LOS ANGELES, California--Pastor Curtis May launched a pilot test of the church's proposed anonymous giver pledge card system at worship services Aug. 10.
The purpose of the pilot program was to test the concept and get feedback and ideas from the members. After this feedback is processed, the pledges will be made available to the other congregations.
Pledge cards were delivered to members during the service. They were asked to prayerfully consider how much they could give the next year and turn the pledge cards in at the next worship service.
Why change?
The church has gone from a mandatory tithing system of giving to no systematic approach. The church now needs to move to a discretionary but systematic approach.
"We have a stewardship responsibility to God," Mr. May said. "It is part of our worship of God and our relationship to him."
Why do we need a system?
The mandatory system was predictable, but it was not doctrinally correct. Without a system for financial stewardship the church is unable to make efficient plans because it cannot predict income.
"What elements do we need in a discretionary system?" Mr. May asked.
"This system has pastoral and congregational involvement," Mr. May said.
Advantages of pledge system
The pledge system respects members' desire to give anonymously. By using tear-off cards, neither the pastor, nor members of the congregation, nor headquarters knows how much any individual has pledged. Individual anonymous pledges are added up and the pastor sends the total figure to headquarters, so that headquarters can budget.
Remember: A stingy planter gets a stingy crop; a lavish planter gets a lavish crop. I want each of you to take plenty of time to think it over, and make up your own mind what you will give. That will protect you against sob stories and armtwisting. God loves it when the giver delights in the giving. 2 Corinthians 9: 6 The Message Bible
"Don't hoard treasure down here where it gets eaten by moths and corroded by rust or--worse!--stolen by burglars. Stockpile treasure in heaven, where it's safe from moth and rust and burglars. It's obvious, isn't it? The place were your treasure is, is the place you will most want to be, and end up being." Matthew 6:19 The Message Bible
Nancy Thornton: We've been using the form from headquarters to give a designated amount from our checking account every month. The pledge cards will be great because we were just discussing that we wanted to add more to that amount. It helps us feel that we a part of the team. We're not alone sending our money in.
Jean Campbell: Pledge cards help the church to know how much money is coming in. The ministers need to be paid and the buildings need to be paid for. This is something we need to have.
Alwaid Johnson: It gives headquarters an outlook of what to expect. I think it will inspire people to give who may have been reluctant to do so. We are Christians. When we pledge we need to follow what we pledge.
Bruce Bell: I think it is a great opportunity to exercise some faith and have a more structured form of giving back to the One who is the source of it all. It helps us to step out in faith because we can offer to give a little bit more than we think we might be able to. We can ask God to help us meet that goal.
Erwin Estrella: This will give the church a good idea of projected income. We can set goals for giving for the coming year.
Sept. 17, 1996, Worldwide News, page 6
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