Frequently Asked Questions About Stewardship

What is stewardship?

Stewardship is our personal response to God’s generosity in the way we share the God-given resources of time, talent, and money. We recall that we are the stewards, not the owners, of creation. We have a responsibility to the present world and to future generations to share, conserve, and wisely use the resources entrusted to us. Stewardship encompasses all of ourGod-given resources. Just as we volunteer our time to help with various events and functions of the church, our annual pledge drive is a major component of stewardship in our Ascension community.

Why do we pledge?

By making a pledge to Ascension Memorial Church, you are indicating how much you plan to give to AMC during 2025. We can then add this amount to other sources of revenue like fundraisers. The total amount of anticipated revenue is then allocated to cover the expenses of running a parish — everything from salaries to utility costs and program-related expenses. Knowing in advance that you expect to contribute a certain amount allows us to plan accordingly. If you don’t pledge andsimply plan to donate weekly, we don’t know how much is coming week to week.

You may have heard that a Christian ought to give in a way that is proportional and sacrificial. Proportional giving means to determine a percentage of your income that will be given for the work of the church. The traditional Biblical standard is atithe, or 10%, of one’s income. Many Christians understand tithing to include giving to their local congregation as well as to other ministries that serve the poor and needy. Tithing is not a requirement at Ascension, but serves as an idea-starter or a source of inspiration as we think about how we each support the work financially.

Sacrificial giving means choosing to do without something to support the greater good. Sacrificial giving has also beencalled “prayer in action.” Here again, sacrificial giving is not a requirement at Ascension. Only you know the true sense of sacrificial giving as it applies to your life and circumstances.

What is a typical pledge?

There is no typical pledge. It depends entirely on the circumstances and the faith of each household. Last year, pledges to Ascension ranged from a few dollars per week to almost $200 per week. Our average annual pledge in 2024 was $2,186. Pledges are the most significant source of revenue by which we meet our expenses. Each year we hope to add new pledging households to our parish family, and we hope that our current pledgers will move toward giving a tithe of their income, or even more as they feel led.

What happens if we don’t reach our pledge goal?

We make every effort to set a goal that is attainable. The Vestry is the group responsible to steward our shared resources on behalf of our parish community, and the Vestry sets our Stewardship goal each year. If we are not successful in reaching this goal, the Vestry will discern the best path forward, which may include reducing expenses (impacting immediate and short-term functions of the church) or drawing from reserves (putting our long-term health at risk).

How do I pledge?

Using the pledge form on the reverse side of this page, you can indicate the amount, the channel, and the frequency of our pledge. Some people fulfill their pledge in a lump sum. Others offer equal donations twice or four times during the year. Wecan provide pledge envelopes for you to send in a weekly contribution. We offer online options. You may give online through our website, or transfer directly from your bank. (Keep in mind that online services charge a fee per transaction to the church, not to you. Transferring from your bank happens at no cost to the church.) Once you’ve decided what to pledge, you may return the form by mail or scan it and email it to amcipswich@verizon.net. All pledges are strictly confidential, and all the information you share is carefully protected. If you ever have any questions about your pledge or about Ascension finances, don’t hesitate to reach out via phone or email. Thanks for being part of the family!

2025 Pledge Form