Stewardship
Treasure
On Sunday, January 21st, we will begin a churchwide study and worship emphasis called Treasure: A Stewardship Program on Faith and Money. The study will be based on Jesus’ words, “Where your treasure is, there your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21).
Over a period of four weeks, we will look at the many ways that our treasure (time, energy, money) affects our hearts. We will consider how financial challenges in our personal lives affect our relationships with people and with God. We will see how giving helps to determine the way we feel and act. If you have stress related to money or feel there may be more that God is calling you to do with your resources, this will be a helpful study.
At the end of the four weeks, we will have the opportunity to make personal commitments of giving to Westlake United Methodist Church for the coming year. All of us will receive commitment cards in the mail, and the cards will also be available on Sunday mornings. We can fill out these cards and bring them to worship on Sunday, February 11th.
We look forward to an exciting month considering our treasure and God’s treasure.
EXPLORE THE 2024 Narrative Budget
After you fill out your Commitment Card you can setup an automatic payment at the frequency of your choice. Simply click the button below, enter an amount, select the "2025 general fund", and enter your email. On the following screen you will have the option to create a recurring payment. Let us know if we can assist you in any way during this process.
Stewardship FAQs
We thank you for your generosity and pray you may find the level of giving that is right for you as you progress in your journey of faith and commitment. Your pledges and contributions are a critical part of how we can make a difference in our church, our community, and our world.
The following “Frequently Asked Questions” can help you understand stewardship and pledging at Westlake United Methodist Church.
Has the 2023 budget been set yet?
Yes. The budget was approved by Church Council last December. This year, the Stewardship Campaign is happening at the beginning of the new year, instead of concurrently with the budgeting process. This was to avoid overlap with other charitable giving requests in the months leading up to the Christmas season.
What is the 2023 budget?
The 2023 operating budget is $1,188,589.00 (excluding the Preschool), which represents an increase of $88,173.00 or 8% over 2022. The bulk the increase is related to Facilities and Staffing. It’s costing us more to heat, cool, and maintain our property and buy supplies for our programs and ministries. Even more critically, we must ensure that we increase earnings for our incredibly gifted and faithful staff to be compensated with a livable wage given the higher than usual pace of inflation and cost of living in our area.
How much of the 2023 budget supports staff?
Roughly 63%. Another 20% is Facilities and Administrative expenses.
How much of the 2023 budget is Missions/Outreach?
Missions and Outreach is $17,000 without Apportionments. Special collections and
the Mission Match put that number over $173,000.
How many members do we have?
We have 581 members (including confirmed youth) from 402 Family Units, some of whom are inactive/non-attending.
How many pledges do we hope to get?
With an 8% budget increase, we a need significant increase in giving, accomplished by:
Increase in giving units. In 2022, we had 14 fewer families pledge than the previous year. This year our goal is to get back to a minimum of 149 family giving units.
Increase in pledged amounts. Please consider increasing your pledge/giving by 8% to help keep pace with the increased budget.
What was the participation rate for last year/2022?
We had 135 pledges which is 34% of the total Family Units (but a much higher percentage of active families).
What was the average pledge?
$6,258
Are most pledges fulfilled?
Our church is filled with faithful givers! The pledge fulfillment rate for 2022 was 97%!
