Rock Spring Congregational United Church of Christ (UCC)

Everything You’ve Always Wanted to Know About Giving at Rock Spring, But Have Been Afraid to Ask…

Q: I can’t be the only person who wonders, “How much should I pledge?” Are there guidelines?

A: The “modern tithe” sets a goal of 5% of income to your church and 5% to other worthy causes. Since it is likely that most Rock Springers are not yet at the 5% goal, we are suggesting that for 2008 members and friends consider proportional giving. And read the next question and answer!

Q: What is proportional giving?

A: Proportional giving is a way of gradually increasing your pledge commitment. First, calculate the percentage of income you gave to Rock Spring last year, using gross or net income, whichever seems a proper baseline to you. The goal is to increase this each year by one percentage point until you reach the desired goal of giving 5% of yearly income to the church. If your gifts to Rock Spring in 2007 totaled 2% of your income, plan to increase the amount to 3% for 2008. Just making the initial calculation is sometimes an eye-opener for people. There’s a full explanation of this on the back side of the Annual Giving Card sent to all Rock Springers.

Q: The Council’s budget reflects other sources of income besides pledging—but they are listed as unchanged in the budget. Can’t they be increased, instead of relying totally on pledges?

A: In a perfect world that would be a great idea, but the reality is that those sources aren’t anticipated to produce additional income. For instance, facilities usage income is projecting slightly higher. That primarily represents rent from the Rock Spring Pre-School. There have not been indications of interest by other groups that would impact that number. When the Levine School of Music used the Hunter Educational Wing, that was a very helpful source of income. However, they outgrew our available space and moved on. There is also income produced by the Rock Spring Endowment Fund through the interest generated from our investments. As the Endowment grows, it will produce additional income for the church operating budget in future years.

Q: We don’t plan to pledge during the Annual Giving Campaign, because our family doesn’t attend Sunday School and worship services regularly. We’ve adopted a pay-as-you-go plan, contributing money the weeks that we are there. Is there any reason to reconsider this approach?

A: Yes! Your question implies you may understand that someone else is paying (through a pledged financial contribution) to keep the staff in place and the building open and in good condition—so it will be there for your family. Even if you don’t attend regularly, it is important to make a commitment through the pledge campaign, to help Rock Spring more accurately plan expenditures.

Q: With a baby, a toddler, a new home, and being early in our careers, we are only able to contribute a small amount to Rock Spring Church. We don’t feel our contribution is worth submitting a pledge card—in fact it’s a little embarrassing. We value this church and want to raise our children here, and we know that as our circumstances change, we’ll be able to give more. We know you don’t want us to stay away until we can increase our contributions. What should we do?

A: Definitely do not stay away! The future of Rock Spring Church is in the young families and we’re grateful that you consider this your church home. Even if you can only give a very small amount, please calculate what it totals annually and commit to that by submitting a Giving Card for 2008. It helps us plan in a way that we cannot by just waiting for the weekly offering. And confidentiality is guaranteed—only the church Financial Secretary is privy to the pledge information.

Q: I’ve heard that tithing 10% of your income is no longer considered necessary. Why?

A: The concept of tithing is alive and well, but the current definition reflects changes in society since Biblical times. The modern tithe is considered 5% to your church and 5% to other worthwhile organizations that help homeless and hungry people or contribute to other needs in our community and country. In Biblical times, the church was the only provider of social services.

Q: I find joy in making an annual gift to Rock Spring Church, although it sometimes is a stretch and it requires faith that we will be able to meet our commitment. So far, it’s always worked. But, what if some year we couldn’t meet that goal?

A: There are several options: Some people pay off the previous year’s gift early the following year. One person added the unpaid portion to the next year’s gift and paid it off throughout the next year. You could just start over for the next year with a clean slate. No one will hound you—Rock Spring does not have a debt collector on the staff or among its many volunteers.

Q: Do you have to be a member to submit an Annual Giving Card at Rock Spring?

A: No. Many people feel that Rock Spring is their church home while they’re living in the Washington, DC, area, and wish to support it. When they move back home (if Potomac fever doesn’t get them), they will resume worshiping in and supporting their hometown church.

Q: I’ve heard that in 2008 it will take about $2,800 a day to keep Rock Spring Church running. When I look at the offering plates, they are not always overflowing with checks or cash. Should we be worried?

A: It’s not bad to worry a little—things can be tight sometimes, especially during the summer months. However, the offering plates are only one way that income flows to the church. Many people have arranged for automatic deductions from their checking accounts, so that their pledge payment is deposited monthly in the Rock Spring account. This is great choice, since it means we have a steady income stream. Many people write a monthly check to cover their pledge, right along with their mortgage and utility payments, and mail it to the church. So the offering plates only tell part of the story.

Q: Can I give appreciated stock or a portion of my IRA to the church?

A: Re donation of stock: If you want to contribute stock, tell your broker to transfer the stock to Rock Spring’s UBS Financial Services Account (account #MV88505, GTC #0221), and s/he will arrange the transfer to Rock Spring. When the stock is received, our broker sells it immediately and the proceeds are deposited. You can designate your gift for the operating budget (a good way to make your pledge for 2008) or the Endowment Fund. This is an option for anyone who owns stock. If your broker has questions, s/he can call William Hieronymus at UBS Financial Services, 703-734-8400.

Re the IRA donation: Federal pension reform legislation, which expires December 31, allows you to direct IRA distributions to certain charitable organizations (Rock Spring qualifies), and exclude the amount of that distribution from your gross income in tax year 2007. To do this, you must meet several qualifications (i.e., you must be at least 70-1/2 years of age, etc.). Contact your IRA administrator as soon as possible for the details and to get the necessary forms. The process may take some time.

Q: I understand that the Rock Spring Preschool makes a donation to the church for the use of our facilities during the week, which is included as facilities usage income. Are they paying their way—including a fair share of the utility bills?

A: In 2006 the Board of Finance evaluated our financial relationship with the preschool, and re-negotiated a multi-year memorandum of understanding, which runs through 2010. The short answer is “yes,” we believe the preschool is paying their way in light of our unique and mutually beneficial arrangement. Our relationship with the preschool is not a typical tenant/landlord scenario. The preschool payment to Rock Spring Church is based on several factors, including the amount of space used, hours of use, janitorial service costs, utilities, etc. In addition, consideration is given for the Church’s use of the preschool’s furnishings, educational equipment, books and toys, as well as the permanent contributions they have made and continue to make to the facility. The preschool provides all the furnishings on the first floor of the Hunter Education Wing; they paid for installation of the playground equipment and fence; and they maintain the playground, including the mulch. The preschool has made countless improvements to the classrooms, including installation of sinks, permanent shelving, cabinets and room dividers. Church members are also given priority for admission to this highly-regarded cooperative preschool. If you’re ever playing a Rock Spring trivia game: The Rock Spring Preschool dates from 1943, and was started by Rock Spring members.

Q: Please explain how the new online pledge process works and how the confidentiality of the donor is maintained?

A: The form is available at www.rockspringucc.org/html/pledge.html. After you’ve filled it out, hit “send” and the card goes directly to the Financial Secretary, who is the only person at Rock Spring (or on the planet) who knows the amount of individual pledges. Above the pledge link is another link, “Giving to Rock Spring,” where you can access other relevant information about the 2008 Giving Campaign.

Q: Can you explain what the Rock Spring benevolence budget supports?

A: Check out the list of programs and agencies on the Board of Stewardship’s webpage. The primary benevolence is Our Church’s Wider Mission, supporting the local, regional, national, and international missions of the United Church of Christ. The remaining portion of the benevolence budget supports Northern Virginia non-profit and ecumenical organizations, including shelters, food banks, housing programs, substance abuse programs, health clinics, offender support, and interfaith activities. The recipients are selected by Rock Spring’s Board of Stewardship and approved by the congregation at the annual meeting.

Our congregation’s gifts for special UCC offerings (Neighbors in Need, Strengthen the Church, The Christmas Fund, One Great Hour of Sharing) are passed through to the appropriate UCC bodies for those purposes, and are not included in Rock Spring’s benevolence budget.

Here’s more on OCWM:

OCWM funds are sent to the Central Atlantic Conference (CAC), which is the UCC regional organization serving our multi-state area of the country. Sixty-five percent of that money is used by the CAC, largely to support Conference staff–including Rev. John Deckenback and Rev. Kwame Osei Reed. CAC staff are ready resources for Rock Spring in many areas, including the search for new pastors, and assistance securing construction loans, for such projects as the Hunter Wing and Carpenter Hall. (Contact us at finance@rockspringucc.org for a brochure that describes the sources of CAC funding and the programs that those funds support.) The remaining 35 percent of our OCWM contributions are forwarded to the national offices of the UCC, to support their programs. This split is set by each conference, and reviewed when the conference budget is approved at its annual meeting.

Q: I really liked the God Is Still Speaking Campaign. Are we doing anything to support that?

A: The UCC always intended that the God Is Still Speaking campaign would eventually be rolled into its regular operations. Earlier this year, a decision was made to designate a significant portion of the denomination’s Strengthen the Church special offering to the ongoing God Is Still Speaking initiative. So, if you want to specifically support the God Is Still Speaking campaign, you can keep that in mind when we accept the Strengthen the Church offering each year.

Q: Why are we urged to use direct deposit of our pledge contributions?

A: When the church’s income is received predictably, it is easier to meet our payroll, pay our bills, and disburse our benevolences in a business-like manner. There were flow issues in 2007, which would not have happened if everyone was using an automatic deposit system. For more information on direct deposit, contact Financial Secretary Bob Cato at rbcato2@aol.com.

Q: What happens if our pledge campaign goal isn’t met—how will we fund the budget proposed for Rock Spring in 2009?

A: If the total pledged income is less than the projected amount, it will require rethinking the budget. Council may make suggestions for cuts in spending and/or they will need to explore additional sources of income. First and foremost, however, it is imperative that Rock Spring have the most productive giving campaign possible before these alternatives are explored. Preceding the Council’s action, the Board of Finance will weigh-in with recommendations based on its September budget analysis. The Council chair and the co-chairs of Finance are committed to producing a balanced budget for 2009. At the Annual Meeting in January, the congregation will discuss the options and then vote on the final 2009 budget.

Q: I understand that Rock Spring has five full-time employees and eight part time employees covered in the budget. How are salary levels set for the pastors and other staff members?

A: Salaries for our three pastors are evaluated each year by Rock Spring’s Board of Personnel, using the UCC Central Atlantic Conference Clergy’s Minimum Compensation Guidelines. These guidelines take into account an individual’s years of professional experience and the size of the congregation. They also consider the cost of living and comparable salaries in the region and recommend benefit levels. The UCC compensation information is not a directive, but a guideline. The line item in our budget for each pastor is not all salary—it includes health insurance, retirement contributions, a housing allowance, and related compensation. The Personnel Board makes recommendations to the Board of Finance and Council for inclusion in the budget. For the non-pastoral staff, Personnel bases its recommendations on comparability to similar positions in the DC-VA-MD area.

Q: I’ve heard a lot of talk about money during the pledge campaign this month. Are we losing sight of why we’re doing this? Rock Spring isn’t a small business, but a place of worship. Where does God fit in?

A: Talking about money at church makes many people feel uncomfortable. However, doing God’s work through Rock Spring Church takes money. The Annual Giving Campaign is focusing its message on increasing pledges, because to maintain the programs and staff that currently exist and to expand in some areas (see previous question re C.E.), it takes money. The Campaign message must be clear, so that people understand what is at stake for 2009. It is a step of faith for Rock Spring members and friends to increase their giving—which allows our church to further God’s work.

The Board of Finance is attempting to answer frequently un-asked questions, during the weeks that members and friends are considering how to respond to the 2008 Annual Giving Campaign. We would like to answer your questions. Anonymity is guaranteed. Please email your questions to finance@rockspringucc.org or snail mail them to: Board of Finance, 5010 Little Falls Road, Arlington, VA 22207.