STEWARDSHIP FAQ
(revised July 2023)
Common Questions…Direct Answers
What is Stewardship?
Stewardship is a way of life that shows you love God with your heart, mind, soul, and strength. With your Stewardship you affirm that all the aspects of your life are gifts from God. When you offer your time, talents, and treasure, you are offering to God what he has given you freely and abundantly breath by breath, hour by hour.
Which of your many skills, hobbies, and interests can serve our parish? Whatever your time constraints, there is some way you can help. Even your presence, and loving smile make a difference.
Here are a few voices from parishioners:
“Stewardship is your spiritual expression of your faith and love for God,”
“…when you love someone, you want to spend time with that person, you want to share your talent whether it is singing, cooking, educating and lastly you would share your treasure to take care of that person like you would take care of your child, spouse, loved ones.”
“Christian Stewardship refers to the responsibility that Christians have in maintaining and using wisely the gifts that God has bestowed on us.”
“ …when I don’t see someone who usually comes each week, I wonder…I hope they are ok, maybe I should call to check in, he is like a brother to me.”
“This is why I think education is so important. If people don’t know why they’re Orthodox or why that’s important, how can we expect them to give time and treasure over something they feel they’re just obligated to do.”
“Stewardship is what you do after you say, ‘I believe in one God…’”
How do I become a pledged Steward?
The Stewardship Pledge asks you to declare not only your financial pledge but also your active participation with your time and talents.
Provide your information on the Stewardship Pledge form. As of September 2023, you will have two options. 1) You will be able to complete Stewardship Pledge form, bring it to church or mail it to church as you have in the past. 2) New this year, you can enter your information online. You will have your own secure account and login. Whenever your contact information changes, you can update it easily. Yearly, you will only update the information that has changed. You will sign and date the form for the new year.
How do I fulfil my commitment to my Church?
In the manner that suits you best. Contributions toward a pledge can be made weekly,monthly, quarterly, semi-annually, or annually.
Who is included in my family?
A pledging family may include parents and children under age 18.
What about single working adults?
Each working, self-supporting adult over 18 should make his/her own commitment.
To be eligible to vote
According to the Bylaws of our church, St. Nicholas, and the Archdiocese Uniform Parish Regulations, to be eligible to vote an individual must be Orthodox, be at least 18 years old, and have submitted a Stewardship Pledge form online or on paper.
When should I fulfill my Stewardship pledge?
Stewardship occurs on a calendar year basis, starting January 1st. Parishioners are asked to fulfill their pledges by December 31st of the year in which they are pledging.
Will my pledge amount be confidential?
Yes. All pledge amounts are kept in the strictest confidence.
What happens if I need to revise my commitment?
Our commitment is not a legal obligation, but a promise to God. You can change your commitment according to your changing financial situation by advising the stewardship chairperson.
How much should I pledge?
You decide. Your gifts of time, talent and treasure are a small part of your earnest understanding of the prayer during the Divine Liturgy: “ That the end of our lives may be Christian, without pain, blameless and peaceful, and for a good account before the awesome judgment seat of Christ.”
Guidelines for giving of time, talents, and treasure
Hard to quantify! But what if 10% of your time, talents and treasure were given? If God is top of mind, how does that change what you do every day?
Thinking about all the gifts God has given you, will 10% seem too little to be offering? If you list all your expenses, is the share you give God more or less than what you pay for your cable, phone, vacation, gadgets, or whatever you think is essential to your life?
Is anything more essential than a good account before the awesome judgment seat of Christ? Treasure is only one component. Our church needs your skills, hobbies, interests, and time to help with various activities.
Guidelines that some people have used for Treasure:
Here’s a table of income and suggested yearly/monthly offerings for Treasure. The suggested amount is between 2 - 4% of net (after-tax) annual income.
|
Yearly net income $ |
|
Suggested yearly amount |
|
Monthly contributions |
|
$20,000 |
|
$400 to $800 |
|
$33-$67 |
|
$30.000 |
|
$600 to $1,200 |
|
$50- $100 |
|
$40,000 |
|
$800- $1,600 |
|
$67 - $133 |
|
$50,000 |
|
$1,000- $2,000 |
|
$83 -$167 |
|
$60,000 |
|
$1,200 - $2,400 |
|
$100- $200 |
|
$70,000 |
|
$1,400- $2,800 |
|
$117-$233 |
|
$80,000 |
|
$1,600 - $3,200 |
|
$133- $267 |
|
$90,000 |
|
$1,800- $3,600 |
|
$150- $300 |
|
$ 100,000 |
|
$2,000- $4,000 |
|
$167- $333 |
|
$ 200,000 |
|
$4,000- $8,000 |
|
$333- $667 |
|
$300,000 |
|
$6,000- $12,000 |
|
$500- $1,000 |
|
As much as you have* |
|
All of it. *This is not meant to be humor. |
|
|
*Remember Christ’s calls our attention to the widow:“Amen, I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all the other contributors to the treasury. For they have all contributed from their surplus wealth, but she, from her poverty, has contributed all she has, her whole livelihood. Mark 12:43-44.
We give generously, happily, wisely, and pray that we may hear “Well done good and faithful servant” Matthew 25:33
