Christ Church Stewardship

We are approaching December 31, 2005, and it is time to do our year-end stewardship planning. The Budget & Finance Committee has prepared this guide to assist parishioners with some frequently asked questions.

Where do I stand on my pledge for 2005?

You can call or e-mail Ms. Kathleen Hall (administrator@ccpk.org) and check to see the pledge amount you made and the balance outstanding for the year. Pay your pledge when you attend Christmas Eve or Christmas Day services to be sure it is recorded before we close the books on year-end 2005.

How does giving affect my taxes?

You should always seek the counsel of a qualified tax adviser in regards to your individual tax situation. Federal and state tax laws may allow you to bypass income, gift, estate and capital gains taxes on gifts made to charitable organizations such as Christ Church.

How do you know it's me if I give cash in the plate?

We don't. If you decide to give a gift of cash to Christ Church, it must be identifiable to you. Please use your pledge envelope or provide your name, address and telephone number in a blank envelope along with your gift. It is helpful to write a check with your name and address on it so you have a record of the gift for your tax preparer.

Can I wait until New Year's Day to give the Church my gift?

You can make your gift at anytime, but if you want it to count toward the Tax Year 2005, you need to act sooner rather than later. Our treasurer closes Christ Church's books as of Saturday, December 31, 2005. We usually wait a week for any late mail to arrive because of holiday volume. All gifts must be POSTMARKED by or RECEIVED at Christ Church by December 31, 2005 to qualify for tax deductibility for tax year 2005. We advise you not to wait until the holiday week, but send your gift in sooner. Note: The new year starts on Sunday, January 1, 2006, so the last Sunday of 2005 is Christmas Day, not New Year's Day.

Can I pay more than what I pledged?

Yes, you can. If you do, you have the option of making the extra amount a restricted or unrestricted gift. An unrestricted gift goes to the general fund and is applied across the budget or can be designated by the Vestry for a specific purpose. Such a gift would be particularly helpful this year due to the deficit we have in our budget as we grow financially into our robust program. You can also give a restricted gift with the extra funds. You must provide, along with your gift, written instructions that are addressed to Ms. Connie Miner, Treasurer (drop it in the plate on a Sunday and copy via e-mail to constance.miner@ubs.com). You should describe the restrictions that you are placing on the use of the funds in your instructions. It is helpful to the Vestry if you talk with the clergy and senior warden before you make a restricted gift to identify the potential opportunities and limitations of restricting your gift.

What could I do if I met my 2005 pledge and want to give an extra non-pledge gift?

Our Stewardship Plan at Christ Church has four levels for your prayerful consideration. The pledge is your annual gift to the parish's operations (the day-to-day expenses). A second gift is to the Outreach Needs and Ministries posted on the board in the hall outside the narthex or supported by Christ Church. You should contact Mr. Calvin Smith about questions on Outreach (e-mail to adminstrator@ccpk.org and it will get forwarded). A third gift is to the Endowment Fund. This fund is held separate from our daily operating needs and is designed to provide unrestricted investment income to our parish. Often the Endowment Fund is the beneficiary of your estate planning or an unexpected windfall you received. You should contact Mr. Pete Marks (pmarks@csbs.org) with questions about the Endowment Fund. The fourth gift is to a Capital Campaign. We do not have a current campaign, but our last campaign built our education wing.

What if I send in a gift for 2005 and you don't receive it until, say, January 8, 2006? 

the gift has no instructions, it will be considered a payment on your 2006 pledge. If you mark the check "2005 Pledge", it will be recorded as miscellaneous pledge income for 2006. Your pledge statement will note that Christ Church received these funds in 2006, not 2005, so it will be a deduction for 2006. Again, we advise you to act sooner rather than later if you want the funds to be credited to Tax Year 2005.

Can I make a gift of securities, a valuable collectible or even a car?

First, Christ Church is not equipped to sell or auction every type of asset, so we prefer only asset gifts of securities. You can speak to the Women of Christ Church group about donating some items to the their annual Sale. You may donate a stock, bond, or mutual fund that has increased in value since you purchased it to avoid a potential capital gains tax to you. Please consult a qualified tax advisor regarding your individual tax situation. Remember that the tax advantage is lost if you sell the asset and then give the proceeds to the church. You must transfer the asset in its present form to Christ Church. Contact Ms. Connie Miner, Treasurer (constance.miner@ ubs.com), if you wish to give a non-cash asset.

My employer provides matching gifts. Does that help Christ Church?

Some employers will provide matching gifts for charitable organizations when their employees make such a request. Some of these employers do not match gifts for religious organizations, but they may match your donation if you make it to any of the outreach ministries that Christ Church supports. Your donation and the match would offset the expenses for the parish to accomplish the same result. Please contact Mr. Ted Seale, Finance Committee Chair (theseale@verizon.net) to discuss these opportunities.

My question was not answered here. Who do I contact?

Please contact Ms. Kathleen Hall (administrator@ccpk.org) or Mr. Ted Seale (theseale@ verizon.net).

Thank you for taking the time to give your Christian responsibility of stewardship prayerful consideration. Year-end giving has always been an important component of stewardship at Christ Church. Please know that the giving of your treasure is so much more than tax savings. Your gifts make an important difference in what we are able to accomplish at Christ Church. Thank you so much for your generosity.

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