Growing in Generosity Pledge Campaign
We are called to generosity as a way to, and a sign of,
spiritual growth, personally and as a community.
Some give freely, yet grow all the richer;
others withhold what is due, and only suffer want.
A generous person will be enriched… Proverbs 11:24-25a
Components of a Pledge Campaign:
●Board recruits, trains, and commissions Stewardship Team
●Board sets goals for pledge campaign based on ministry objectives, not dollars
●Stewardship Team sets a timeline for implementation
●Stewardship Teams plans and implements campaign
●Stewardship Team communicates progress with Board, congregation, and Pastor
●Pastor sets a culture of generosity; preaching, teaching, and celebrating generosity
●Pastor promotes the campaign and incorporates campaign into worship
Steps of Pledge Campaign:
- Stewardship Team is formed from responsible, active members who embody good stewardship and can set an example. The team needs people with different skill sets, including
○a good understanding of finances,
○someone with an attention to detail,
○as well as someone creative.
All team members must be spiritually mature members who can learn and teach.
- Stewardship Team is recognized publicly in written communications and in worship, as appropriate. The Board and Pastor show their support of the Stewardship Team.
- Stewardship Team meets and comes to an understanding of their purpose, their processes for proceeding, agrees on a theme, and develops a working timeline of planning and coordinating all activities and who is responsible for them. A good, well-thought out, well-executed pledge campaign will take more than two months.
- Stewardship Team gathers historic data of at least two years for giving and pledging patterns, as well as participation in worship and church activities, in volunteer roles, and in ways the congregation is impacting the community and the world. These patterns will help guide Team in reaching goals set by Board.
- Stewardship Teams seeks to discover ways the congregation is generous in sharing God’s love and build on those. Specific examples and stories will help with producing Pledge Campaign materials, so people will understand the mission and ministry they support with their gifts and how they are making a difference in the world.
- Stewardship Team works closely with Pastor to incorporate Pledge Campaign and the theme into a Worship Series. Be available to assist Pastor.
- Stewardship Team writes up a Pledge Publication, to include:
○an introduction letter, with a summary of congregational generosity
○list of Pledge Campaign activities -
■including Kickoff Party and Pledge Collection,
○who to contact for more information, and
○a pledge form.
- Pledge Publication is sent out in writing about one month before Pledge Campaign Kickoff. Information and articles about the Growing in Generosity and the Pledge Campaign and are included in newsletters and announcements.
- Stewardship Team plans and coordinate activities for Pledge Campaign, including:
○a Pledge Campaign Kickoff Party,
○scheduling any special guests, and
○Pledge Collection.
- For Pledge Campaign Kickoff,a party immediately following worship to set the tone of generosity, and for Teams and Ministries to share ways for people to generously share their time and talents in support of the mission and ministry of the church is often effective. This party will take at least 3 to 4 months to plan well.
○This could take the form of a Ministry Fair, with each Team or Ministry having a table or designated area to share what they do and how people can be involved.
○Whatever form the Kickoff Party takes, it should include balloons and bright decorations. Food should also be a part of the Kickoff Party.
○Make it festive! This is about the Growing in Generosity!
- On the second Sunday of the Pledge Campaign, or when appropriate, have an opportunity for organizations and agencies from the community to share how the generosity of the congregation and its ministry is making the community and the world better. Organizations will need at least 3 months to make themselves available.
○This could take the form of a Poster Session and Exhibit, with organizations making materials available before and after worship about their work. They could also have the option to send someone to represent the organization and be available.
○This should also include information and presentation of MCC work worldwide.
- The last Sunday of the Pledge Campaign isPledge Collection Sunday. Make it easy for people to turn in pledges in confidence either before or during worship and throughout the year.
○One way to ensure confidentiality is to provide envelopes.
○A box could be made available for people to turn in Pledge Card ahead of time.
○Or Pledge Cards could be collected either in special offering or as part of offering.
○Make Pledge Cards available electronically if possible.
○Emphasize that everyone had gifts that can be shared, so everyone can pledge.
○Consider a ‘giveaway’ for those pledging: a pin, a bookmark, etc. It can be very simple, but is a symbol of all that’s been learned about generosity.
○A special prayer of consecration should be prayed over the Pledge Cards.
- Ensure Pledge Cards are handled with care. Decide well ahead of time who will receive the Pledge Cards and ensure information is shared only as appropriate.
○Whoever is responsible for keeping church records should receive addresses, emails, phone numbers, other contact info.
○The Treasurer and/or other Board Member and/or whomever is designated to keep up with financial pledges should receive that information.
○Team or Ministry Leaders should receive name and contact information for those interested in participating in their Team or Ministry.
■It is very important for these Team or Ministry Leaders to reach out as soon as possible to make contact and get people involved quickly.
- Pledge Campaign data -
○percentage who pledged;
○percentage of budget pledged;
○services pledged, etc.
should be tallied by the person responsible for doing so and shared with the Stewardship Team, the Board and the Pastor.
- Every person who pledged should receive a Thank You Letterwithin two weeks, signed by the Pastor, Board, and Stewardship Team.
- The Treasurer or designee should ensure that quarterly statements of giving and reminder of pledge. At least quarterly thank you letters should go out to all who give, with adaptations based on the kind and amount of gifts and preferences of the giver.