We renew our Stewardship commitment at the close of each year, so before asking for your support, we’d like to share a quick update and invite you to set some donation goals which will enable our budgetary planning for next year.

Progress: In the past 18 months, we have doubled the size of our mission and we are out of space (a good problem to have!). We will be moving soon to a larger location triple the size of our current home. We have expanded from one church school class to two classes (older and younger children), and have many new people who are being trained as choir directors, readers, and altar servers.

Financial Future: Last year we trusted in God and passed a 20% deficit budget, this means that our projected expenses for 2024 would be 20% higher than the total donations we took in for 2023. As of the end of October, we have met our financial obligations of the 20% deficit budget for the year. Glory to God! Next year will likely continue along the same trajectory—we know that our rent will be doubled in our new space, but we also know that God will continue to send us new members and that our current members will becoming disciples of Christ who honor God and support the work and ministry of the parish. We will continue to trust in the Lord!

The Stewardship Form (see below) is designed to help you reflect on the assets God has given you, so you can bless His Church with your many gifts—with your time, talents, and treasure..

Pledging can make the relationship between your own work and your life in the church more personal and liturgical, by connecting the divine purpose of regular giving to your secular job.

The church is entirely funded by the generosity and faithful tithing of our members. Please remember that as Orthodox Christians, we practice a biblical tithe, which is giving 10% of our income to the Church. As you prepare to give, please reflect on the following passages:

Jacob Offers a Tithe (Genesis 28:20–22) “Then Jacob made a vow, saying, “If God will be with me, and will keep me in this way that I go, and will give me bread to eat and clothing to wear, so that I come again to my father’s house in peace, then the Lord shall be my God, and this stone, which I have set up for a pillar, shall be God’s house, and of all that thou givest me I will give the tenth to thee.”

First Fruits (Proverbs 3:9-10) “Honor the Lord with your substance and with the first firsts of all your produce, then your barns will be filled with plenty, and your vats will be bursting with wine.”

The Cheerful Giver (2 Corinthians 9:6-7) “The point is this: whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.”

We use pledges as a basis for budgeting our spending for the coming year, so your pledged commitment is essential to our ability to grow and maintain our church.

“Stewardship is not just a matter for parish and diocesan action. It’s personal”. His Beatitude Metropolitan +TIKHON, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America

St. John the Merciful is supported entirely through the generosity of its members, friends, and benefactors with their time, their talent, and their treasure. Your annual pledge covers everything—facilities, utilities, clergy, supplies. In turn, each parish of the OCA Diocese of the South supports the Diocese with a 10% tithe of our General Fund income to support the work of the Diocese (administration, seminary, camp programs, etc.)

Tithing (giving 10% of household income) is encouraged by the Orthodox Church in America as the normal way to support the life of our churches and continue offering a full parish life of services, classes, and fellowship opportunities. The chart below helps to estimate for a full tithe (10%), half tithe (5%) and a third tithe (3%).

We also have time and talent needs for the various ministries of the church. Please consider giving of your abilities and your time to help our church continue to serve its members and reach out to people in need of Christ’s love.

Pledge Campaign Frequently Asked Questions

Question: What is a pledge? I see this term but don’t know exactly what it means. Answer: A pledge is an estimate of your giving for the coming year and allows the church to fund our necessary expenses—salaries for clergy, outreach ministries, pastoral care, liturgical needs, education programs, and also allow us to plan for our ability to purchase a permanent home for our church in the future.

Q: Is a pledge a binding contract? What if my financial situation changes? A: The pledge is NOT binding in any way. Sometimes people lose their job and need to pause their regular giving, also sometimes people receive promotions and raises and increase their giving to account for these blessings. The pledge serves as a commitment that you are a member of this community who wants to support St. John’s with your first fruits. Your pledge allows you to plan out your giving for the year in advance and allows the church to plan out our budget for the year so we can use your gifts wisely in the service of God to minister to our community. If your circumstances change, for whatever reason, just let us know and we can adjust it anytime.

Q: If I am a catechumen or inquirer, should I fill out a pledge form? A: We ask everyone who makes St. John the Merciful Orthodox Church their spiritual home to make a pledge of some kind. You cannot be counted as a voting member of the parish until you are received into the Church through Baptism/Chrismation, but you can still participate in many of our ministries and St. John’s still needs your financial support.

Q: How much should I pledge? A: Every pledge matters, regardless of the amount—we are all in a different place, remember the “Widow’s Mite” where Christ commends the widow with her two copper pennies gave more than all the rest. It’s not about the amount so much, but whether the amount is faithfulness in which it is given.  Start with prayer and reflect on the blessings of your life.  Consider an amount that is both responsible and significant based on your individual financial situation. It might be helpful to consider this question:  Does our giving reflect our standard of living?  One way to ensure that is always true is to give a percentage of your income.  A tithe (10% of your income) has long been held as the standard of Christian giving. If 10% feels out of reach at the moment, start with a lower amount and incrementally increase each year. To calculate your pledge or tithe, the following chart may help: