About Us

Church Finances

Financing the Church

Introduction

Like most congregations in the United Church of Canada, Robertson-Wesley is self- supporting that is, the entire cost of the facility, staff and operation of the Church is born by the participants. And the Church does not charge a membership fee, but depends on free-will offerings. This is based on our wish that everyone feel welcome to participate fully in the life of the church regardless of their financial situation, and on the belief that the Spirit will inspire the generosity necessary for the Church to thrive. Therefore, this page has been prepared in order to give Church participants some direction in deciding what is an appropriate amount for their financial contributions.

Blessing in Abundance

The point is this: the one who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and the one who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. Each of you must give as you have made up your mind, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to provide you with every blessing in abundance, so that by always having enough of everything, you may share abundantly in every good work.

... You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity, which will produce thanksgiving to God through us...

2 Corinthians 9:6-11, N.R.S.V.

Local Operating Expenses

Contributions allocated to Regular are used principally for the operation of the local congregation. However, it also includes our congregation's share of the operating expenses for our Presbytery (Edmonton) and our Conference (Alberta and Northwest). The Board is also authorized to redirect funds designated Regular to the Building or Mission and Service funds when the situation warrants.

Mission & Service Fund

The General Council (National) Office of the United Church of Canada and its activities and projects are financed by voluntary contributions from participants as well. Contributions to the Mission and Service (M&S) Fund are usually made as a component of ones total church offering (additional to "regular" offering). The offerings designated for M&S are forwarded directly to the National Office by the local church treasurer. Robertson-Wesley's goal for M&S contributions is about 15% of our local church operating expenses.

Global Reach

Through the Mission and Service Fund, contributions are made to the work of development and relief around the world. Some of this takes place through the coordinated programs of the World Council of Churches; and some is carried out in direct partnership with other denominations.

Building Fund

The Robertson-Wesley property is located on the boundary of the inner city of Edmonton, ideally located for serving both the inner city and outlying communities. Our building was built in two stages, the first in 1913 and the second in 1951. We have received some financial assistance from the City of Edmonton for maintenance as a heritage building. However, the participants bear most of the cost of maintaining and upgrading the property. To this end, we maintain substantial reserve funds, we invite regular contributions to our capital fund, and we make special appeals from time to time for major, one- time projects.

Revenue

Although the church depends primarily on contributions from participants for its revenue, Robertson-Wesley does have some additional sources which provide considerable income. This includes building rentals to a variety of community groups, weddings and funerals, and regular fund raising projects.

Percentage Table

The Table below offers a guide as to what your weekly givings would be as a percentage of gross income.

Gross Annual Income	Weekly Contribution in Dollars
	2%	3%	5%	7%	10%
$120,000	46	70	116	162	230
$100,000	38	58	96	134	192
$80,000	31	46	77	108	154
$70,000	27	40	67	95	135
$60,000	23	35	58	81	115
$50,000	19	29	48	67	96
$40,000	15	23	38	54	77
$30,000	12	17	29	40	58
$20,000	8	12	19	27	38
$10,000	4	6	10	13	19

Allocation of Contributions

How do we decide how much of our contribution to allocate to each of the principle categories, Regular and Mission & Service? If we look at the allocation of our budgeted revenue we see the following distribution (based on 2007 figures):

• 85% Regular
• 15% Mission & Service

Making a Pleadge

We conduct an annual pledge campaign which is our way of asking people to tell us how much they intend to contribute to the church during the coming year. A pledge is not a contractual obligation. Rather it serves two functions. Firstly, it reminds people to take some time annually to prayerfully reconsider their church givings and to revise the amounts as they see fit. Secondly, it gives our Church Board a basis for budgeting realistically.

Prayer

There are different ways people look at church finances in determining their level of contribution. But one factor is held to be universal: it is a prayerful decision. It is a choice we make before God and with God's grace and blessing. This makes it possible for our contributions always to be an expression of our faith. Then, by giving a part of what we have, the whole is sanctified, and the blessing returns!

Methods of Giving

We receive some contributions on an annual basis, some as special one-time donations and some in response to special appeals. Regular contributions may be made through weekly offering envelopes, post-dated cheques, or the pre-authorized remittance system.

Offering Envelopes

This is a set of small envelopes, either one for each Sunday of the year or one for each month of the year. Each envelope is marked with an identification number which allows your offering to be credited to you while maintaining a degree of confidentiality. Offering envelopes may be obtained on request at any time.

Pre-Authorized Remittance

This is a system whereby you may authorize payments to be made by electronic transfer from your bank account to the church's account according to the amount and interval you specify. The above alternatives may be used in combination. For example, you might give a basic amount by Pre-Authorized Remittance, and make supplementary contributions as your finances allow through Offering Envelopes.

Contribution Statements and Income Tax

Statements of your church contributions are issued quarterly throughout the year. And official income tax receipts are issued early in the new year. Regular contributions, Mission and Service contributions, and contributions for special church appeals are all tax deductible as charitable donations. In Alberta we receive a 50% tax refund after the first $200 of total charitable contributions. Canada Revenue Agency Information for donors in regard to giving to charity is provided on the website of the Canada Revenue Agency. The Giving to Charitypage is designed to help people make informed choices about the charities they support.

Catching the Spirit

As one would expect, people tend to contribute modestly when they are new to the church and gradually increase to a higher level of giving as they develop their understanding and appreciation for the church's mission catching the spirit. The church has often been compared to a ship on a voyage, led by a vision of the power of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to transform lives and to transform the world. With the Spirit in our hearts, like wind in our sails nothing is impossible!