Stewardship
Walk in Love
Our annual stewardship campaign calls on each household to “Walk in Love” by making a pledge that will support the day-to-day activities of St. Michaels, as well as our outreach efforts. Our 2025 Mission Spend Plan (budget) includes a faithful expansion of the ministries that are thriving – ministries for families with children, Christian formation for all ages, Shrine Mont scholarships fund, and our Music Ministry, among others. As a reminder, a cornerstone of our financial life together is committing 10% of our pledged income to non-profit outreach partners, both in Arlington and beyond.
Our annual stewardship campaign calls on each household to “Walk in Love” by making a pledge that will support the day-to-day activities of St. Michaels, as well as our outreach efforts. Our 2025 Mission Spend Plan (budget) includes a faithful expansion of the ministries that are thriving – ministries for families with children, Christian formation for all ages, Shrine Mont scholarships fund, and our Music Ministry, among others. As a reminder, a cornerstone of our financial life together is committing 10% of our pledged income to non-profit outreach partners, both in Arlington and beyond.
Your generosity will enable us to continue to grow closer as we walk in love, to embrace our commitment to love one another as Christ loves us, and to more generously contribute to God’s vision for a loving community. St. Michael’s is moving from strength to strength in our communal life – building on years of commitment and growth by reaffirming our relationships with one another and with God. Any and every pledge is meaningful.
Please join your fellow parishioners on Sunday, October 20, as we joyfully proclaim our intention to Walk in Love. On that day, the Stewardship Chair and our Treasurer will briefly remind us of the importance of stewardship. Our campaign will conclude on November 10, when we hope you will prayerfully submit your pledge card.
2025 Stewardship FAQs
What is a stewardship pledge? A pledge is a financial commitment to donate a specific amount of money to St. Michael’s for the next calendar year.
Why are stewardship pledges needed? Pledges allow church leadership to estimate next year’s income and make informed decisions while building the Mission Spend Plan (budget). Each year, pledges cover ~95% of St. Michael’s routine operating expenses. Leadership won’t make assumptions about your continued giving, so we ask you to submit a new pledge every year.
How much should I pledge? The traditional guideline in The Episcopal Church is the tithe, a pledge of one-tenth of your household income. That said, for many the tithe is a goal to work toward through incremental pledge increases. What’s most important is to establish, through prayer, a level of giving that is meaningful to you.
What are we striving for next year? At a minimum, we need to keep pace with inflation, but we are also striving to pay off our loan to the Diocese and cover some anticipated major maintenance. As a result, we are asking for an 8%-12% increase from last year. We know every household faces its own financial challenges, however, and ask you to give what you can. The table below illustrates an 8-12% increase given specific pledge amounts:
What if my financial circumstances change? You can revise your pledge. We certainly understand that life is full of the unexpected. Please just inform the rector or a member of the Stewardship Committee so we can plan accordingly.
When and how should I turn in my pledges? Please turn in your pledge on or before November 10th. If you’re not ready to make a decision by then, your pledge is still welcome later.
When and how are pledge payments made? You may make payments at any time throughout 2025, periodically or in one lump sum, through the collection plate, scheduled bank payments, or online here. If using the online link, please select “2025 Pledge” under the Fund drop down. If submitting cash via the collection plate, please use one of the envelopes in the pews or a pledge envelope (which you can request via the pledge card) so we may give you credit for the amount. Please note that non-cash donations do not apply to pledge fulfillment.
How else can I give? Stock transfers can be made in cooperation with The Diocese of Virginia. Contact the Parish Office at [email protected] for more details.