Stewardship FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions (And Answers) About Stewardship

What is stewardship?

The National Episcopal Church definition of stewardship is:

Christian stewardship is 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.

Without this stewardship commitment by our members, we at Holy Trinity could not fulfill our mission.

What exactly is our mission?

The Mission of Holy Trinity is to be a welcoming and supportive community of faith.
We Seek To Be:

A melting pot of believers in Jesus Christ whose hearts are open to embrace the world around us.

A place of healing, comfort, and safety for all God’s children.

A house of worship faithful to the traditions of the Episcopal Church and open to the joyful action of the Holy Spirit.

To accomplish this mission, we have a number of ministries or committees-such as worship, music, Christian formation, small groups, stewardship, finance, and something extremely important here at Holy Trinity, outreach. All members are invited to join one or more of these groups. (For more information, call the church office, talk with clergy or any Vestry member.)

How does this budget process work?

Each elected member of the Vestry serves either as the head or liaison of a Ministry at Holy Trinity. Examples of ministries include: Worship, Christian Education, Buildings & Grounds, Stewardship, Parish Life, Finance, and so on. In the early autumn, Vestry members, in collaboration with their respective committees, begin to anticipate what funds would be required to execute their ministries as envisioned during the following year. The Stewardship campaign requests that members and friends of Holy Trinity offer their pledge cards on Commitment Sunday–this year on Sunday, November 20, 2011. When the pledge cards have been received and totaled by the Treasurer, the Vestry will know whether they will be able to realize their plans for 2012.

What is the Annual Pledge Drive & what does it support?

The Annual Pledge Drive is an annual effort to solicit stewardship pledges and support from church members for the upcoming year. The funds from this drive provide roughly 2/3 of Holy Trinity's Operating Budget.

How do I make a pledge?

Fill out a Pledge Card and give it to Holy Trinity on Commitment Sunday (this year it is November 20th), mail it to Holy Trinity, place it in the Offering Plate on Sunday, or bring it to the Church Offices.

How much should I pledge?

This is a completely personal decision, between yourself and God. Giving to God is fundamentally different from giving to other charitable institutions. It is commanded by God in both the Old and New Testaments as an overt acknowledgement that God is the Giver of all we have. In the Old Testament, people were expected to "Tithe." The word "tithe" means 10%. It is very difficult for many of us to tithe if we were not raised from childhood with the understanding that a tenth of all we have is expected to be given back. However, a good discipline is to take stock of what percentage we are presently giving, and to strive to increase our giving as a percentage going forward. Giving is supposed to hurt. If we live at the same level of affluence as someone at our same level of income, we are probably giving away too little. Sacrificial Giving means that there is something we will have to do without in order to make our gift possible. Through this practice, we honor God and acknowledge that:

"All things come of Thee, O Lord,

And of Thine own have we given Thee."

Can our children pledge here at Holy Trinity?

Yes, they can. As parents, talk to your children (in age-appropriate terms) about how to make a pledge and what it represents. Show them the new pledge form and explain how they are deciding how much to be faithful followers of Jesus when they decide how much to support Holy Trinity's ministries.

They are invited to return their pledge cards on "Commitment Sunday" when adults offer their pledge cards. If they pledge they will receive weekly pledge envelopes and will receive quarterly statements to let them know how they are doing on their promise.

To nurture our children in an understanding of stewardship, this is a way to help them experience stewardship and the joy of giving of oneself. We will take the gifts our children give seriously and let them know how much such gifts are appreciated.

I hear talk about tithing and wonder: Do you all seriously expect me to tithe-or give 10 percent of my earnings to the church?

Tithing is the scripture-based admonition to give 10 percent of our time, treasure and talents in support of the church. And, when it comes to pledges, it would be great if everyone pledged and gave 10 percent of his income to Holy Trinity! We could take a lot of pressure off the Vestry and Finance Committee if that were the case! In reality though, a very small percent of Episcopalians actually give 10 percent. Many have, however, made a commitment to work toward tithing by starting with a percentage they felt manageable and increasing it over time.

Can't I practice stewardship without pledging–by just putting money in the plate?

Of course Holy Trinity will benefit from any money received whether by pledge or plate offering. But, by making a pledge, not only are you making a stewardship commitment, but you are also helping the church as a whole to practice good stewardship. Pledges give us an idea of how much money Holy Trinity will have to carry out its mission. This is critical information for our church leaders. It enables them to make conscious, purposeful decisions about funding for church activities, from ministry to maintenance.

Isn't it reasonable for me to consider gifts to charitable organizations or causes part of my tithing?

Yes, it is reasonable and understandable. But keep in mind that the church–this body of Christ–cannot accomplish its mission, or even survive, without support from its members in terms of time, talent and treasure. We would hope that you believe strongly enough in the mission of Holy Trinity to support it financially.

Can pledges be modified once made?

Yes, you can modify your pledge, if necessary, during the pledge year.

Don't we get money from the Diocese?

No, we don't–it's the other way around! Unlike some churches (such as the Roman Catholic) we are not funded from the top down. In fact, we are charged an annual assessment that we pay our Diocese to support the missions and operations of the whole Episcopal Church throughout the world. Your pledges go to our parish, not the Diocese but we fund the Diocese through this assessment.

Don't we have an Endowment?

No, we don't. It is an endeavor that we should seek to start and to build, perhaps through legacy, so that it may be used for larger objectives of the parish. Why not consider making Holy Trinity a beneficiary of your estate? By naming Holy Trinity in your will, you can create a lasting legacy for future generations.

What is the average pledge at Holy Trinity in 2011?

For 2011 we received 53 pledges for an expected total of $117,750. The average annual pledge was $2,222 ($42.75 per week). The distribution of pledges ranged from under $100 to over $5,000 per year.

The average pledge in the Episcopal Church annually is approximately $2,500 per year.

How do I pay?

Pledges can be paid as a single gift or in installments: weekly, monthly, or annually. Your pledge can presently be in the form of cash or check. Payments can be made by mail or in the Offering Plate. We are presently working on the future ability for Electronic Giving (E-Giving).