Ministry of Stewardship and Giving

What We Believe About Financial Stewardship and Giving

Northminster regularly teaches sound financial stewardship from a Christian perspective on a year-round basis. This philosophy is founded upon Jesus' teaching that our stewardship of money strongly shapes and influences our relationship with our God and our neighbor.

Jesus often taught about faithful management of our resources and repeatedly portrayed our approach to money as a key determiner of our heart’s spiritual condition.

Northminster’s financial stewardship emphasis is an intentional effort to encourage a biblical pattern of Christian giving in order to promote spiritual growth.

Stewardship is not fundraising, which focuses on the need of the congregation to receive. Rather, our focus is on the need of the giver to give, as Jesus consistently taught.

Questions Often Asked About Finances and the Christian Faith

Why did Jesus link our spiritual lives so closely to financial matters?

Throughout the Bible, two actions are consistently portrayed as the primary sins of humans: idolatry and greed. Because the love of money is often central to both behaviors, Jesus regularly spoke of the relationship between our pocketbooks and the spiritual vitality of our hearts.

Why should Christians be financially generous?

First, Christian generosity is rooted in an understanding that all we are and have belongs to God, the Creator (Psalm 24:1). He is the owner. We are God’s managers commissioned to follow His guidelines for living. As owner, God has made it clear that he desires faithful managers to be generous.

Second, we are grateful for God’s grace and forgiveness expressed through Christ’s sacrificial death (1 Corinthians 6:20). Our gratitude is expressed through our faithful obedience to God’s design for living which prescribes a generous heart and pocketbook.

In the Bible, generosity is also linked to:

• Growing Spiritually - Matthew 6:19-24
• Our Need to Give - Mark 8:35
• Worshipping God - Exodus 35:4-5
• Needs of our Neighbors - Matthew 25:31-40
• Our Resulting Satisfaction - 2 Corinthians 9:6-15

How am I to give?

The Bible details that our giving is to be:

• Regular - 1 Corinthians 16:2
• Proportional - 2 Corinthians 8:12
• Sacrificial - Mark 12:41-44
• Joyful - 2 Corinthians 9:7

How much should I give?

The teaching of the New Testament encourages giving in proportion to the material blessing one has received, with special attention and commendation for sacrificial giving. Northminster recognizes the tithe (10% of one’s gross earnings) as a Biblical standard for giving.

Additionally, in response to Christ’s abundant giving to us, we should increasingly seek to submit our personal resources to His Lordship, displaying a spirit of generosity and cheerfulness.

• Matthew 6:19-21, Matthew 6:33
• Matthew 23:23
• Luke 6:38
• Luke 21:1-4
• Malachi 3:8-10
• 2 Corinthians 8-9
• Proverbs 3:9-10

How is my financial gift used?

First, Northminster believes that a Christian’s primary giving is to be directed to the local church. In both the Old and New Testaments, offerings were regularly collected to maintain the ongoing work of God in the world. Today this means giving to the Church which Christ established.

Secondly, we believe it is fitting and proper that Christians financially support organizations engaged in Christian ministry outside the local church.

At Northminster, your gifts are allocated in several distinct areas of ministry:

• Current Ministries, Missions and Operations: used for day-to-day church needs and budgeted ministry goals.
• Building Capital Fund: includes planned acquisitions, new construction, major building and capital needs.
• General Ministry Fund: supports general program needs and current budget goals of the church through its investment income.
• Mission and Outreach Fund: serving our special mission outreach needs both local and distant.
• Vocation Fund: provides for scholarships, internship training and Christian leadership development.
• Northminster Preschool & Kindergarten Fund: provides for the support, ongoing resources and scholarships for our little ones.

Am I expected to make a financial commitment to the church?

There are several ways to give to the church:

• Regular Faithful Giving

Congregational members are challenged to grow towards the Biblical standard of tithing (10%) by one percent of income each year. For example, if you are currently giving 2% of your income to the church, you would increase your giving to 3%.

This “Grow One” philosophy seeks to encourage disciples to take their next step of faith and to live life as He prescribed. It is also a realistic strategy by which many have faithfully strengthened their financial stewardship. If you have never made a financial commitment, begin with a reasonable objective and plan to increase your giving annually.

Each fall, individuals and families use Estimate of Giving cards to communicate their commitment for the coming calendar year. This estimate may be increased or decreased at any time during the year as circumstances warrant. This documentation process provides a clear goal for the congregation as well as a helpful planning tool for the church’s leadership.

• Special One-Time Gifts

Outright gifts of cash, securities, and tangible personal property provide the church with immediate benefits, often providing impact beyond the usual budget hopes of the church. At the same time, these generous gifts provide the donor with the joy of seeing his or her special gifts at work while receiving an immediate tax deduction.

• Beneficiary Gifts Beyond Your Lifetime

Gifts beyond your life can provide the church with benefits, whether it is a one-time immediate gift, or a continuing gift over many years. These generous gifts can be offered in several ways:

• Through your will
• Through your IRA or 401K
• Through your Charitable Gift Annuity
• Through your life insurance policy
• Through your Charitable Remainder Trust

Your generous financial gifts and plans can be made directly to Northminster or through the Presbyterian Foundation (1-800-858-6127).

Who do I call if I have more questions?

We recognize that Christian stewardship is a different view of giving from the world’s perspective, and additional questions are natural.

If you would like more information or a personal and confidential visit with a church staff member, please contact us.

The Session adopted this philosophy of financial giving as the official position for Northminster Presbyterian Church. Please take time to study this information as a part of your personal Christian growth.