Best StewardshipBest StewardshipPracticesPractices

Commission for Stewardship and DevelopmentCommission for Stewardship and DevelopmentDiocese of Olympia, Seattle, WashingtonDiocese of Olympia, Seattle, Washington

TRACKINGTRACKING PLATE & PLEDGE INCOME PLATE & PLEDGE INCOME

Review the numbers for your Review the numbers for your congregationcongregation

What is the story behind the What is the story behind the numbers?numbers?

What do the projections tell you?What do the projections tell you? What should we do?What should we do?

STEWARDSHIPSTEWARDSHIPDEFINEDDEFINED

Everything you have is a gift from Everything you have is a gift from God. Christian Stewardship is then God. Christian Stewardship is then what we do with all that God has what we do with all that God has given us, after we say, “I believe.”given us, after we say, “I believe.”

The Rev. Dr. John Westerhoff, fromThe Rev. Dr. John Westerhoff, from

Grateful & Generous HeartsGrateful & Generous Hearts

FOUR TYPES OF GIVINGFOUR TYPES OF GIVING

Annual GivingAnnual Giving Capital GivingCapital Giving Mission GivingMission Giving Legacy GivingLegacy Giving

WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE TO THE WHY DO PEOPLE GIVE TO THE CHURCH?CHURCH?

Because they love ChristBecause they love Christ

For mission and ministryFor mission and ministry

To share the Good NewsTo share the Good News

Because they were askedBecause they were asked

BEST PRACTICES FORBEST PRACTICES FORSTEWARDSHIPSTEWARDSHIP

Every church has its own culture Every church has its own culture around stewardshiparound stewardship

Pick and choose which of these Pick and choose which of these practices will work, all of them are practices will work, all of them are valid, the more of these practices valid, the more of these practices you use, the more likely you will you use, the more likely you will have transformational successhave transformational success

#1 SCRIPTURE BASED THEME#1 SCRIPTURE BASED THEME

Base the campaign around a biblical Base the campaign around a biblical theme or scripturetheme or scripture

Train volunteers, utilize bible study in Train volunteers, utilize bible study in doing sodoing so

Recruit 20% to 30% of congregation Recruit 20% to 30% of congregation to help in the campaignto help in the campaign

#2 WITNESS TALKS/SHARING#2 WITNESS TALKS/SHARING

Short vignettes on why I give to GodShort vignettes on why I give to God One page or lessOne page or less Reviewed by Volunteer leadersReviewed by Volunteer leaders Can be shared live, printed in Can be shared live, printed in

newsletter, bulletins, used as annewsletter, bulletins, used as an

insertinsert

#3 PERSONALIZE THE APPEAL#3 PERSONALIZE THE APPEAL

No more one size fits all letterNo more one size fits all letter Segment your donor baseSegment your donor base Divide into at least two groups:Divide into at least two groups:

Those who pledge and those who Those who pledge and those who don’tdon’t

Address the top 20% who give 80% Address the top 20% who give 80% very personally, letter from clergyvery personally, letter from clergy

works bestworks best

#4 SERMONS/TEACHING#4 SERMONS/TEACHING

Scripture based sermons by clergyScripture based sermons by clergy

and/or lay people and/or lay people

Small/large group teaching and Small/large group teaching and discussion about what the Bible tells discussion about what the Bible tells us about stewardship us about stewardship

#5 YEAR ROUND STEWARDSHIP#5 YEAR ROUND STEWARDSHIP

Not just the annual campaignNot just the annual campaign Honor time, talent, environmentHonor time, talent, environment

at different seasons of the yearat different seasons of the year Thank ministries and volunteersThank ministries and volunteers

throughout the year in publicthroughout the year in public

#6 THANK FOLKS ALL THE TIME#6 THANK FOLKS ALL THE TIME

Thank and acknowledge a new Thank and acknowledge a new pledge within a week upon receiptpledge within a week upon receipt

Thank each person with card or note Thank each person with card or note when you send out statements when you send out statements during the year – it’s not a dunning during the year – it’s not a dunning statementstatement

Offer special thank you’s (cards,Offer special thank you’s (cards,

or events)or events)

#7 CELEBRATE ABUNDANCE#7 CELEBRATE ABUNDANCE

Hold an ingathering of commitmentHold an ingathering of commitment

cards as part of worshipcards as part of worship

Hold a brunch, dessert, or festiveHold a brunch, dessert, or festive

meal to celebratemeal to celebrate

#8 TRANSPARENCY#8 TRANSPARENCY

Make available financial, budget, Make available financial, budget, salary informationsalary information

Be honest and upfront with the Be honest and upfront with the reality of finances and givingreality of finances and giving

People need to know sooner, rather People need to know sooner, rather than later, no cover upsthan later, no cover ups

Be clear about God’s mission and Be clear about God’s mission and ministry for the congregationministry for the congregation

#9 PUBLISH A GIVING LADDER#9 PUBLISH A GIVING LADDER

Publish, by levels, how many give at Publish, by levels, how many give at what level (no names, just numbers)what level (no names, just numbers)

Tell people what the average pledge Tell people what the average pledge is for the congregationis for the congregation

#10 NARRATIVE BUDGET#10 NARRATIVE BUDGET

Use a simple, straightforward pie Use a simple, straightforward pie chart outlining expenditureschart outlining expenditures

Use a format/categories that is Use a format/categories that is mission focused: divide expenses mission focused: divide expenses into worship, outreach, pastoral care, into worship, outreach, pastoral care, youth, music, etc.youth, music, etc.

Have a detailed budget available Have a detailed budget available upon asking, most don’t want itupon asking, most don’t want it

#11 PLANNED GIVING#11 PLANNED GIVING

Use the commitment card to Use the commitment card to introduce planned givingintroduce planned giving

Add a question “Have you Add a question “Have you remembered the church in your remembered the church in your will?”will?”

““Would you like more information Would you like more information about how to make a legacy gift?”about how to make a legacy gift?”

Follow up, acknowledge those who Follow up, acknowledge those who have made a legacy gifthave made a legacy gift

#12 PUBLISH NAMES#12 PUBLISH NAMES

Publish the names, alphabetically, of Publish the names, alphabetically, of all who have made a commitmentall who have made a commitment

Use the newsletter to do so, or an Use the newsletter to do so, or an insert in a Sunday bulletin, or bothinsert in a Sunday bulletin, or both

Honor the very few, if any, who may Honor the very few, if any, who may wish to be anonymous, provide check wish to be anonymous, provide check of anonymity on cardof anonymity on card

#13 TEACH PROPORTIONAL#13 TEACH PROPORTIONALGIVING/TITHINGGIVING/TITHING

Proportional Giving accepts people Proportional Giving accepts people where they are, and invites them into where they are, and invites them into a deeper relationship & givinga deeper relationship & giving

Tithing is one of the four Holy Habits Tithing is one of the four Holy Habits adopted by our churchadopted by our church

The Gospel is not about staying in The Gospel is not about staying in one place, but responding to God’s one place, but responding to God’s call for a deeper relationshipcall for a deeper relationship

#14 BE CREATIVE#14 BE CREATIVE

Utilize the wealth of resources Utilize the wealth of resources available from diocese of olympia available from diocese of olympia stewardship programstewardship program

Visit the TENS website: Visit the TENS website:

http://tens.org/ Never do the same program two Never do the same program two

years in a rowyears in a row

PRACTICE THE HOLY HABITSPRACTICE THE HOLY HABITSAdopted by General ConventionAdopted by General Convention

Daily Study/PrayerDaily Study/Prayer Regular Corporate WorshipRegular Corporate Worship SabbathSabbath TithingTithing

These are the basis of a pilgrim’s These are the basis of a pilgrim’s healthy living into God’s Kingdom.healthy living into God’s Kingdom.

DISCERN YOUR LEADERSDISCERN YOUR LEADERS

Use discernment in picking those to Use discernment in picking those to lead your stewardship ministrylead your stewardship ministry

A mix of people giving at various A mix of people giving at various giving levels is healthygiving levels is healthy

Make it a year round ministry, it is Make it a year round ministry, it is spiritual and connected to our faith spiritual and connected to our faith journeyjourney

SIX STEPS INSIX STEPS INCHRISTIAN GIVINGCHRISTIAN GIVING

SurvivalSurvival SupermarketSupermarket SupportSupport SubscriptionSubscription SubmissionSubmission SacrificeSacrificeIs it time you took another step toIs it time you took another step towhere God is calling you?where God is calling you?

All things come of thee O Lord, and of All things come of thee O Lord, and of thine own have we given Thee!thine own have we given Thee!