. It brings a
spiritual component to our finances and allows us to have control
over our money, rather than letting money and things have control
over us. The practice of regular giving can be transforming. Truly,
it is in giving that we receive.