When I first became an Episcopalian, the concept of pledging was new to me. I had grown up in the Roman Catholic tradition, and I remember (and I’m still grateful for this!) watching my parents put an envelope of money in the collection basket each weekend at church. But at some point, I came to learn that the Episcopal Church (and many other denominations as well) base much of their ministry and operations on pledges, which are different from plate contributions.
For the past three years, we have been talking a lot about pledging and why it’s important for the sustenance of Good Shepherd. A pledge is a financial commitment to the life of the parish for a year. A pledge can be any amount: $50 or $5,000. But pledges are the most helpful means of sustaining ministry in a parish because they are predictable sources of income. Other sources, such as special gifts and plate income (which has its own budget line item) are less predictable. In short, if we at Good Shepherd want to build a responsible budget for each fiscal year, we need to know what amount of pledged income we can hope to receive in any given year. As I’ve mentioned, plate and pledge income are distinct. Ideally, people will contribute to plate income at various services and also make a pledge for the year. Our budget planning assumes this will be the case.
In the Episcopal Church, each parish is more or less self-sustaining. Episcopal parishes don’t typically receive outside support for operations. So each parish must pay the salaries of clergy and staff from their own generated revenue. Good Shepherd is fortunate to have some financial support for my salary from our diocese because of the campus ministry in which I’m engaged. That is a rare gift, and although we are deeply grateful for diocesan support of my salary, we must gradually wean ourselves off this support in order to be fully sustainable. Our five-year plan for fiscal sustainability includes such planning. In short, the money that is given to Good Shepherd stays here to support operations and ministry, with the small exception of our annual required gift to the diocese.
So, what is a reasonable pledge? The 67th General Convention of the Episcopal Church passed a resolution affirming the tithe to be the “minimum standard” of giving for Episcopalians. A tithe is 10% of one’s income. It’s not clear whether that’s gross or net, but I would suggest that 10% of one’s net income is certainly in keeping with tithing principles. Undeniably, this requires great sacrifice. It requires giving to God first. In other words, we determine, based on our net income, what we give to God, and then we make everything else work out. Yes, I know this sounds foolish in the view of the world, but after all (as St. Paul reminds us), we are fool’s for Christ’s sake.
As your priest, if I’m going to encourage you to consider tithing (or intentionally building towards a tithe), I must lead by example. So, I’m asking you to join me in tithing on your net income in 2024. I have already made my pledge for 2024. And as you probably know, our Advancement Committee has just kicked off our 2024 pledge (stewardship) campaign. In fact, we’ve already received pledges in addition to mine! You can pledge online now. (Please note that pledging online does not mean you have to pay your pledge online.)
I will be honest that it has taken me many years to get to the point where I can tithe. I first pledged when I was working on my doctorate and accruing student loan debt. It wasn’t a large pledge, but it was a pledge nevertheless. Over the years, I would try to increase my pledge commitment, but I was usually only parting with what I had to spare. In recent years, as I have served as a priest in the church, I have realized the spiritual importance of sacrificial giving. I have also come to appreciate more fully how crucial sacrificial giving is to the sustenance of the Church’s ministry. I now do the following: I calculate what 10% of my net income is, and I make my pledge. Then, I have to pay bills and make student loan payments. I put money into retirement savings to plan for the future, and then if there’s money left over, I can buy things for myself. Recently, my husband, Robert, and I sat down with our financial planner, and we were very clear that our retirement plans must be contingent on giving sacrificially to the parishes we serve. So far, we have not had any problems making ends meet.
I share this only because I want you to know that it wouldn’t be fair or right for me to ask you to consider tithing if I didn’t practice it myself. I also know that we all have different demands on our money, and we are all in different situations. Sacrificial giving is a matter of conscience; it is also an invaluable spiritual practice. If you are not yet ready to tithe, do not feel guilty. Prayerfully consider how you might get to a tithe over the course of several years. God’s favor is, of course, not dependent on what we give, but from a spiritual perspective, I will say that I think my own spirituality has changed through giving to God first. Giving really is a spiritual practice, like saying one’s prayers or going to Mass. The more we can be grateful for all God has given us, the more sacrificial giving will become a joy for us.
This Sunday, I strongly urge you to stay after either the 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. Masses to hear a presentation by our Advancement Committee. Breakfast will be provided after 8 a.m., and lunch after 10:30 a.m. We are experiencing an incredibly exciting time in the life of this parish church. I hope we can celebrate all that is happening (and has happened) and then imagine and envision what can happen in the future. To make that happen, we rely, first and foremost, on God’s grace, but we also need your support: your time, talents, and financial contributions. Everyone makes a difference at Good Shepherd.
I give to Good Shepherd, not only because it’s good for my soul but because I believe that in this place, God is changing lives. We are proclaiming the Gospel vigorously in an age that desperately needs to hear it. Pledging to this parish is no small thing. It enables Christ to be known and made known in this community and beyond. Will you join me in supporting God’s mission in this parish?
Yours in Christ,
Father Kyle