2011 Stewardship Darnestown Presbyterian

Church

2011 Stewardship Darnestown Presbyterian

Church

Stewardship Roundtable EventMay 25, 2011

Darnestown Presbyterian ChurchDarnestown Presbyterian Church

• 156 year old church• Darnestown, MD

(suburbs)• 450 members• Only 3 pastors in the

last 35 years• Growth area but highly

transient members• Pretty Church on the

corner

Trends in DPC Giving and Finance

• Drop off in giving in 2009; no year-end rally.• Decline in pledging and pledge dollars in 2010.• Almost 80% of our budget is in fixed costs.• Building & Ground expenses and needs are

increasing.• A challenging economic and job environment.• Face 2nd straight year of deficit financing.

3

Membership & Pledge TrendsFlat to Down Over Last 10 Years

4

10 Year Pledge and Giving TrendsFlat for 10 Years; Dropping Last 3 Years

5

10 Year Expense TrendsFixed Expenses are Up

6

Decline in Giving Across Churches

Decline in Giving Across Churches

The Elephant in the Room Discussion

The Elephant in the Room Discussion

• DPC spending was running at the level of a larger Church . . .

• . . . In reality the giving levels of our Church were not increasing

What are Other Churches Doing?What are Other Churches Doing?

Commitment at DPC to Church “Transformation”

Commitment at DPC to Church “Transformation”

• Discussions at the Session Level

• Pastors leading “transformation” movement

• Listening to our members

• Small Group Ministries• Dedicated Education

Time

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations

• Radical Hospitality• Passionate Worship• Intentional Faith

Development• Risk-Taking Mission and

Service

• Extravagant Generosity

Extravagant GivingExtravagant Giving

• Focuses on the notion that Stewardship rightly focuses on the Christian’s need to give . . .

• . . . Rather than the church’s need to receive . . .

• Not simply a money-raising strategy – but spiritually powerful truth.

3 Year Stewardship Plan3 Year Stewardship Plan

• Year 1: Meet the “Christian’s Need to Give Head-On” – Ask Our Members to “Step-Up”

• Year 2: Integrate a year-long strategy and events around Stewardship and Long-Term Giving

• Year 3: Integrate “Extravagant Giving” with other “Fruitful Practices” of the Church

Start the New Year Planning Process Earlier

Start the New Year Planning Process Earlier

• Met with Session to share our 3 Year Stewardship Plans

• Asked Committee and Ministry Chairs to plan ahead early for 2011 Ministries (Budget)

• Commitment to be more “open” about our members need to give

• Introduce Tithing to the Congregation

Re-Introduced Stewardship Booklet

Re-Introduced Stewardship Booklet

• Introduced idea to Session

• Committee Chair participation

• Prepared in August/September

• Distributed in October• Print and online

versions

Made It Easy for Committee Chairs to Contribute

Made It Easy for Committee Chairs to Contribute

Goals of the Stewardship Booklet

Goals of the Stewardship Booklet

• To make Stewardship more “real” to members • Deliver the message of the “Christian’s need

to give”• Ask DPC members to “Step-Up” and increase

their 2011 pledge• Reintroduce the idea of “Tithing” to members• A guide to introduce new members to

“Stewardship”

The Stewardship Campaign

The Stewardship Campaign

• Stewardship Booklets distributed during worship, mail and email (weekly e-letter)

• Minute For Stewardship• Stewardship Sermon• Stewardship messages in

Sunday bulletins, weekly e-letter and monthly newsletter

Constant and Consistent Communications

Constant and Consistent Communications

Mentions in Weekly E-Letter Mentions In Monthly Newsletter

The Stewardship Campaign

The Stewardship Campaign

• Stewardship Mailings to member homes (letter, pledge card and envelope)

• Stewardship Sermon• Minute for Stewardship• Stewardship messages in

bulletins, e-letter and newsletter

• Dedication Sunday: November 21, 2011

• Pledging concluded December 15th

The 2011 ResultsThe 2011 Results

• 120 pledge units – up 25% from 2010

• $379,964 dollars pledged -- up 46%

• $3,333 average pledge amount – up 30%

• 88% of our offering budget pledged

• Finished 2010 over budget

What Happened?What Happened?

• The “JOY of Giving” message resonated with members rather than the “Church’s need to receive”

• Commitment by the Session, Pastors and Stewardship team to change outlook

• Resources and support material presented early and often

• Combined with “Church” transformation

Tactics and the Spirit Must Work Together

Tactics and the Spirit Must Work Together

Tactics and Mechanics are Important

• Commitment from Session

• Stewardship Booklet content

• The message repeated often through Church outlets

• Pastor’s sermons• Dedication Sunday

Must be hand-in-hand with Willingness to give

• “We give out of faith, not out of our money.”

• Recognition that we owe our resources and gifts to God

• There is “JOY in Giving”• We are a Church on the

Way Back Up