As we begin to see roadside pumpkin stands make their annual appearances and leaves start to burst into riots of color, we know that fall is fully upon us. In many congregations, autumn is stewardship season. For those of you who may chair or otherwise serve on the stewardship committee in your parish, we would like to point you toward the Annual Giving Toolkit which is packed with useful, ready-made resources to help you conduct an effective and efficient stewardship campaign.
Here, we’ll lift up three important things to keep in mind as your begin your campaign:
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- Lift up meaningful moments. When thinking about how to frame your stewardship story, take a few moments to think about the meaningful moments of worship, education, mission, or outreach in which your church engaged over the last year. In your fall campaign, be sure to highlight those things that make you proud to be a member of your parish.
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- Nurture personal connections. Is your congregation still facing issues of regathering for in person services or events? If so, you are not alone. Some of the changes brought about by the global pandemic are still reflected in how and when people return to Sunday services at their church and related activities. If possible, before you begin your Annual Giving Campaign, reach out to your parishioners, especially those who have not returned fully to in person activities, so that their first contact from the church isn’t related to the Annual Giving Campaign. If you have the time and resources, engaging in conversation with your parish prior to the Annual Giving Campaign, can be invaluable. This conversation can take place in a variety of ways: virtual, email, phone, in person, or even by small groups. The conversation should focus on how people are doing, how they are feeling, what issues would they like your church to be aware of, and what are they looking forward to?
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- Make online easy. While many of the standard ways of sharing information about your Annual Giving Campaign may still work well, it is also helpful to make sure that all materials are available online. Particularly important is the ability to access the pledge form online, and if possible, complete the pledge form online. Make sure that participating in your Annual Giving Campaign is not solely dependent upon being present in church each Sunday.
As you look toward the future, be assured that the Holy Spirit is with each of us, and if we can be of support to you, please do not hesitate to reach out to the Financial Resources Committee.
