o t e m o c l e W

CALLED TO BE THE CHURCH

CONGREGATIONAL GIVING PROGRAM

Questions Leaders Ask Open it; explore it; share it! Why? Here are SOME of the reasons: „„ This is a gift for you from The United Church of Canada! Created by members of the United Church, this giving program supports your work as ministry personnel and congregational leaders. „„ It will make your life easier. It is a step-by-step guide with many ideas to try. We are confident that one or more will be right for you, your leadership, and your community of faith. „„ It is based on three activities—Inspire, Ask, Thank—that are at the heart of all giving programs. Find ways to Inspire generosity, ways to Ask for support, and ways to Thank that suit your community.

WHAT OTHERS

ARE SAYING Called to Be the Church is a great jumping-off point for congregations wanting to embark on a stewardship program. It has the flexibility to allow congregations to

Inspire! Ask! Thank! What does that mean?

tweak the content to suit

Any successful giving program (community group, hospital, and church) does a great job of inspiring your passion and commitment. It is also specific in asking for your support. Showing gratitude for your involvement is always an important element. Called to Be the Church gives you the tools for all three:

It really got us going and

We help you Inspire—with stories and examples „„ by helping you uncover the stories of why we give and what it means „„ by articulating and sharing what generosity accomplishes in your community (Narrative Budget) „„ through worship services and learning programs

We help you Ask—by inviting others „„ by giving you the tools to invite others to join you in supporting God’s mission in your community and our denomination in an individual or group setting or in a personal letter

We help you Thank­—immediately and sincerely „„ by offering suggestions and ideas that will deepen the practice of gratitude in your congregation

their specific environment. showed us that we could do it. I’m looking forward to receiving next year’s program! —Rev. Dr. Sheila Macgregor, Siloam United Church, London, ON

People try to reinvent the wheel when it comes to stewardship, but with Called to Be the Church, everything was already in place. I would strongly recommend the program to other congregations. It’s a 10 out of 10! —Ewan Vost, Stewardship Team Leader, Aylmer-Eardley Pastoral Charge, Gatineau, QC

How will this make my life easier? Called to Be the Church gives you everything you need to get a congregational giving program off the ground. It has choices and is a very flexible set of tools! You pick and choose what will work to Inspire, to Ask, and to Thank in your context. It is developed with you and your WWW.STEWARDSHIPTOOLKIT.CA  [email protected]

congregation in mind. It encourages whatever level of support your faith community can give at this time. It provides a wealth of resources created for different kinds of congregations. You make decisions on how it will be implemented, choosing from leading practices that encourage generosity and gratitude.

WHAT OTHERS

ARE SAYING I thought the services

How involved am I expected to be? It is always helpful to be supportive of generosity! Jesus calls us all to be disciples, and giving of ourselves is one of the ways we follow. Called to Be the Church encourages a team approach shared among ministry personnel and others in your congregation. You may find your leadership gifts best expressed through the Christian education or worship components of the program, allowing others to develop and exercise their leadership gifts in areas of volunteer coordination, hospitality, or communication. You are not expected to be the sole member of the Giving Team; however, your support and gifts are crucial to a successful and positive experience.

were wonderful. I really appreciated the worship piece, the detail, and the fact that everything was so clearly presented. I also thought the sermons were very theologically sound— there was real substance to them. Of all the programs I have ever seen from the United Church, this was by far the most comprehensive.

Am I expected to share my own giving practice to the congregational ministry and Mission & Service? By first sharing your own passion for God’s mission and following Jesus in your daily life you will inspire others. Start by sharing your own “Why I give” story. You may have the courage to go on and talk about your own giving practice. You might share what you give or how you decide what you give— to congregational mission, Mission & Service, and other charitable giving. Sharing your story gives permission for others to consider and make their own decision. We have examples to help you discover your own story.

I would highly recommend it to other congregations—we will definitely be doing it again next year. —Rev. Terri Jackson, St. James United Church, St. John’s, NL

Called to Be the Church is a really good resource that allows us to focus our congregation on stewardship, on our response

Will this help my church grow or become more healthy, or more externally focused, or more missional?

to God, and on our work

Good things happen when a church focuses time, energy, and money on others; it stimulates extravagant generosity and creative thinking that enlivens and energizes YOUR congregation. It lets everyone—old-timers and newcomers—know your church has a vision that is bigger than just keeping the doors open. It is about God’s mission and our gifts. All things are possible!

to help people understand

OK. You have my attention. Now what? Crack it open. Begin with the Quick Start Guide. Maybe you begin by Thanking. Maybe the first step is to Inspire. Wherever you start, be sure to find the best way to Ask that invites participation.

WWW.STEWARDSHIPTOOLKIT.CA  [email protected]

and our ministry both locally and through M&S. Called to Be the Church allowed us why it is we give TO the church and give THROUGH the church to the world. The flexibility of the content allows us to use the pieces we want and offer a really good stewardship program. —Jen Dresser, Diaconal Minister, St. Andrew’s United Church, Yorkton, SK