1. What is Christian Stewardship?

2. What is a Pledge?

3. Why Should I Pledge?

4. What financial resources does St. John’s Church need for 2024?

5. When should I Pledge?

6. How much should I Pledge?

7. Proportional Giving how much should I Pledge?

8. How can I fulfill my Pledge?

9. How do I make a gift of stock to satisfy my Pledge?

10. How do I make gift from my IRA to satisfy my Pledge?

11. Who can I talk to if I have questions about my Pledge?

12. Who sees my Pledge?

1. What is Christian Stewardship?

Christian stewardship is using the gifts God has given us to do the work God is calling us to do. All that we have in this life is a gift from God. 

One of the special gifts that God has given us is the vibrant community of St. John's Church. St. John's Church nurtures and sustains each of us in many ways, through opportunities for worship and service to others, and through its ministries of fellowship, education, and spiritual growth.

Making a pledge to St. John’s Church is one way of being a good steward of God’s grace.

2. What is a Pledge?

A pledge is a spiritual decision and a spiritual discipline. It is a joyful thanksgiving for God’s grace in our lives and our way of doing God’s work at home and in the world.

Each of us should consider all aspects of stewardship in our lives and make a decision to pledge some of the gifts we have been given. Pledges may be financial gifts, gifts of time and gifts of individual talents. 

3. Why should I Pledge?

Pledges allow the Vestry and staff of St. John’s Church to plan for the future and be good stewards in making budget decisions. Anticipating financial resources is necessary to set priorities as vital actions are taken concerning our mission and ministry. Our ministries depend on your pledge, and every pledge matters.

Pledges accounted for approximately 85% of our 2023 operating budget, and all annual giving combined accounts for over 90% of our operating budget.

4. What financial resources does St. John’s Church need for 2024?

The 2024 pledge goal is $1,050,000. That is an increase of 7% over the average of the past three years.

Our annual pledge campaign is the primary source for providing the financial resources necessary to continue the worship, education, pastoral ministries, and outreach that mean so much to so many.

As we return to worshiping and participating in St. John’s ministries and programs in person, our focus is on continued commitment to excellence, and growth in areas where gaps exist. One such gap is the need to devote dedicated resources to the vital area of Youth Ministry.

Financial resources also are needed for maintenance of St. John’s Church’s 12 acres of land, and the physical properties of the church and the adjacent rectory.

5. When should I Pledge?

Each fall the Stewardship Committee oversees the annual stewardship campaign. The campaign runs from approximately October to December. The name of the 2024 campaign is “Abundant Life”.

While there is a specific time period on which we focus our efforts on financial pledging, financial pledges may be made at any time throughout the year. 

In addition to an annual pledge, there are other opportunities throughout the year to make contributions to the Altar Fund, Music Fund, and more.

6. How much should I Pledge?

To sustain and strengthen St. John's Church, the Vestry and Stewardship Committee ask every parishioner to pledge for the coming year. If you have pledged this year, we ask you to continue your commitment to this congregation and prayerfully consider increasing your pledge. If you have not pledged before, we ask you to join in our mutual commitment to maintain and strengthen this Christian community for the future.

The Biblical injunction to tithe, to give one tenth of our income, is a familiar benchmark for many. Others may be familiar with the concept of proportional giving as making a commitment to give a specific percentage of your income to the Church. We urge every member of the parish to pledge at least two percent of their family income to support the important ministries at St. John's Church.

We believe this is a very achievable commitment level for our parish if everyone participates. The following table provides weekly giving levels corresponding to certain percentages at certain income levels.

7. Proportional Giving and how much should I Pledge?

Thinking in terms of a pledge as a proportion of your income rather than a dollar amount helps you focus on your relationship with God. Proportional giving makes it easy to see the relative importance of charitable giving in your life and also has built-in flexibility for any ups and downs in your personal situation. As you prosper, you give more at the same percentage level. If your income is lower, you give less in dollars while maintaining the same percentage.

8. How may I fulfill my Pledge?

Most parishioners pledge by giving money on a weekly or monthly basis, while others make a one-time gift. In some cases, pledges are pre-paid for the next year in whole or in part for tax planning purposes. Some also meet their pledges by donating appreciated stock directly to St. John's Church. You can also give electronically using electronic bank transfers or a credit card.

For information on E-giving, return to the homepage of the website and look for the E-giving icon.

9. How do I make a gift of stock to satisfy my Pledge?

A gift of stock may be made directly to St. John’s Church. Contact the Parish Administrator for transfer instructions.

10. How can I make a gift from my IRA to satisfy my Pledge?

You may be able to donate directly from your IRA to a qualified charity such as St. John’s Church without having to pay income taxes on the money. This gift may satisfy part or all of a Required Minimum Distribution from the IRA for those taxpayers subject to RMD, which begins in the year the taxpayer turns 72. This type of donation may be a choice for taxpayers who do not itemize deductions or who are constrained by limits on the percentage of adjusted gross income that can be deducted. Consult your tax advisor for more information.

11. Who can I talk to if I have questions about my Pledge?

If you wish to discuss your pledge or have any questions about pledging, please contact any member of the Vestry, the Stewardship Committee, or Shelli Bushman, Chair of this year's Every Member Commitment Campaign.

12. Who sees my Pledge?

Specific pledge information is shared only on a ‘need to know’ basis. Generally, the Rector, Parish Administrator, Treasurer, Wardens and Stewardship Chair are familiar with specific pledging information, but it is not otherwise distributed.