Annual Giving

"Do not be afraid, little flock, for it is your Father's good pleasure to give you the kingdom….Make purses for yourselves that do not wear out, an unfailing treasure in heaven, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

Luke 12:32-34

Every Member Canvass:  Every fall, St Luke's conducts the Every Member Canvass. Like any household, it probably comes as no surprise to you that St. Luke's prepares an annual operating budget, anticipating what kinds of resources are needed to serve the mission of the church. People who are participating in the life of the parish are asked to make a financial commitment (i.e., a pledge) to the coming year's budget. Our pledges provide the Finance Committee and the Vestry with a way of anticipating our gifts to St. Luke's in the coming year. After all pledge cards have been turned in (hopefully before Thanksgiving), our Finance Committee prepares a budget for the upcoming year and presents it to the Vestry for its approval.

Pledges can be paid in any number of ways. Some folks ask for special envelopes to put in the offering plates on Sunday mornings. Others send in their pledge payments on a schedule that fits with their other commitments. Some people pay their pledge at the beginning the year, some at the end. We've even had people pay a pledge a year in advance!

The goal for 2010 Every Member Canvass is to sustain the current programs of the parish with an absolute minimum of expansion. For more information about making a pledge to the 2010 annual budget, please contact our Parish Administrator, Kathy Barnes. Your pledge amount is strictly confidential and tax deductible. Other than the Parish Administrator, no one . . . not even the clergy, not the Treasurer . . . no one knows what you pledge.

If you wish to complete an annual pledge card, please print this pledge card, complete it, and return it to Kathy Barnes, St. Luke's Episcopal Church, 1737 Hillandale Road, Durham, NC, 27705

Annual Giving FAQs

As you consider your pledge to St. Luke's, feel free to peruse this list of Frequently Asked Questions.

  1. Why are annual pledges important?
  2. How does St. Luke’s Church spend the money received from annual pledges and fund raising?
  3. What Outreach ministries does St. Luke's Church support?
  4. How does annual pledging fit into the ministry of stewardship?
  5. How much should I give with an annual pledge?
  6. What does it mean to give proportionally?
  7. How can I pay my annual pledge?
  8. When should I return my annual pledge card?
  9. Do I have to pay when I pledge? Can I pay in installments?
  10. Why should I pledge when I regularly put money in the offering plate?
  11. I'm not sure what I can afford this year. How can I pledge?