Stewardship of the Annual Budget

Members of First Church join together to meet the needs and wishes of the congregation.  Annually, all members are asked to participate in the stewardship drive which makes up the next year’s budget.  Your financial pledge — your stewardship — is needed by December 31st of each year.

The total of the pledges received establishes the church’s annual budget, which must cover salaries, program costs and day-to-day operations.  Every member's pledge is important, and the Church's needs are great.

This year, after carefully reviewing the Church's budget needs, First Church's Trustees have decided to depart from recommending a pledging campaign based on a fixed percentage increase over last year's giving level, and instead have directed the Stewardship Committee to implement a two-step faith-based approach.

In Step 1, each member will be asked to examine what he or she gives to First Church as a percentage of total income ("Proportional Giving") and then to decide on a pledge that "feels" right in relation to personal resources and what that persons find he or she receives from First Church in the form of spiritual nourishment, counseling and support in times of need, or assistance in developing one's children through the Church's various youth programs.

In Step 2, the Trustees will finalize the budget based on the pledges received, confident that the new approach will provide amounts amply sufficient not only to meet projected increased operating costs but also to cover necessary programs the Church has been postponing.  We're also hoping to reach those people who have moved away but still consider FCCOG "their church".  Contact Dana Low at 637-9315 for more details.