YEAR-ROUND
STEWARDSHIP #2
I am continuing to share information
about year-round stewardship that I started sharing last week. Last week, I
talked about the first quarter of the year, and this week, I’ll talk about the
second quarter (April, May and June).
April
- ·
This
might be a good time to hold an estate planning & giving workshop. Do you
have a planned giving policy in your church? This is a specific plan that is one
part of a “good” stewardship program. We usually do a decent job talking about
operating or general fund giving, you know, the day-to-day operation so the
church. And sometimes we do okay with a capital campaign when there’s a big
building project. However, planned giving is different from both of those, but
not necessarily separate. This is the type of giving that is after death, or trusts
or estate giving. Having a workshop is a good way to introduce different ways
of making gifts, which could include trusts, retirement accounts, life
insurance, naming the church in their will, etc. Have you talked to some of your
folks and discussed why they think it’s important to support their church with
their regular giving? If supporting the church is important to them now while
they’re alive, why would they change after they are no longer attending? The
needs of the church aren’t going to go away. Create a flyer to talk about
different ways of giving, have workshops to set up powers of attorney and other
legal documents, or talk about them. Share the different ways someone can
remember the church financially after their death.
- ·
Have
someone speak during a worship service this month about why the church is
important to them.
May
- ·
Mail
a letter and/or send emails between Mother’s Day and Memorial Day to preview
the activities planned for the summer months. Use color, different fonts, be
positive and enthusiastic. Despite the “rumors” I’ve often heard that church is
closed in the summer 😊 Ministry is still
happening. Let people know what is going before they start making their summer
plans.
·
Include
an envelope with the letter, encouraging people to pre-pay contributions before
they leave on vacation.
- ·
The
stewardship committee and finance committee should start planning their fall stewardship
campaign!
June
- ·
Send
some thank you notes to givers or make thank you calls.
- ·
The
second of four newsletter articles should be published.
- ·
The
stewardship committee and finance committee should continue their work on
planning their fall campaign.
This
is work that needs to continue year-round. It cannot be limited to just the
fall.
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