Stewardship at St. Paul's

Click for:

• 2013 Pledge Card
• 2011 Capital Campaign page and information
• 2011 Stewardship Brochure
• 2010 Income/Expense Pie Charts

You can e-mail your pledge to finance at stpaulsoakland.org , place your completed pledge in the offering plate, or send it via snail mail to the church address below.

Why Pledge?

The Bible teaches that the tithe, or 10%, is the minimum standard of giving, and we’re asked to offer the first fruits of our labor back to God. Some find the concept of proportional giving helpful: assessing what percentage of our income we give and increasing that toward the tithe.

Receiving pledges of commitment helps St. Paul’s responsibly plan for the coming year and address financial challenges. As an urban congregation we do face them, while we continue to share in beautiful worship, renew efforts on behalf of social justice, and move forward together in faith.

We want you to know that St. Paul’s is happy to receive and welcome any and all gifts, no matter the amount. Determining your giving is part of spiritual practice and is deeply personal. This is a decision shared between you and God.

When we give with generosity, out of gratitude for all God has given us, we grow in faith and hope, and nurture faith and hope in others.

How do I pledge?

Pledges may be made at any time by completing a pledge card and placing it in the plate, handing it to a clergy member or mailing it to the church office.  You can also download the pledge card and email it to finance@stpaulsoakland.org.

Who sees how much I pledge – is it confidential?

If you turn in a pledge card, only the parish bookkeeper, records your pledge.  The rector and vestry see who has pledged and the total amount of pledges, however they do not have access to information about an individual’s pledge.  The Treasurer or Parish Administrator may see individual pledges amounts if they assist with sending out statements.

What if I can’t complete my pledge?

We completely understand that financial circumstances can change.  It is understood that there are times when pledges cannot be fulfilled.   We only ask that you inform the book keeper so that the Treasurer is aware of the change in projected income. 

Will I be billed for my pledge?

No, however there will be statements sent quarterly to those who are behind in their pledging.

How do I pay my pledge?

The most common way to fulfill your pledge is by check.  There are some useful tools to automate this process

• Have your bank automatically send a check at defined intervals.  Most major banks provide bill payment features that allow payments to be automatically sent.  For example, you can have your bank send St. Paul’s a check on the 1st day of each month.  This way you never have to remember to write a check! 
• Place a check in the offering plate or mail a personal check to the church office
• We are working on permitting credit card payments via the website