Fulfilling God’s Call
Stewardship at St. Luke's Church
St. Luke’s Episcopal Church is called to be Christ’s Light on the Hill. We are taking this calling seriously, more seriously than ever before. You can see it in our commitment to the 4C’s (Celebration, Commitment, Caring, Community). The 4C’s clearly articulate the expectations at St. Luke’s. One of those expectations is stewardship. Not only is stewardship – or pledging – a Biblical imperative, it is needed by the church to fulfill God’s calling through the work of our many ministries. And we believe God has given us a clear calling.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is stewardship?
Does my pledge really matter?
How much am I expected to give?
St. Luke’s: A Financial Snapshot
Some interesting facts
Where does the money come from?
Where Our Money Goes
What is stewardship?
At its most basic, it is how we care for the gifts we have received from God. It means taking care of our environment, of other people and of ourselves. Stewardship is the wise and faithful use of our resources: our time, talents, and treasure, all of which we believe have come to us from God. It’s a personal thanksgiving to God for all the gifts God has given us. back
Does my pledge really matter?
It most certainly does! To many, it comes as a big surprise to discover that St. Luke’s is not a wealthy church. A prime San Antonio location, the power and beauty of our worship services, and the ever-growing selection of classes and events all seem to say we’ve made it. But the truth is that St. Luke’s manages to maintain all this only through the giving of parishioners like you – we rely on everybody. back
How much am I expected to give?
The first and most important step is to pray for God’s guidance. Then consider that throughout history the church has affirmed the tithe as the standard for Christian giving – not the only way to give, but the standard and the goal for which we should strive. If you don’t feel called to tithe right now, please consider using proportional giving to decide how much to pledge. Proportional giving is simply giving a specific percentage of your income to St. Luke’s. Tithing is a form of proportional giving. Pledging to St. Luke’s is a way of expressing our joy and thanksgiving for all that the Lord has given us. The Bible makes it very clear that the decisions we make about money and possessions are spiritual decisions and affect, for good or ill, our relationship with God. Even if you to do not tithe, we challenge you to pledge rather than to make a weekly or periodic donation for two reasons: 1) it allows St. Luke’s to plan ahead, and 2) so you may experience the difference such a commitment will make in your life. back
St. Luke’s: A Financial Snapshot
To fulfill our Vision and Mission, St. Luke’s must grow. Our commitment to growth has resulted in an expanded selection of worship services, adult education classes, parish-wide events, and individual ministry activities. To realize our parish Vision and Mission will require a significant change in the way we accept our role as stewards of all that has been given us. We have a decision to make about the future of our ministry at St. Luke’s. Our decision comes down to whether we want to be a maintenance church, providing primarily for ourselves, or whether we want to follow the teaching of the Great Commission to go and make disciples of all nations. back
Some interesting facts
Average weekly cost for utility services $1,250
Average weekly cost for refreshments $94
Average payment on debt services for one week $1,115
Average weekly cost for light bulbs $55back
Where does the money come from?
85% of our budget has to be raised from pledges. 11% of our budget comes from non-pledged, open and special offerings. The remaining 4% comes from other income. Unlike many churches, we are not a church with a large endowment that can be used to augment the budget. We are dependent on the giving of parishioners. back
Where Our Money Goes
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