Tax Time vs. Fall Commitment

All too often we hear the word and think immediately of fall pledges for the church. Indeed, for many Episcopalians, October or November can feel like another April 15th! "Tax Time" Stewardship. Stewardship is much more than "paying church taxes" or "meeting a budget." It is all about relationships. it is our relationship with ourselves, and the "right use" of the gifts we have received. It is with our relationship with others, using your gifts of Time, Talent, and Treasure, that keeps the parish going with ministries that help ourselves as well as others. And finally, it is all about our relationship with God, who helps along with our own spiritual journey doing the work, that God wants us to do.

Check off the answer below that best describes how you feel about making your pledge. (a little tongue and cheek)

1. Oh well, time to pay those taxes, oh, I meant my pledge.
2. Pledging is important, but I do have many bills to pay each month, how much can I anticipate left over to give to my church?
3. Pledge time again, let me think back over the past year, and see how much I should pay based on on well they met my needs.
4. My church offers great a range of community and spiritual activities, I want to see those continue, not what would be my fair share?
5. Dear God, I have learned some much this year about our special relationship, I strongly believe in the tithe, so I will give you that amount, but wait a minute, let me deduct the amount of time I provided over the past year giving of my time and talent?
6. This is a great time of the year for me. I look forward to increasing my contribution each year. Tithing is important, but sometimes that is just not enough, I want to give more.

"give unto Caesars' what is Caesars, give unto God what is Gods"

Is your offering a "tax payment" to God, or offering of the "first fruits" of your harvest".

This is why stewardship is best viewed as a foundational aspect of the Christian life. We are stewards of the mysteries of God, stewards of one another, stewards of the world in which we are planted, stewards of our time and treasure and talents. The challenge before us is to move from an April 15 mentality to a Dec. 25 perspective of gift and giving. It is all about conversion. From a consumer based theology, of giving God, what we can afford, to one where where the first fruits of our labor are offered. This is what our website is all about, giving you guidance for you and the other members of your parish, that you can use on your own path of conversion.

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