Does your Church send letters asking for money?

[newholidayx2]

How much will you be donating every week? Depending on your household income you should be donating this much, etc

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

A member of my family is an elder at his church and they recently mailed out financial "commitment letters" to the 250 members of his small church. They only received 15 back, and most had negative comments about the practice. IMO, those letters are never a good idea, and it's probably one of the main reasons why churches like Calgary Chapel have gained in popularity so quickly.

 

[Allison]

Not as a regular practice. We only send a letter in September showing their YTD gifts compared to the annual pledge they made so they can see if everything looks right.

Once a year one of the stewards does talk to families about pledging and gives them pledge forms so there is some idea about how to budget gifts for the new year.

 

[golfgal]

Our old parish did during the stewardship drive each fall. We get our envelopes in the mail quarterly so I suppose that is like a letter. Our old parish asked for 10% in time, talent, and treasure. Basically they wanted a combination of the 3 (either volunteering to help the parish in some way or to contribute financially or both) to add up to 10% of our income. Our new parish asks for 5% of the same.

 

[golfgal]

I should add they also sent letters asking for money for unexpected or unusually large expenses like when the school roof caved in after a heavy snow, they asked for extra contributions to fix the roof, the school also needed a new fire alarm system so we got a special letter about that. When the church needed a new roof we got a letter about that--those kinds of things. Truthfully, in our old parish, that was really the best way to get money from parishioners, strange parish that way. If you told them you needed $100,000 for a new roof, the money was there, if you told them the weekly contributions to meet daily operating expenses for the church were $25,000 behind, you wouldn't see the money.

 

[CEDmom]

We just got our annual stewardship letter. We Episcopalians are a pretty low key bunch so they don't suggest any amount or even hint that your should give.

 

[Hercules10]

Yes and I hate it. Trying to use a guilt factor only strengthens my resolve to give less.

 

[Hannathy]

Yes and I also hate it. Our minister will bring it up for weeks around the time they send the letters out for pledges. I think you should give what you can, when you can and what you want to give, not because an amount was written on a pledge card. It should be between me and God not some committee.

Before we moved our old church didn't do this.

 

[HOGFAN]

I dont 'pledge' a certain amount. They dont get their little card back.
We just give what we can thru the year. I dislike getting the yearly letter where they really try to 'heartily encourage' heavy stewardship.

 

[Allison]

Yes and I also hate it. Our minister will bring it up for weeks around the time they send the letters out for pledges. I think you should give what you can, when you can and what you want to give, not because an amount was written on a pledge card. It should be between me and God not some committee.

Before we moved our old church didn't do this.

You are completely right-you should give what you can and what you want to give.

But pledge cards allow a church to know what money they are going to have to spend-or at least an idea of it. I know our church is VERY small and each dollar makes a difference. We have to make decisions about whether we can afford to pay someone to play the organ on Sundays (as an example) based on the money coming in. So, I don't think it is a bad thing. Our church certainly doesn't pressure people into giving and nothing is said if the actual amount given is less than the amount pledged. I think it is good for people to know that the church depends on it's members to be able to keep going and to give them an idea of what it really costs to keep a parish running.

I didn't realize a lot of what goes on and how important pledges are until I agreed to help out with Treasurer duties. It really has been eye opening.

 

[Stacerita]

The letters our church sends out go out twice a year or so. The letters do not specifically ask for money. They spell out how much was given week to week, how much it costs to run the church week to week and shows where we fall short or went above. They all spell out which projects are planned and how much it will cost to run them. It gives every member of the church an idea of how much the church needs. Also, in the 9 years that we have had our new pastor, he has only preached once on tithing or giving money. Once in 9 years isn't bad. I think the letters the church sends out about money are helpful to the church. It doesn't ask us to give more, or to send more. It just shows the facts. This is how much we need, but this is how much we got. Its plain and simple.

Now, if I got a letter asking for money, but not showing where it goes, then I would get a bit irritated.

 

[JoyG]

The trustees send out letters around christmas time with donation envelopes to collect for a christmas bonus for the pastor and two assistant pastors. It doesn't bother me in the least.

Last year we had a series of sermons on stewardship; time, talent, and treasure.

Other than that, in the Sunday bulletin they post how much we collected the previous week and how much over or under it was than the church's operating expenses. I find that kind of info helpful.

 

[ckay87]

Yes and I'm more understanding about it after having spent a few years on church council. It was eye-opening

I think people need to keep in mind that nobody is trying to make any money off of you. It just costs a lot of money to maintain a big buiding with a staff and hundreds of, basically, customers.

The way I see it, every other activity my family is involved with knows that they can expect money from us and they pretty much know how much money they can expect from us. On a smaller scale, for example, scouts know they are going to get $50 from us per year, at least.

On a larger scale, schools also know how much they are going to receive each year and can plan and budget accordingly. And at least the schools are guaranteed that money. Churches have, at best, your "word" on which to plan their budget.

I understand how it might be offensive to people, but you really have to put it in perspective.

 

[CEDmom]

It should be between me and God not some committee.

The only problem is that God doesn't pay the heating bill or fix the leaking roof. Without financial support from it's congregation a church cannot survive. I agree you should give what you can and I think it's wrong if a church makes suggestions based on salary. However, the church needs to have some idea of what it's income is in order to budget accordingly. If anything I think it's better to lowball what you anticipate giving so they have some idea. Giving more is never a problem but giving less could be.

 

[jimmiej]

in the Sunday bulletin they post how much we collected the previous week and how much over or under it was than the church's operating expenses. I find that kind of info helpful.

Our church does this. The only time we ask for pledges is in a building program.

 

[Cool-Beans]

Oh, yeah, we get letters. All the time. If I went a week without a letter, I'd be surprised. But they are from different organizations in the church. I don't mind because I know that, while love helps, love doesn't accomplish the things that need to be done. Doesn't mean I give them all my money, but I know they need it and don't mind them asking.

Catholic Charities sends people all over the world to pass out food and administer shots and stuff like that...can we help?

Then there are groups to assist poor people or battered women here in America. Another helps new immigrants.

Then the Diocese sends letters about helping finance Catholic education for kids whose parents can't afford it, or help out families who are having financial difficulties...people who live in our area.

Our church sends something out every so often with the financial breakdown, thanking everyone for giving and letting us know that while they had enough this time, they'll need more. If they have a special project they are working on, we'll get extra letters.

I haven't listed all of them, because who could remember?!

We are, of course, supposed to tithe. They never mention the amount, but it is 9% of your income. Also never brought up, but included in a blurb on the weekly bulletin is a bit about including the church in your will.

Finally, every week they tell us that they are collecting baby food for homeless babies, or socks for Mexicans, or hairbrushes for battered women, or toothpaste for recent paroles. And they collect it the next week.

It is good work and I'm proud to be a part of it. So, I don't get upset about the letters.

Now, if I could get the coupon people to stop sending me coupons for new windows I don't need, I'd be overjoyed.

 

[slk537]

We get envelopes once a quarter or so. And then my HS and College send requests out all the time.

It doesn't bother me, but as a lifelong Catholic I am kinda used to it.

What does bother me are the ones from my Catholic college about this million dollar life insurance policy they took out on one of my classmates (people volunteered and the one chosen is secret) that goes to the college when s/he dies. The premiums were getting high and they needed more money. That one felt a bit ghoulish to me when I graduated and the plea for help was creepy too. I'll give money to my schools and church, but eeeww....

 

[JoyG]

What does bother me are the ones from my Catholic college about this million dollar life insurance policy they took out on one of my classmates (people volunteered and the one chosen is secret) that goes to the college when s/he dies. The premiums were getting high and they needed more money. That one felt a bit ghoulish to me when I graduated and the plea for help was creepy too. I'll give money to my schools and church, but eeeww....

That really freaks me out.

 

[KirstenB]

Another Episcopalian here. I was raised in the church, so it's something I've always known. Pretty lowkey. Just a letter describing the previous year's operating expenses, etc. They just need to know how much each member is pledging so they can plan their budget for the following year. Not intrusive or offensive, just business. And what better business than the Lord's Business, JMHO.

 

[AKLRULZ]

Nope. I attend what most would call a mega-church. We have a pretty substantial budget (multi-million) and we rely only on faith to have the needs met.