From your PWV Stewardship Ministry Team
We're a fun bunch, the Stewardship Ministry Team. We meet and talk with words about numbers. Really, though, we talk about people with a heart for the Church, and groups of people, called congregations, who do God's work in the name of Jesus Christ.
This week, we were talking about per capita. (I told you we're a fun bunch.) From the Latin, meaning "by head", it's the term we use for a calculated amount that connects members to the work of the wider church.
From the PC(USA) website:
- "Per capita funding is how Presbyterians mutually share the costs of coming together to discern the Spirit's leading for the future.
- It is how Presbyterians are trained to become better elders and ministers.
- It is how Presbyterians discern God's call in their lives.
- It is how Presbyterians participate in the life of the wider church by serving on GA committees and commissions.
- It is how Presbyterians participate in the life of the Church universal as we commit ourselves to work and live in fellowship with 'all persons in every nation' (Book of Order, G-4.0101)"
So, per capita had us talking this week, and we started to tell stories.
We heard about the congregation that has a generous member who "sponsors" three or four folks on fixed incomes and pays their per capita amount as a way to honor their friendship and their love of the church. What a great idea!!
We told a story about a congregation in our presbytery that interprets per capita in February with a pie theme. Pie charts emphasize all of the amazing connections per capita supports. Their stewardship team serves slices of pie and explains how our per capita offerings make up the whole pie. Such a cool idea!!
We heard about a pastor's dream that strong congregations "adopt" or simply take up an offering to cover the per capita amount for a struggling congregation. Check out First and Second Corinthians and Romans. He was always asking congregations to support one another with offerings. How biblical!
We heard about how some congregations and some individuals "round up" their per capita gift, to make the math easier and to offer just a little extra. How nice!
We reminded each other that many congregations pay 100% of their per capita- and we rejoiced-but also wanted to encourage congregations to make sure that their rolls are as up to date as possible. There is no need to pay per capita on the saints in heaven or for folks who may have affiliated with another congregation.
Can we help you interpret per capita to your congregation? Contact the presbytery office to speak with any one of us. We'd be glad to help.
Marilou Limbach Linda Gillem Kathy Michael
Rich Kneifel Eric Herzog Jennifer Burns Lewis
