Stewardship Q&A
It's time again to conduct the church's annual stewardship campaign. You may pledge either online or on a card that will be available in church to be brought to the altar in a special ceremony. Here are some questions and answers about stewardship.
Question: Why should I give?
Answer: Giving the first fruits of our income back to God is an ancient spiritual practice rooted in the Bible (see Exodus 23:16, Deuteronomy 14:22). Christians believe that all things belong to God, including our financial resources, our time, our talents and abilities and even our bodies (Psalm 24:1, 1 Corinthians 6:19). Stewardship is the practice of celebrating all of life as a trust to be managed on God’s behalf. By giving back to God, we recognize our dependence upon God and express our gratitude for the gifts we have received. Put simply, giving grows us closer to God.
Question: What is a tithe?
Answer: A tithe (from an Old English word for “ten”) is the biblical standard of giving a tenth of one’s income back to God. Tithing dates all the way back to Abraham (Genesis 14:20) and has been practiced by Christians throughout the ages. If you’re not used to thinking proportionally about your giving, a full tithe may seem like a lot to begin with. Try setting a goal for increasing by a percentage or two a year until you reach ten.
Annual Income | 2% | 4% | 6% | 8% | 10% | 12% | 14% |
$10,000 | $200 | $400 | $600 | $800 | $1,000 | $1,200 | $1,400 |
25,000 | 500 | 1,000 | 1,500 | 2,000 | 2,500 | 3,000 | 3,500 |
50,000 | 1,000 | 2,000 | 3,000 | 4,000 | 5,000 | 6,000 | 7,000 |
75,000 | 1,500 | 3,000 | 4,500 | 6,000 | 7,500 | 9,000 | 10,500 |
100,000 | 2,000 | 4,000 | 6,000 | 8,000 | 10,000 | 12,000 | 14,000 |
125,000 | 2,500 | 5,000 | 7,500 | 10,000 | 12,500 | 15,000 | 17,500 |
150,000 | 3,000 | 6,000 | 9,000 | 12,000 | 15,000 | 18,000 | 21,000 |
200,000 | 4,000 | 8,000 | 12,000 | 16,000 | 20,000 | 24,000 | 28,000 |
250,000 | 5,000 | 10,000 | 15,000 | 20,000 | 25,000 | 30,000 | 35,000 |
Question: If I plan to give, why do I need to make a formal pledge? Can’t I just put something in the offering basket?
Answer: Pledging is a good-faith commitment by you to God and to the church. As you reflect upon your budget for the coming year, making a pledge brings prayerful discipline and focus to your giving. It is also vital to helping the church plan responsibly for its finances.
Question: Why are we being asked to bring our pledge cards to the altar?
Answer: In worship, we bring the whole of our lives to God in praise and thanksgiving. Giving is an act of worship as we recognize that God is worthy of receiving the best we have to offer. It is fitting that we incorporate our financial commitments into the liturgy, just as we bring forward the gifts each Sunday for the Eucharist.
