We are excited to invite you to participate in our Annual Stewardship Campaign. This campaign is essential, as parishioner pledges and contributions account for almost three-quarters of our operating revenue. Many people have questions about pledging, and so we’ve tried to answer some of them for you here.
What is a financial pledge?
A pledge is a promised commitment for the amount you expect to financially give to the church over the course of the coming year (2026). You do not need to pay the money when you make the commitment. Your commitment helps the church responsibly plan and determine the budget for the upcoming year.
Why should I make a financial commitment?
Pledging is a way to sustain our parish and fund our mission and ministry. While we appreciate every contribution, our biggest hope is for maximum participation, not necessarily maximum contribution. Pledging is a mutual relationship — a way for you to show and claim: “This is my church,I am a part of it. It is there for me, and I’m there for it.”
Your pledge helps fund numerous aspects of the church’s life, including:
- Supporting Staff and Infrastructure: Pledges provide salaries for our dedicated staff team and help meet the rising fixed costs and expanding expenses of an increasingly busy and growing church. Based on the 2025 budget, it costs about $4,000 a day to run the church.
- Caring for Our Beautiful Building: Funds are used to care for our beloved buildings and grounds. We are committed to keeping up with maintenance, improvements, and repairs, rather than letting issues build up.
- Funding Mission and Ministry: Pledges directly support ministries such as the Thursday Lunch Ministry, our Caring for Creation initiatives, and our Youth and Children’s Ministries.
- Music and Arts: Your commitment pays for our liturgical music expenses, including adult and children’s choirs, as well as special instrumentalists for services like Easter and Christmas.
- Community Impact: We provide support to community organizations such as Ghent Area Ministries,the Urban Renewal Center, and others
- Supporting the Broader Church: We contribute 10% of our plate and pledge revenue to the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia to support the broader mission of the church.
Can’t I just put money in the plate when I’m at church?
Yes, of course you can. And we hope you do. But by making a pledge you let us know ahead of time what we can reasonably expect to receive in revenue for the coming year which is essential to planning and budgeting responsibly.
Who can make a pledge?
Everyone is invited to pledge. You do not have to be an official member or confirmed in the Episcopal Church to make a financial contribution. We welcome contributions from anyone attending, including those who watch our services online.
We want everyone to participate. That includes first-time pledgers and lifetime pledgers.
What is the average pledge amount?
In 2025, the average pledge at Christ & St. Luke’s was about $4,000 but the median pledge was about $2,000. That means pledge amounts range widely, starting from $20 up. For context, the median pledge across all Episcopal churches recently came out at about $3,100.
How many people pledge to Christ and St. Luke’s?
In 2025 we had 304 pledging households. A household could be a single person or a whole family.
What motivates people to pledge?
Here’s why just a few of our parishioners — in alphabetical order — have told us they pledge over recent weeks. You can click on their names to read their full stewardship testimonies:
- Michael Belka said he is motivated to give by his head, heart, and soul. His head sees the logical necessity of funding utilities, maintenance, and ministries. His heart compels him to share love with others. His soul is guided by scripture to wisely use his blessings (his time, talents, and treasures) for the community.
- Vickie Easley pledges annually because she understands the crucial importance of financial support to keep everything running at Christ & St Luke’s. She follows the example set by her parents. Having helped her father with bookkeeping as a teen, she developed an adult appreciation for the necessary financial side of church business.
- Mitchell Frizzell said that goodness requires action, seen in ministries like Queer Theology Book Club and the winter shelter work, which enact the Baptismal Covenant to strive for justice. He emphasizes that the parish gives him strength to believe in goodness, even when the world sometimes seems to reward the opposite. He pledges so he can “go, be that force for goodness” in the wider world.
- Dixcy Kilduff said that after recommitting to the church during a difficult time, a sermon challenged her to “do more.” Volunteering in the winter shelter and lunch ministry showed her that the guests long to be seen and loved. She pledges because sharing her good fortune in service to others is the greatest return, helping her know the Lord.
- Kelly Storrs said her military family chose Christ & St. Luke’s for our liturgical faithfulness, inspired preaching, and beautiful spaces. The Storrs value the church as a praying, loving, and beautiful community. Giving is a spiritual discipline that postures their hearts toward gratitude, reminding them that everything they have is a gift from God.
- The Rev. Jess Stribling said Christ & St.Luke’s is the “best for the last” parish he has served. The Eucharist remains the heart of his life, celebrated in the “beauty of holiness.” He pledges out of gratitude and deep concern that the church must continue undergirding essential societal values like human rights and dignity for the poor, for the sake of the world and his descendants.
- B.J. Taylor said she pledges because the church maintains its core mission to “lead with love, build the body, and go into the world.” She is inspired by our inclusive, uplifting clergy, our growing children’s choirs, and the staff’s support. Pledging is her joyful response to sustain our Christian community.
- Sidney A. (Sid) Neighbours said he pledges to the church because he believes stewardship is God’s business, requiring dedication and gratitude. Through serving in the flower guild, he uses his talents to glorify the Lord. Sid’s journey with Christ & St. Luke’s unveiled love, compassion, and blessings, prompting him to give back and embrace purposeful involvement in church life.
How do I make my pledge and pay it?
You can make your pledge commitment using one of two methods:
- Fill out and return a physical pledge card to the church.
- Click to pledge online via the dedicated webpage.
Pledges can be paid in various ways:
- Automatic Payments: You can set up automatic bill payments or withdrawals to fulfill your pledge. This provides a consistent income stream for the church throughout the year. Note that the actual payment setup is done through a separate payment interface, distinct from the pledging webpage. This will open for you from the pledge online page. You can also pay with a credit card, but that will be subject to a 3% processing fee and will need to be kept up to date.
- Check or Cash: You can write a check or place cash in an offering envelope, ensuring it is clearly designated as a “2026 pledge.”
- Stock/IRA: You can contribute appreciated stock or use your IRA required minimum distribution.
Please remember that as a tax-exempt organization, gifts made to the church are tax-exempt.
When is the deadline to submit my pledge?
Please make your pledge by Sunday, November 9th. Pledging promptly is important because the progress we make in collecting these commitments will determine the budget we create for 2026.
If you have further questions about pledging not answered here feel free to be in touch with me via email or with our Business Administrator, Michelle Sturges, via email.
Thank you for your generous support and for being a part of Christ & St. Luke’s!
