Stewardship and Mission
If you've clicked this link, it means that Stewardship is important to you.
That's good, because stewardship is the expression of our congregation's values and priorities, and our commitment to joining God's action in the world. We utilize the time, considerable talents, and financial gifts of our members in worship, education, mission, and fellowship. Our annual Stewardship Campaign enables us to meet the challenges of providing for the present and planning for the future, for example, by: providing a staff which is responsible for the special needs of children, youth, young adults and singles, families, and seniors; nurturing children's education through the workshop rotation model (called Creation Station); various adult programs of Bible study and studies of how to relate our faith to our lives in the world; and reaching out to local, national, and international missions.
Why We Pledge
We pledge for two basic reasons. Spiritually, we pledge because we recognize that God has given us all that we have at Westminster. This is God's house and God's world, but we are responsible for both because we live and grow in both. Pragmatically, we pledge to meet our budgetary goals and commitments as a church community. As a matter of fact, 96% of what Westminster spends to support our ministry and mission comes from members' pledges and other contributions. The remainder comes from bequests and benevolences. Westminster does not run a Stewardship Campaign in a vacuum. We work with different committees involved with church finance and church leadership and target a specific goal each year. This is not a "faith budget." Our annual operating budget is a complex and coordinated planning document; it reflects a great deal of work. We do not run a "deficit budget." The budget establishes the funds that will be available to each of the operating committees. If the Stewardship Campaign does not reach our pledge goals, the final budget is normally adjusted so that we live within the expected income. We invite all our members to give an appropriate portion of their time and financial resources to the work of Westminster Church, so that as individuals we grow spiritually and so that as a congregation we live into the calling we believe Christ has given us in this community and in our world.