2011 Stewardship Darnestown Presbyterian Church Stewardship Roundtable Event

2011 Stewardship Darnestown Presbyterian Church Stewardship Roundtable Event May 25, 2011

Darnestown Presbyterian Church • 156 year old church • Darnestown, MD (suburbs) • 450 members • Only 3 pastors in the last 35 years • Growth area but highly transient members • Pretty Church on the corner

Trends in DPC Giving and Finance Drop off in giving in 2009; no year-end rally. Decline in pledging and pledge dollars in 2010. Almost 80% of our budget is in fixed costs. Building & Ground expenses and needs are increasing. • A challenging economic and job environment. • Face 2 nd straight year of deficit financing. • • 3

Membership & Pledge Trends Flat to Down Over Last 10 Years 4

10 Year Pledge and Giving Trends Flat for 10 Years; Dropping Last 3 Years 5

10 Year Expense Trends Fixed Expenses are Up 6

Decline in Giving Across Churches

The Elephant in the Room Discussion • DPC spending was running at the level of a larger Church. . . • . . . In reality the giving levels of our Church were not increasing

What are Other Churches Doing?

Commitment at DPC to Church “Transformation” • Discussions at the Session Level • Pastors leading “transformation” movement • Listening to our members • Small Group Ministries • Dedicated Education Time

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations • Radical Hospitality • Passionate Worship • Intentional Faith Development • Risk-Taking Mission and Service • Extravagant Generosity

Extravagant Giving • Focuses on the notion that Stewardship rightly focuses on the Christian’s need to give. . . • . . . Rather than the church’s need to receive. . . • Not simply a moneyraising strategy – but spiritually powerful truth.

3 Year Stewardship Plan • Year 1: Meet the “Christian’s Need to Give Head-On” – Ask Our Members to “Step-Up” • Year 2: Integrate a year-long strategy and events around Stewardship and Long-Term Giving • Year 3: Integrate “Extravagant Giving” with other “Fruitful Practices” of the Church

Start the New Year Planning Process Earlier • Met with Session to share our 3 Year Stewardship Plans • Asked Committee and Ministry Chairs to plan ahead early for 2011 Ministries (Budget) • Commitment to be more “open” about our members need to give • Introduce Tithing to the Congregation

Re-Introduced Stewardship Booklet • Introduced idea to Session • Committee Chair participation • Prepared in August/September • Distributed in October • Print and online versions

Made It Easy for Committee Chairs to Contribute

Goals of the Stewardship Booklet • To make Stewardship more “real” to members • Deliver the message of the “Christian’s need to give” • Ask DPC members to “Step-Up” and increase their 2011 pledge • Reintroduce the idea of “Tithing” to members • A guide to introduce new members to “Stewardship”

• Stewardship Booklets The Stewardship distributed during worship, Campaign mail and email (weekly eletter) • Minute For Stewardship • Stewardship Sermon • Stewardship messages in Sunday bulletins, weekly eletter and monthly newsletter

Constant and Consistent Communications Mentions in Weekly E-Letter Mentions In Monthly Newsletter

The Stewardship • Stewardship Mailings to member homes (letter, Campaign • • • pledge card and envelope) Stewardship Sermon Minute for Stewardship messages in bulletins, e-letter and newsletter Dedication Sunday: November 21, 2011 Pledging concluded December 15 th

The 2011 Results • 120 pledge units – up 25% from 2010 • $379, 964 dollars pledged -- up 46% • $3, 333 average pledge amount – up 30% • 88% of our offering budget pledged • Finished 2010 over budget

What Happened? • The “JOY of Giving” message resonated with members rather than the “Church’s need to receive” • Commitment by the Session, Pastors and Stewardship team to change outlook • Resources and support material presented early and often • Combined with “Church” transformation

Tactics and the Spirit Must Work Together Tactics and Mechanics are Important • Commitment from Session • Stewardship Booklet content • The message repeated often through Church outlets • Pastor’s sermons • Dedication Sunday Must be hand-in-hand with Willingness to give • “We give out of faith, not out of our money. ” • Recognition that we our resources and gifts to God • There is “JOY in Giving” • We are a Church on the Way Back Up