Stewardship

Mission: To educate, encourage and inspire the members of Eastminster concerning the privilege, responsibility and “joy of giving” by recognizing that all we are and all we have are gifts from God, entrusted to us so that we may be good “stewards” for God’s glory. The Stewardship Ministry has responsibility for encouraging faithful stewardship of our time, talents and treasures

Accomplishments in 2019:

• Conducted the spring Time & Talent Campaign: 1. Encouraged members to go on-line to take the spiritual gifts survey and to sign up on-line for service opportunities 2. Produced a spiritual gifts video which was presented in May 3. E-Mailed a reminder to the congregation in late-May as encouragement to take the spiritual gifts survey and to sign up for service opportunities 4. Service Commitment Sunday was May 19, and commitment cards were available for member indication for already signed up for volunteer opportunities or intent to do so 5. Emailed volunteer lists to ministry chairs and their support staff on June 29 • Wrote devotionals related to spiritual gifts and financial giving and encouraged other writers throughout the year. Recruited writers and speakers via our spiritual gifts survey and service opportunity list • Devotionals were emailed to the congregation daily • Assisted with the development of a new graphic design for the “Sharing the Story” theme which was rolled out on August 18. • Incorporated the “Sharing the Story” theme in the Stewardship fall financial pledge campaign • Mailed the annual Stewardship financial pledge letters to the congregation in mid-October. Letters included personalized contribution information and examples of increased pledge amounts • Produced three “Sharing the Story” financial giving videos which were presented on August 18,

September 29 and October 13 • Received officers’ pledges at their monthly meeting in October • Dedication Sunday was October 27 • Mailed hand-written thank-you notes to members of the church who pledged to give and serve • Mailed follow-up letters in November to members who had not yet pledged, and conducted follow-up phone banks on December 4 and 6

Goals for 2020:

• Ask officers to call and invite members to Dedication Sunday and the congregational meal on October 25, 2020 • Continue to individualize pledge letters to include contribution information • Increase the number of pledges received by 5% over the previous year • Encourage volunteers or “at large” members to join the Stewardship Committee • Continue to educate members about the “Spiritual Gifts” process in the spring • Increase the number of members who sign up to volunteer during our Time and Talents campaign • Ensure that each ministry is accountable for contacting every person who has volunteered for that ministry, and for placing him/her in an appropriate volunteer position. • Continue to recruit members to write devotionals. • Research and encourage small group studies on Stewardship • Explore alternative collection options • Engage members at Presbyterian Home, Still Hopes and shut ins to assist with thank you notes

Want to know more?

Stewardship Chair: Heidi Carey (2020) - hcarey@rplfirm.com Eastminster Staff Support: Dr. Brad Smith, Julie McDaniel, Kelly Fernet