Stewardship and Our Annual Canvass

The "stewardship" of our resources involves the way we take care of each other, our building, and our financial health. "Stewardship" with a Capital "S" is the umbrella term that we often use to describe our financial care-giving.Stewardship at West Shore is a three-legged stool.

The three legs are the annual stewardship campaign to raise the Operating Budget (sometimes called "the Canvass"), Capital Giving to support capital needs (mostly related to the building and mortgage), and Legacy Giving, planned gifts that are often part of an overall estate plan or will (often applied to endowment needs.)

The annual stewardship campaign formally happens in the spring of the year, usually in March and April. A Leadership Givers Party will usually be held in February, open to all who are commiting 5% of their income to the West Shore in the year ahead and to people who make the largest financial gifts.

The annual Stewardship Campaign will have some form of celebration to kick it off, sometimes after church or sometimes on an evening. It's a way of reminding everyone that we are receiving formal pledges from all the church's members and friends that represent predictions of what they will be giving to the church in the next fiscal year. We built our annual budget, which runs from July 1 to June 30, based on the pledge predictions we receive. You can drop off your pledge at the church office or you can use the on-line pledge card in this section of this web site.

A pledge is not a legal contract, but a prediction. Our members do appreciate quarterly reminders in the mail about the amount they pledged and how much they have paid so far on their pledge.

Annual pledges at West Shore vary according to household income, so the ministers and the Stewardship Committee encourages everyone to consider 5% of income as a standard to strive for.

During 2007-2008, the Stewardship Committee is co-chaired by Bob Bemer and Gaye Laurel. They can be contacted through the church office. Wayne Arnason is the staff liaison to the committee.