ICHURCH-WISE

A cure for the summertime blues

think-tank in Washington, D.C., in the online resource "50 Ways to Encourage Faithful Giving." The guide advocates lifting up the needs of the church by emphasizing mission: "Remember that people — especially younger generations — give to support mission, not institutions or budgets. Everything you communicate about giving should stress ministry, not maintenance." Graham Walker suggests encouraging members to re-evaluate their giving after the annual congregational meeting. "By then, you know what the increase [in expenses] is going to be. You have the data, so you can write to members and ask them to increase by X percent to meet the percentage increase in the budget," she says.

Think the warmer months mean a drop in collection plate offerings? Experts say you can sail through the season without going for a dip. BY T R I S H A

ELLIOTT

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ummer is on the horizon. While dreams of lounging poolside or hitting the vacation highway dance in churchgoer's minds, some United Church finance committee members fret the summer slump. Empty pews mean empty collection plates. But summer doesn't necessarily have to involve a slide into financial decline. "It's a self-fulfilling prophecy," says Susan Graham Walker, the United Church's manager of congregational giving and stewardship. " I f you think you are going to slump in the summer, you probably will. The summer can be a time of growth. Congregations need a good plan." Here are five ways to ensure your church's budget sails smoothly through the summer months.

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E N C O U R A G E S T A B L E GIVING

To stabilize your congregation's income stream, encourage members to give regularly by postdated cheque, credit card or PAR (pre-authorized remittance). Like automatic debits to pay your mortgage and hydro, the PAR program allows congregants to support their church through an automatic monthly withdrawal from their bank account. Convenience and stability aren't the only benefits of PAR: in 2011, the average PAR donation was $211.91 per person per month, compared to $81.23 for non-PAR donations. Learn more about PAR on The United Church of Canada's website (www.united-church.ca). Once automatic withdrawals have been set up, it's all too easy to forget about them. Ask members to consider increasing their donation annually. "Most people never increase their giving because they were never asked, nor given compelling reasons to do so," notes the Lewis Center for Church Leadership, a

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M A K E IT E A S Y TO D O N A T E O N L I N E

A 2010 survey commissioned by the Canadian Bankers Association reports that 45 percent of Canadians conduct financial transactions primarily online; three times as many Canadians pay bills online than in a branch; and twice as many pay online than through pre-authorized debit or credit. Churches should keep up with the trend and offer congregants the option of making an online donation. Several services are available. Check out www.pushkgiving. com, www.e-tithes.com, www.churchwerks.com, www. networkforgood.com, www. givingkiosk.com, www.qgive. com and www.gifttool.com. Erik Mathiesen, the United Church's congregational finance officer, says that Canada Helps (www.canadahelps.org) is one of the easiest services to navigate. " I f congregations have the skills, they can build their own application. Canada Helps does take a bit of a higher percentage, but it's very simple to use." Fees are

a key consideration. If your church expects to receive few online donations, it's likely less expensive to use a tool that charges per transaction rather than a monthly fee.

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COMMUNICATE GIVING TRENDS

Report your congregation's giving trends in the weekly bulletin or other communiques. "Know how actual income compares to budgeted income for a given time of year," advises the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. "Determine how much income is 'needed to date' based on a rolling three-year average of what percent of total giving is normally received during that period." Nelson Searcy, pastor of the Journey Church in New York City, is a fan of sending out quarterly giving statements. "Even if you can't send giving statements four times a year, I highly suggest that you do a mid-year giving statement. . . . It's a great way to communicate vision," he writes in his blog. His church's statements include an update letter and challenge from Searcy; a personalized giving statement that shows each family its total donations for the previous six months; an autodebit form; a small gift so that the envelope is more likely to be opened; and a postage-paid giving envelope. If people haven't given during the summer months, consider sending a friendly catch-up letter or a special invitation to a designated "Back to Church Sunday" in September. Whatever you do, keep the communications positive. "Saying things like, 'If we don't do something quick, we're going to have to lay off staff or close the doors' is not helpful," cautions Graham Walker. "It's not motivating, and it's counterproductive. Instead, remind people of who the church is and what its mission is and how they can be a part of it." Most importantly, say thank you often and genuinely. "Summer is a good time to call and say thank you. You can thank congregation members and tell them what you are gearing up for in September. You can say, 'Here are the fresh things we are doing this year, and we'd like you to be part of it,'" says Graham Walker.

4

MAKE SUMMER SERVICES A HIGHLIGHT

Summer services should be more enticing than the hammock. The casual nature of the season makes it well suited for experimentation. Several years ago, when my partner, Rev. Mike Perreault, went on holidays, his congregation of Kerwood (Ont.) United decided to inject services with a camp-like atmosphere, inviting a Christian clown, a magician and a puppeteer to deliver the Sunday morning message. With strong promotion, summer attendance was better than ever. Consider taking summer services outdoors. Trinity United in Annan, Ont., near Georgian Bay, hosts "Down by the Bay" evening services on the beach. Congregants bring lawn chairs, guitars and sometimes share a potluck meal, says Rev. Heather McCarrel. Dunbar Heights United in Vancouver takes a more intellectual but equally fun approach. Rev. Mchelle Slater runs a "Stump the Preacher" sermon series, responding to questions submitted by congregation members. Take advantage of summer programs your congregation is already running. Cheryl Curtis, the United Church's Mission and Service funding officer, says that congregations offering a vacation Bible school could simultaneously host a simple mid-week supper followed by a service and activities for all ages. "This can be a way to welcome families whose children are attending the summer program and who are not formally connected to your church yet," she says.

5

present the budget in narrative form; invite your Conference's plannedgiving expert to sponsor a wills awareness seminar. For a holistic view of stewardship, read Grateful and Generous Hearts by John H . Westerhoff and A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri J. M . Nouwen. For a how-to on stewardship development, consult Thanks Giving: Growing Generosity Among God's People by Christopher Levan. "Congregations with a strong year-round program that promotes stewardship as a way of life for all members build habits that support what they believe in 12 months of the year," says Graham Walker. "It's always the right time to build a program." EE]

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