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Pledging at Saint James
"All that we are and all that we have has come from God, and it still belongs to God and is to be used for God's glory."
It is true that we are God's hands on earth and at St. James there are many hands doing God's work in wonderful ways. It is also true that money is the fuel that keeps the work of the church alive. All members of the St. Jame’s community are asked to contribute financially, after prayerful discernment and/or conversation with other family members. Below are some frequently asked questions about pledging...
What is a pledge? - As a form of Christian stewardship, a pledge will support of St. James parish and its ministries for the coming year. Your pledge can be fulfilled in weekly, monthly, quarterly, or annual payments. Pledges can be paid by check for accurate recording, and you can use the weekly pledge envelopes provided to each pledger at the beginning of the year. Pledge contributions can be placed in the collection plate on Sundays or mailed to the parish office. Pledges can also be made through the website by clicking here. Although all contributions to St. James are welcome, in any form and at any time, making a pledge implies a commitment to the ongoing life of the parish.
How much should I pledge? - That is a matter between you and God. Theologically, we believe that everything we have is a gift from God, and that our task as baptized people is to "keep the gift moving" - to share what we have so that more can be given. "All things come of thee, O Lord, and of thine own have we given thee."
Is there a standard for pledging? - The standard for giving at St. James is the Biblical tithe of 10% of income. All parishioners are called to tithe or to be working toward a tithe. The amount of your pledge in relation to a tithe is a prayerful decision that only you can make. As you pray and plan for your pledge, please remember the concept of first fruits: a tithe - or a percentage working toward a tithe - becomes the first item in one's budget.
Isn't so much focus on money unchristian? - That depends on how you define focus. If focus means a preoccupation with money for its own sake, then it is indeed unchristian. As Jesus said, you cannot worship both God and money. But it is striking how often Jesus used stories about money in a positive way to talk about the nature of Christian love. In the New Testament writings, money is sacramental. The way we use our money - whether we hoard it or take risks with it; whether we focus on it for its own sake or see it as a means to further God's love in the world - speaks volumes about how we regard our lives, and our relationship to the God who is the source of all we have, not just our money.
How much does the average pledger at St. James contribute each year? – The average pledge at St. James, is $1200 per year.
What is proportional giving? - Rather than choose a fixed sum to pledge every year, one prayerfully and realistically determines what proportion of income to set aside for ministry, and then pledges accordingly. The proportion will vary from person to person, and over time. Some may start at 1%, others at 3% or 4%, others may seek over several years to approach the Biblical standard of 10%. We give back in gratitude to God a fair proportion of the gifts we have been given.
Do I have to pledge to be a member of St. James? - No, anyone who walks through our doors and worships with us regularly is considered a member. We hope all who consider themselves members will make a pledge.
Who knows how much I pledge? Does the Rector know? - At St. James, your pledge is confidential. Only the assistant treasurer knows how much anyone pledges, and that is only so a record of your pledge history can be sent to you at year's end for tax purposes. The information is available to no one else. The rector does not know what you pledge, only whether you pledge. The confidentiality of our pledges is crucial to our life together.
Does the Rector pledge? - Clergy households pledge just like every other household in a parish.
Why doesn't the Diocese of Massachusetts contribute to our parish budget? - In the Episcopal church, all independent parishes (that is, parishes who elect rectors) must be self-supporting. The diocese assesses parishes an amount of money each year proportional to their operating revenues, in part to support the work of parishes that are not self-supporting. From those who have been given much, much is demanded. This mutual interdependence and accountability under the leadership of the Bishop is a hallmark of our Episcopal heritage. This year, the Diocese of Massachusetts has contributed $10,000 to our budget to support a new ministry to incorporate newcomers!!!
Does St. James have an endowment? Why does it need our pledges? – Our parish has a meager endowment under $175,000, If we asked no one to pledge for a year we could sustain ourselves and then we would have to shut the doors at the end of the year. Endowments of this size help in emergencies. It is our pledges that support the ministries that we ourselves are called to carry out, here and now. To be good stewards we must contribute to the parish ourselves. Strong pledging marks an important difference between a parish that is moribund and one that is alive and growing in the ministry of Christ in the world.
What is a Capital Campaign? – Sometimes we have a large, urgent need that must be met through a focused campaign. Several years ago, we raised the funds for a major restoration of the steeple through a capital campaign.
What is a Charitable Bequest or Planned Giving? – A charitable bequest to benefit St. James allows donors to make a gift to the parish without diminishing their current assets. Although there are no income tax advantages, bequests to Saint James are deductible from your taxable estate when an executor determines estate tax liability. Bequests can be made for a specific amount, a percentage of the estate, or a remainder of the estate after specific bequests for others is made. In order for your bequest to "count" in terms of receiving acknowledgement from St. James for your eventual gift, a copy of the portion of your will that pertains to St. James should be sent to our Administrative Assistant . If your will has been signed or recently updated, a simple codicil will suffice. As you may know, a charitable bequest is a gift made under a will or trust agreement effective only at the time of a donor's death. You may designate St James to receive a bequest in one of the following ways:
1) a specific dollar amount,
2) a percentage of the overall estate, or
3) a percentage of the residuary estate.
Bequests can include specific assets such as an IRA/401K plan, securities, real estate, or other property. Generally speaking, bequests are undesignated for specific purposes. This is the part of the stewardship program that seems most complex. And it is easy to put off. But if we provide for St. James through a planned gift, the future of St. James will be protected and viable.
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