Thank you to ECC & our 62 Clergy Picnic guests!
Last Saturday was the annual clergy picnic at ECC, and it was by all measures a success: ECC provided a delicious meal -- steak and BBQ chicken, in addition to the usual picnic fare -- and despite an iffy forecast, the weather held out all afternoon, allowing for hayride tours of the conference center grounds. Thanks to all who made the day such a treat! You can see photos of the event here.
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This Saturday: The Ordination of Jackie Kirby
On Saturday June 21st at 4pm Jacquelyn Kirby will be ordained to the sacred order of deacons. Your prayers and presence are requested at the service and reception at Grace Church, Providence. Clergy are requested to wear Red Stoles. RSVP to Jackie Kirby
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Pledging: Should clergy know?
The awkwardness of knowing parishioner pledges may be worth it for the ministry opportunities it provides.
This article from ECF Vital Practices makes the case that you must take a leading role in stewardship, right down to knowing what parishioners are pledging, and gives best practices to increase the success of your stewardship efforts:
Create a leadership stewardship statement setting the expectation that those serving on a vestry make (and keep) a pledge to the annual fund.
Encourage clergy and vestry to adopt these expectations outside of the annual giving drive so that the discussion is separate from the actual asking time.
Create a team-based, pastoral approach in which leadership knows as much as possible about people's spiritual needs (including the financial aspect of that equation).
Hear from the experts about why these work.
Get more on pledging from ECF Vital Practices.
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Setting up and managing endowments
Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) has resources to help.Best Practices: Whether you are just getting started or have had an endowment for many years, the right structure matters. ECF offers sample endowment fund policies and guidance on the fundamentals of endowment management. Expert financial guidance and service: ECF can help address the many aspects of prudent investing -- asset allocation, fund selection, risk management, reporting, spending policies and more -- for accounts of all sizes. Growth through planned giving: Endowments grow through bequests in a will, maturing life-income gifts, and direct cash gifts. Work with ECF to create awareness of the means and benefits of planned giving and also facilitate life income gifts. Access ECF's endowment resources here.Read one church's story about how they got their endowments on track.
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Last chance for stewardship webcasts
Attend the final TENS conference webcasts on June 24th and 25th.
The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) filmed their June conference "Walking the Way" which tackled digital giving, legacy planning, & more. Check out the topics.
Several RI churches have shown the webcasts so that clergy, treasurers, & stewardship committees could benefit from the resources.
This week is your final chance to see it!
St. Martin's in Providence will show the webcasts on June 24th & 25th, from 6:30 to 9 pm.
Call St. Martin's at 401-751-2141 to RSVP and verify which sessions they will show.
If you can't make it check out all the other resources TENS has available.
Username: giving
Password: glory
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