Pledging St Peter’s
We are blessed with an amazing congregation. Even as we’ve all weathered the difficult times of the last few years, we’ve been awestruck to witness the generosity of our church family as you continue to contribute your ideas, your funds, and your time to our community. From Neighbor’s Night to Cooking Matters to Christian Education to our choirs and in countless other ways, the members of St. Peter’s church go above and beyond.
Walk in Love: Our 2025 Pledge Drive
Our theme this year is Walk in Love, and it calls us to remember that our greatest gift in community is how we align and come together in purpose and mission. When we walk with the same purpose, we can do great things.
During this season we talk about money, about our budget and the need to count on your pledge of income to the parish for our work in 2025. This is an uncomfortable topic for many of us, but nevertheless important. This is how we fund the worship experience, the music program, the salaries of our rector and our employees, the maintenance of our beautiful buildings and grounds, and continue to support Neighbors Night and the other important outreach to the wider community.
The real focus is on what our gifts can do for the world. Jesus calls us to heal, visit, feed, accompany, protect, advocate, and love our neighbor. In sharing ou ownr time, talent, and treasure we make this happen right here in Geneva.
Each of us hears this call differently but it beckons to our talents and training. How will you feel God’s call to walk in love this year? How will you determine how you will share your gifts with God’s people in the world? Let’s be imitators of God and walk in love for our church and community,
In response to these questions, we encourage you to please consider making a pledge, a written promise and commitment of giving throughout 2025. Pledged income makes it possible for Vestry to make a plan for distributing our gifts, our money and volunteer time. Pledges have not increased recently and our pledged income for 2024 was only 54% of our total budget. About midway in the campaign you will receive a blank pledge card. You can also fill out this form to make your pledge electronically (note, this is only the pledge to support–you are not asked to submit or send money through that form itself).
However, it is wise to wait for a time before you make your pledge. You will want to consider, read materials and listen to witnesses of stewardship. We think you will then be ready to tell the church what you are able and capable of promising.
Listen for God’s advice and call to you, it will be forthcoming.
Frequently Asked Questions
The below questions are just among those we’ve been asked more frequently in the past. If you have any questions about pledging, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any members of the Vestry.
Q: What Is The Pledge Drive?
A: The Pledge Drive is a big part of stewardship and happens every year. Lifelong Episcopalians are familiar with this rite of fall. All in the congregation are asked to make a pledge of financial support for the church for the next calendar year. In addition to money, members of the congregation are asked to promise to support the church’s work by volunteering to participate in the ministry by teaching, singing, being on vestry, and working for our ministry to the community.
Q: Why Is The Church Asking Me to Pledge?
A: Two Principles Are At Work. Principle One: As a practical matter, St. Peter’s needs to have sufficient money to pay its bills such as employee salaries, to pay for electricity, natural gas, water, sewer, building maintenance, and we also pay an annual support payment to the Diocese of Rochester. St. Peter’s does not receive any direct funding from the various governments. We support ourselves from pledges (donations from our congregation), grants and our endowment.
Principle Two: the payment of money to St. Peter’s is also “spiritual” and is a faithful response to give back to God in proportion to what God has provided to you. This is, by far, the more important principle at work.
Q: How Much Does The Church Need for 2023?
A: The 2022 church budget is just over $400,000. Inflation is currently running at above eight percent (8%). The 2022 SPCAA budget is approximately $300,000. Our combined annual footprint is above $750,000. We are an “ANCHOR” in our Genesee Street neighborhood of the city. We need to consistently and aggressively support our work (our ministries) in 2023.
Q: Where Does The Money Go?
A: Many places. Staff & Employees. Our staff are our “chief ministers” to our people in the congregation and to the community. They lead church services as well as weddings, funerals, Neighbors Night, Cooking Matters, St. Peter’s Community Arts Academy, Lake Delaware Boys Camp, education of children and adults, confidential counseling, building maintenance, administrative, accounting and office work. Employees and staff require not only salaries but fringe benefits that are required by law and by benefits that support our staff such as health insurance and retirement benefits. Fr. Adams has held various offices for Diocese of Rochester, such as being the dean for our region and president of the standing committee. Our rector also represents St. Peter’s by being on the board of directors for the local hospital and on city committees such as the one that focused on the lakefront.
- 2022 Budget Items:
- Employees & Staff: Salaries, Wages & Fringe Benefits: $299,000.We have five (5) employees for the church. The SPCAA has many independent contractor instructors and a few part-time employees as well. The SPCAA’s chief of school is voluntary (?) and Fr. Adams is the (?) dean and performs this function without additional salary.
- Diocesean apportionment $43,000.
- Utilities& Insurance: $34,000.
- Office expenses such as copy machine rental, office products such as paper, stationery, postage cost, computer maintenance $12,000.
- Capital.We still have some capital projects that are ongoing such as the repair of our stained glass.
Q: What Is The Diocesean Apportionment? Where Does This Money Go?
A: The diocesean apportionment is an annual assessment made by the EDOR (Episcopal Diocese of Rochester) to support the local bishop and EDR administration as well as the national Episcopal church. Our annual bill or apportionment is determined by the size of our budget. Our apportionment is high because we have been growing and our budget keeps growing as well. For 2022 our apportionment is over $42,000. Some of this money goes for chaplains for the U.S. military branches, missionary support both in the world and in the U.S. and for support of the national Episcopal church. We note that the current presiding bishop of the national church is Michael Curry, a Buffalo native and Hobart alumnus, class of 1975. St. Peter’s does gain benefits from the EDOR such as annual grants to Neighbor’s Night, administrative aid such as with loans, investment services, and the services of the bishop as well as stewardship instructional materials.
Q: How Much Income Is Received From Pledges?
A: For 2022, our pledges have totaled about $200,000. This is a fluid figure because pledges may not run true due to the inability of some to fulfill a pledge or we also receive more than an amount pledged. Generally, over the years, well over 90% of pledged income is actually received. We note that due to Covid, deaths, migration and folks moving away, our pledge units have decreased to about 50 pledging units which is down from over 85 less than 10 years ago. St. Peter’s should be able to fund much more than half its budget on the basis of pledges of support from the members of its congregation.
Q: I’m Informed That As A Result of the Recent Capital Campaign, St. Peter’s Has A Healthy Endowment. Do You Really Need My Pledge To Do The Work?
A: Yes and Yes. Due in great part to the generosity of Rankine VanAnda, the great grandson of our first rector, Fr. James Rankine, we have received a significant increase to our endowment which stands now well over $1 Million Dollars. The endowment is our long-term security representing an eternal commitment to remain at Genesee & Lewis Streets and to remain open, no matter what problems we face. The Vestry annually draws about 5% from the endowment for current costs. Unless we also support our budget in pledges, the draw from endowment could be rapidly depleted—5% a year over 10 years is 50% depletion of the endowment. Think of it this way: pledges are a big part of how we keep the lights on for ourselves, the endowment is how we ensure the lights stay on for our children and grandchildren.
Q: I am Retired, or Unemployed at Present, or I Have a Very Small Income, Do You Still Need or Want My Pledge?
A: YES, INDEED. Your commitment to support all of our work is very important at whatever level of financial support you are able to promise. Each person in the congregation is important. We have a goal of 100% pledging units—everybody banding together to support St. Peter’s. As every person’s situation is different and every pledge will differ as well. Some people may be able to only provide $5 a week, while others are able to provide five percent (5%) of income. We do have some in the parish who are able to give at levels approaching ten percent (10%) and a few more. Your spiritual journey is perhaps somewhere along this continuum. If you have never considered making a pledge, NOW is the time for you to try it.
We would also like to remind you that a pledge is a spiritual commitment–not a legal one. While we certainly hope that everyone is able to fulfill their pledges (as this helps us plan and budget for the year ahead) we also understand that these are uncertain times, and situations change. Please don’t hesitate to pledge just because you fear you may not be able to fulfill it.
Q: Does The Pledge Drive Have A Targeted Increase in Pledged Income in Mind?
A: As a practical matter, we suggest each pledging unit consider an increase of five percent (5%) over that amount pledged in 2022. This, of course, is not a hard and fast figure, but one that is worthy of consideration due to our need to support our ministers and ministry, the impact of inflation, and our need to increase pledged income.
Q: How Does the Church Support Its Budget Each Year?
A.: Each recent year, the budget is supported by pledged income and other donations; grants obtained, and by limited support from the endowment.
Q: How Might I Value My Gift to St. Peter’s?
A: This Billy Graham epigram is often quoted and is responsive: “ Show me your credit card statement and I’ll show you what your values are.”
