Stewardship embodies the acts of giving of time, talent, and treasures at the reformed church of Bronxville. The stewardship committee was formed as a year round committee in 2006 to keep this biblical concept of stewardship alive throughout the year with program initiatives and education. It is charged with coordinating or implementing all fundraising initiatives within the church, and in 2007 its role was expanded to include a new planned giving program.
Each year the committee conducts the Church’s Every Member Commitment (EMC) campaign. Through the EMC campaign, members are asked to make commitments of financial support for the coming year to support our many programs, missions, and day to day operating expenses. The Stewardship Committee works with our volunteer stewards to reach our member families to communicate the vision for the coming year and to elicit their support. In 2006 and 2007, the tradition of funding to a specific budgeted amount was changed to challenge all members to reach to become a congregation of generous people and allow our church to be all it can be. An important part of this campaign is to gather member information and to listen carefully to their wants and needs.
Careful and faithful stewardship of financial resources allows our church to plan and deliver the programs and mission outreach of the church. The stewardship message for us all is simple and direct: “every member is responsible for the current and future spiritual and financial health of our church.” Let us all be good stewards of our time, talent and treasures so the future of our church can be assured for our families and those who follow.
Share Our Spirit (Letter to members)
Dear Members,
So many exciting things occurred this past year. Not only did the Reverend Ken Ruge complete his first full year as senior minister of this church, The Reformed Church of Bronxville saw these other positive developments unfold:
- The church began The Gathering; a new contemporary worship service on Sunday afternoons that has attracted new people to our church.
- The Mission Council’s Coming Home Prison Ministry was so successful last year that many churches and organizations are joining our program this year.
- Our Adult Education Department offers five regular Bible studies and book clubs with more lay leaders than ever, in addition to hosting Yoga twice a week.
- Our Music Department continues to awe our members every Sunday and at special choir festivals, and is now working on a hymnal supplement.
- Our Youth Council is now providing weekly events for over 50 kids each week—outside of church school, and our confirmation program features three exciting trips for a strongly experiential approach.
- And we welcomed in over 26 new members (and their families) the past twelve months.
All this is but a small sampling of the various programs and events occurring at your church. God is working through all of us. Although many people are still hurting financially, the spiritual recovery is well underway.
This year the theme of our Every Member Counts (EMC) campaign is Share the Spirit. The Reformed Church shares so much with its members, our community and the world. It is during this time that we ask our members to share their financial fruits with the church through our annual pledge drive.
The Reformed Church of Bronxville is so much more than just another “charity.” It’s a place where many of our children start out in one of the best Nursery and Sunday schools in the country. It’s a place where our members help those in Kenya break the cycle of poverty or help a neighbor in Yonkers build a new house. It’s a place where beautiful music is not only sung but composed. It’s a safe and nurturing place where our teenagers can “hang out” and learn about Christian values. And it is a place that supports adults of all ages through multiple education programs and pastoral care ministries. In short, The Reformed Church of Bronxville is our spiritual family and plays an integral part in all of our lives.
We accomplish all of this through the financial generosity and volunteering from each of you. We could not do it without you. But it does cost money to deliver all of these services. In 2010, the total cost of church programs – Worship, Music, Education, Mission and Youth - will be approximately $2.0 million. If we were to divide up our operating budget by the number of member families/individuals, it averages to about $5000 per pledging unit. For some, that’s a significant portion of their income; for others, that may be the cost of a family vacation. Whether your circumstances allow you to contribute less than that, or much more, pray about what you can meaningfully give. Consider the value of this church community and its ministry, and what your gift could empower it to become.
Our church is here for us 52 weeks a year, and our programs are funded through our annual EMC campaign. We are blessed with an endowment committed to maintain and preserve the church buildings; unfortunately, the Endowment Funds suffered significant market declines the past two years (even more than recent cuts to the church’s operating budget) making EMC pledge income more important than ever. Moreover, our church should be self-sufficient each year from EMC pledges, and not dependent upon our endowments which are legacies left from our predecessors. Those Endowments Funds need to be reserved to fund special projects and attend to long-term capital needs.
As you prayerfully consider your pledge this year, ask yourself how much you and your family receive from the church and ask how much our church helps others. It is during these transitional times that we need all of our members to step up their financial commitment to this church.
I would ask you to remember the comments of Paul that he wrote to the Corinthian church:
Remember this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously.
God promises that giving is a blessing—not only to the church and those we serve, but to you the giver. Thank you for your support and God bless you.
William Gay
EMC Chairman
