Stewardship

 

Forming Christians in Generosity and Abundance

Christian Stewardship is relationship – relationship with each other, our relationship with the institutions of our congregations, our relationship with our Creator who has given us all good gifts. These relationships are reflections of the care, responsibility, and support we give to each other, empowering us to do good works and to deepen our faith.

    We can help you

    • Grow your annual campaign
    • Think about blended campaigns for special needs – capital, new ministry funding
    • Tap into generosity, creativity, and new energy for your annual campaigns
    • Deepen formation, and begin thinking about year-round stewardship
    • Develop preaching and teaching resources for talking about money in church

    The Diocese of California supports congregations in their annual pledge campaigns through

     

    • Consultations with stewardship committees, vestries, and Bishop’s committees
    • Strategy and guidance in employing common stewardship models and tools
    • Visioning and goal-setting workshops for congregations – helping identify opportunities for mission
    • Coaching and training on making the invitation to pledge/donate
    • Guidance and review of campaign materials
    • Preach and teach about generosity and giving

    Download this slide deck for a comparison on the most trusted stewardship programs used across the Episcopal Church. If you have questions about implementing them, or would like more information, please contact Davey Gerhard, Canon for Stewardship. daveyg@diocal.org

    2023 Fourth Thursday Stewardship Free Webinars

    Best Practices for Forming and Promoting Generosity in your Church

    February 23, 2023, 12 PM
    Evaluating Your Stewardship Campaign

    Learn Best Practices for evaluating your campaign performance, checking in with your campaign committee, and planning for the year to come.  We’ll review acknowledgment practices and talk about how to choose an engaging theme for stewardship campaigns.

     

    March 23, 2023, 12 PM
    Setting Finance Goals for Ministry

    Your budget is a reflection of your values. Make sure your church budget reflects your congregation’s values and ministries. Learn strategies that help members understand that all their gifts fund ministry.

    Join us at 12, bring your lunch.  Please register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/487017100257

     

    April 27, 2023, 12 PM

    A Theology of Stewardship

    Stewardship is more than fundraising for your congregation, it is an approach to understanding our relationship to all of God’s gifts and how we best use them to support the work of God on earth. Learn best practices for teaching, preaching, and approaching stewardship that reflect our gratitude and impact our generosity.

    Join us at 12, bring your lunch! Please register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/487043930507

     

    May 25, 2023, 12 PM

    Making the Case for Stewardship

    The way you present your campaign and your fundraising goals has an impact on people’s giving. Learn best practices and strategies to create case statements and stewardship materials that motivate members to give and understand the impact of their giving.

    Join us at 12, bring your lunch!  Please register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/487062215197

     

    June 22, 2023, 12 PM

    Motivations for Intergenerational Giving

    Every generation has its own approach to philanthropy and its own motivations for giving. Learn about building adaptive and responsive stewardship campaigns that appeal to all ages. We will also teach best practices on attracting and retaining younger donors and members.

    Join us at 12, bring your lunch!  Please register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/487108914877

     

    September 28, 2023, 12 PM

    Breaking Through the Pledge Plateau

    Are you experiencing a stagnation in your giving, seeing the same members make the same gift year after year. Engage in conversation and practice that motivates members to tap into their generosity and their interest and support of the mission to make their best gifts.

    Join us at 12, bring your lunch!  Please register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/487124090267

     

    October 26, 2023, 12 PM

    Beginning or Reinvigorating Your Legacy Society

    Legacy, or planned giving, forms an ongoing revenue stream for your congregation. Learn how to begin this work or strengthen it in your congregation so that you may realize a sustainable giving program that supports your operations and plans for the future.

    Join us at 12, bring your lunch!  Please register at https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/487139195447

     

    View Webinars on Stewardship in the Diocese of California

    Virtual Offering Plates and Online Stewardship 101, July 30, 2020 https://youtu.be/2lRdkl2cxwU

    Using the TENS 2020 Resources, Virtually August 13, 2020 https://youtu.be/8JeyPi0Idsk

    Raising Money for Mission – Virtual Auctions, Galas, & Events August 20, 2020 https://youtu.be/Jz30X4iECt8

    Creating Virtual Community for Stewardship August 27, 2020 https://youtu.be/bkDoUk92rqQ

    Tax Implications for 2020 – Your Planned Gift September 26, 2020 https://youtu.be/70CDxQISOgw

     

    Call or email Davey Gerhard, Director of Development, for more information or to set up a virtual or in-person planning session. daveyg@diocal.org

     

    Free Stewardship Resources

    TENS

    The Diocese of California is a member of TENS: The Episcopal Network for Stewardship.  As such, all members in the diocese may use the TENS annual pledge campaign resources for free. All resources are in English and Spanish, and include:

    • Annual Pledge Campaign with timelines and instructions
    • Customizable Sample letters
    • Customizable Pledge Cards
    • Prayers of the People for Stewardship
    • Theological Reflections on Stewardship Themes

    To access the member resources, you’ll need a user name and password, which change annually.

     

    TENS 2023 Access

    Website: https://www.tens.org/annual-pledge-campaigns/

    Password: Jeremiah17:8

    Please note, password is case sensitive

     

    Episcopal Resource Center

    Jointly with the Diocese of El Camino Real, the Diocese of California operates an online library of resources for all topics related to congregations, including stewardship resources. To access the online catalog, please visit https://stthomas-svale.org/library-episcopal-resource-center/ You will find numerous books, workbooks, and materials to help you raise money for ministry in your congregation or institution.