Annual Commitment Programs

Let us with gladness present the offerings and oblations of our life and labor
(BCP, p. 377)

For many of us, “stewardship” and “annual pledge campaign” are one and the same. But as we grow and mature spiritually, we come to realize that annual pledging is merely one component of our lives as Christian stewards.

The resources suggested below address the practical realities of our need for annual pledge commitments. Their strength, however, lies in their broader focus-these materials, and the related counsel and support available through the Stewardship Office, invite individuals and congregations to grow in their understanding that we are first and foremost stewards of the Gospel. As baptized Christians, all that we do, with all that we have, flows from our deep and abiding relationship with the Good News of God in Christ.

Resources
Miller, Earl D; Consecrating Stewards; United Church of Christ. No longer in print; the diocesan Stewardship Office has copies on hand.

Parsons, Terry; Talking About God and Money: A Series of Six Conversations for Small Groups; The Episcopal Church Center. No longer in print, but will soon be available as a free download; in the meantime, the Stewardship Office has copies on hand.

The Stewardship Office of the Episcopal Church USA offers excellent resources in support of all aspects of stewardship, including statistical data on individual congregations and communities. Explore www.episcopalchurch.org/stewardship for lots of good stuff.

The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) offers a thorough stewardship bibliography on its web site, www.tens.org. TENS also publishes the popular Manual for Stewardship Development Programs in the Congregation as well as the more specific step-by-step manuals for the very successful Festive Meal, The Home to Home, and The Personal Note commitment programs and The Faithful Member Home Visitation Program.

Please contact The Rt. Rev. Chilton R. Knudsen or call her at 207-232-1986 for more information