The Spiritual Discipline of Stewardship

“To be the heart of God in the community” is more than just a nice tagline or slogan; it is the mission of Capitol Hill United Methodist Church. Our congregation strives to enable people of diverse backgrounds and points of view to mature spiritually in a community that is based on the life, teachings, death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Through ministries of worship, music, education, and community outreach and service, Capitol United Methodist Church is working to fulfill our Christian charge found in Mark 12:28-31:

²⁸One of the teachers of the law came and heard them debating. Noticing that Jesus had given them a good answer, he asked him, "Of all the commandments, which is the most important?" ²⁹"The most important one," answered Jesus, "is this: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one. ³⁰Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. ³¹The second is this: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no commandment greater than these."

What is Stewardship?

Stewardship is everything you do after you say ‘yes’ to Jesus. Stewardship is a lifestyle choice that recognizes that everything is a gift from God. Our responsibility as Christian stewards is to manage all the gifts that we have received from God – including our financial gifts. God is the true owner of all that we have in life.

Jesus consistently taught that our responsibility as his disciples is to recognize that God is the provider of all that we possess and that our call is to be generous givers of our financial resources. A Christian steward contributes his or her time, talents, prayers and financial resources with a willing and joyful spirit. Being a generous giver is a spiritual response to God’s goodness. We are in a life-long process as stewards of God’s possessions. Whole life stewardship is a life management style, it is a spiritual discipline; in other words, it is not man’s way of raising money but God’s way of raising disciples.

1 Corinthians 12:4-13⁴There are different kinds of gifts, but the same Spirit. ⁵There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. ⁶There are different kinds of working, but the same God works all of them in all men. ⁷Now to each one the manifestation of the Spirit is given for the common good. ⁸To one there is given through the Spirit the message of wisdom, to another the message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, ⁹to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, ¹⁰to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues. ¹¹All these are the work of one and the same Spirit, and he gives them to each one, just as he determines. ¹²The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ. ¹³For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.

Qualities of a Christian Steward

A Christian steward is compassionate.
Christian stewards are caretakers and caregivers. They concern themselves with the distribution of gifts and resources so that all might benefit (Genesis 2:4-9; Matthew 14:13-21, 25:31-46; 1 Corinthians 12:12-28; James 2:14-17).

A Christian steward is trustworthy.
Christian stewards can be trusted to make wise decisions concerning the resources placed within their care (Matthew 25:14-30; Luke 16:10-13; 1 Corinthians 4:1-2). (From the Center for Christian Stewardship of the United Methodist Church www.gbod.org/stewardship)

Church Finances Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Why should I give money to the church?
God has provided us with everything that we need for abundant life. As a token of our appreciation, we should offer a gift back. As Jesus taught on the mount, “give and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you receive (Luke 6:38).” We give to the church as the embodiment of our Lord here on earth, to support its good works. Giving is a form of spiritual discipline—akin to prayer, church attendance, and doing charitable works—and helps you to grow in your faith.

How are my financial contributions put to use by the church?
The church budget--a public document--describes how funds donated to the church are used. The major expenses are: staff salaries and benefits (primarily the pastor, administrative support, custodian, and music director); upkeep of the church building (utilities, insurance, and maintenance); and the ministries of the church (such as our local missions, education, small groups, service projects, worship opportunities, etc.). If you’re interested in seeing our church’s budget document, please just ask Andrea Wood, Church Administrator or Todd Barnes, Finance Chair. The document is a public document.

What happens to the money that is collected in church on Sundays?
The offerings are taken from the altar by two counters who immediately tally the donations. They record the contributions and immediately deposit the funds in the bank. These volunteer counters are affirmed by the Church Council and serve on a rotating basis.

Who knows how much I give to the church?
Your giving is a private matter of conscience between you and God. At CHUM Church, only the Financial Secretary has knowledge of each individual's annual giving, in order to record these contributions for tax purposes. Most of your donations to the church are tax deductible and you will be provided a quarterly record of your donations. Since our volunteer counters serve on a rotating basis, they only see your donation amount on a few Sundays out of the year.
 

What is a pledge?
Your pledge is the amount of money you promise to donate to the church during the upcoming year. Each fall, we run a stewardship campaign which culminates in the collection of financial pledges. It is a purely voluntary commitment and you are free to change it as circumstances dictate. The Finance Committee is provided with an aggregate total of pledges by the Financial Secretary in order to facilitate the budget planning process.

What is tithing?
Tithing is the setting aside of one-tenth of one's income for God, as is specifically noted in the Bible. For example, in Genesis 15: 20-22, Jacob acknowledges all that God has provided and vows to make an offering of appreciation:“If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God . . . and of all that you give me I will surely give one-tenth to you.” The United Methodist Church has taken the official position that tithing is the standard for United Methodists, and the practice of tithing is to be actively encouraged in every local church. (See the Table of Giving at the bottom to help you calculate an appropriate amount to tithe.)

Does it matter if I make contributions weekly, monthly, or quarterly?
Not really--whatever works best for your household budget. We encourage you to "pay God first" as part of your spiritual discipline. As a pragmatic matter, receiving your donations at the beginning of the month, or quarter, helps the church maintain a positive cash flow, as our bills come due on an ongoing basis.

What are the extra collection plates for at the front aisles on communion Sundays?The funds collected in these plates support the Pastor’s discretionary fund. This fund allows the Pastor to support new or emerging needs, and to provide limited, emergency support for our neighbors in need. The Pastor provides an accounting of how she spends these funds to the church Council.
 

Why do we use pre-printed envelopes for regular giving?
You may notice that many members give their offerings in pre-printed pastel envelopes. These envelopes are numbered so that we can keep records more accurately and to save you time from having to write in your name each week. It allows for greater confidentiality as well, since there is only a number on each envelope. If you would like a set of envelopes, please contact the Financial Secretary.

Can I give to CHUMC directly through my bank?Yes, CHUMC has entered the digital age with Direct Debit. With this service, your contributions to CHUMC can be automatically deducted from your bank account on the 1^st or the 15^th day of the month, or both. As with all contributions, only the Financial Secretary knows how much you give via direct debit. We encourage this means of giving as it eases the burden on our counters and helps support regular giving. To sign up, send a completed ACH (Automated Clearinghouse) Authorization form available from Roswell Taylor, our Financial Secretary, or the church office.
 

What is second-blessing giving?

Second-blessing giving is giving beyond the amount you pledge. Pledges support the ongoing operations of the church. Second-blessing giving is often earmarked for particular purposes, such as altar flowers or tower/window lighting; or to support a particular project, such as the Christmas Stocking Project or the soup kitchen. If your second-blessing donations go toward purposes for which you receive nothing in return, they are tax-deductible (Stocking Project yes, Thursday Night Dinner no).

Why are there special envelopes in the Bulletin on some Sundays?

There are six Special Sundays authorized by the United Methodist General Conference to collect funds for denomination-wide emphasis; receipts are used for specific, approved programs or benevolent causes. Church-wide Special Sundays with offerings enable United Methodists like you to offer refuge in times of disaster, promote peace and justice, provide scholarships and student loans, reach out to the community, teach skills to encourage self-sufficiency and share the love of Jesus Christ with God's people everywhere. The six Special Sundays with offerings are:

Human Relations Day – The Sunday before the observance of MLK Jr.’s birthday

One Great Hour of Sharing – The Fourth Sunday in Lent

Native American Ministries Sunday – The Third Sunday of Easter

Peace with Justice Sunday – The First Sunday after Pentecost

World Communion Sunday – First Sunday of October

United Methodist Student Day – Last Sunday in November

What are CHUM’s endowments?Some of these funds were donated for a specific purpose—such as maintaining the organ or the chapel—while others were left as bequests to maintain the church and its mission. The Trustees are responsible for investing these funds wisely until such time as they are needed for major projects around the church. If you would like to discuss making a bequest or setting up a trust for the church, please speak with either Thomas Rainer or Bill Christian, Trustees.