You yourselves, like living stones, are being built into a spiritual house.
1 Peter 2:5
Annual Giving
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Click the button below to submit your online pledge card
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Click the button below to submit your online pledge through your established Realm account
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Please note: Kindly submit your 2027 Annual Giving Estimate in one form only.
Building In Love
The Church of the Good Shepherd’s 2027 stewardship theme, “Building in Love,” invites all parishioners to help sustain and grow our welcoming community of faith. Our goal of $930,000 in annual giving, an 8% increase over its last year's goal, will help us meet rising operating and maintenance costs while continuing to invest in family ministry, outreach, worship, pastoral care, formation, and community life. Stewardship is not simply about meeting a financial goal. It is about asking how God is calling each of us to participate in the life and future of this community. For some, that may mean an increased financial pledge. For others, it may mean offering time, leadership, prayer, or particular gifts and skills. For all of us, it means recognizing that this place we love is something we build together.
We hope you will prayerfully consider what Building in Love means for you and your household and make a generous pledge to support our ministry in 2027.
The Church of the Good Shepherd’s 2027 stewardship theme, “Building in Love,” invites all parishioners to help sustain and grow our welcoming community of faith. Our goal of $930,000 in annual giving, an 8% increase over its last year's goal, will help us meet rising operating and maintenance costs while continuing to invest in family ministry, outreach, worship, pastoral care, formation, and community life. Stewardship is not simply about meeting a financial goal. It is about asking how God is calling each of us to participate in the life and future of this community. For some, that may mean an increased financial pledge. For others, it may mean offering time, leadership, prayer, or particular gifts and skills. For all of us, it means recognizing that this place we love is something we build together.
We hope you will prayerfully consider what Building in Love means for you and your household and make a generous pledge to support our ministry in 2027.
2027 Annual Giving FAQ
GENERAL
What is a pledge?
A pledge is a financial commitment made to support the operation of our church and its ministries. When members make a pledge during the annual giving period, they are offering a good faith promise of their intended financial support for the upcoming year.
Why is making a pledge commitment so important?
Your pledge supports everything we do – from paying the salaries of our clergy and staff, to supporting our outreach ministries, our pastoral care, our worship, our education programs, and our music. In order to know what we can reasonably accomplish each year we depend on pledge commitments to develop an annual budget.
Doesn’t Stewardship and Annual Giving mean the same thing?
Annual Giving is a critical component of Stewardship because it provides the financial basis for running the day-to-day operation of our church and its ministries. Stewardship is a continuous call to us to devote the full use of our time, talent and treasure to sustain and nurture what has been created and given to us through God’s abundant love.
How do I make my pledge?
Most pledge cards will be received during our service on Commitment Sunday (October 18). You can also place your completed pledge card in an envelope and place it the collection plate during any Sunday service or mail it to the church office. Online pledging is another easy option where you can make your pledge using the form on our website.
Do I have to pay at the time I pledge? Can I pay in installments?
You can pay your pledge as a lump sum, or in monthly or quarterly installments.
Should I pledge even though I regularly put money in the offering plate?
Undesignated donations in the offering plates do help support the operating budget and ongoing life of the parish. However, pledges are very important because they enable us to plan responsibly and to establish a realistic budget for the coming year.
Can I change my pledge?
Yes. You can change your pledge if your circumstances change. Simply contact the parish administrator at our church office.
Is my pledge confidential?
All pledges, whether received by mail, in person, or online, are confidential and seen only by a few people for administration purposes. Pledge amounts are never shared.
2027 ANNUAL GIVING DETAILS
What is the goal of this year’s Annual Giving effort?
Our goal for 2027 pledge receipts is $930,000, to be submitted over the next two months.
How does this year’s Annual Giving goal compare to last year?
Our goal represents an 8% increase compared to last year. Like all of us, our church is experiencing significantly higher costs due to inflation. This is particularly evident in the cost of repairs, supplies, and maintenance for the Duncan-Giersch Parish Life Center, sanctuary, landscaping, and higher utility costs – an increase of 18% over last year.
Does this mean we’re cutting expenses in other areas, such as Outreach?
In some areas we are trimming expenses or looking for grants to help offset higher inflationary costs. Our commitment to Outreach is fundamental to Good Shepherd’s mission, so we are proposing an increase of 6%. Our overall program support will increase by 3%. Without the retirement of the debt on our PLC in 2024, this would not be possible.
How are our worship services and family ministries affected?
Our family ministry continues to blossom with the addition of our new Associate Rector for Family Ministry and Spiritual Life, Rev. Polly Robb. Worship expenses will remain flat, while music will increase by 3%, supporting the beauty and richness of our common worship. We are excited to note that our music ministry now includes a revamped children’s choir.
What about personnel costs?
We are proposing a 3% increase for clergy and staff to cover salaries, as well as the increased costs in benefits and overhead expenses.
Are we looking for ways to increase revenues to support our church?
As part of our long-term strategic plan, we are constantly exploring new sources of revenue and income streams to make more efficient use of the Duncan-Giersch Parish Life Center. We have developed strong partnerships with other organizations, from founding and supporting Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen to hosting Raleigh Mennonite Church and others, which provide nearly $40,000 in annual revenue. In the month of October, we have three weddings scheduled and we are looking for many more opportunities.
If you have any further questions about this year's annual giving campaign, or any information presented on this page, please contact
GENERAL
What is a pledge?
A pledge is a financial commitment made to support the operation of our church and its ministries. When members make a pledge during the annual giving period, they are offering a good faith promise of their intended financial support for the upcoming year.
Why is making a pledge commitment so important?
Your pledge supports everything we do – from paying the salaries of our clergy and staff, to supporting our outreach ministries, our pastoral care, our worship, our education programs, and our music. In order to know what we can reasonably accomplish each year we depend on pledge commitments to develop an annual budget.
Doesn’t Stewardship and Annual Giving mean the same thing?
Annual Giving is a critical component of Stewardship because it provides the financial basis for running the day-to-day operation of our church and its ministries. Stewardship is a continuous call to us to devote the full use of our time, talent and treasure to sustain and nurture what has been created and given to us through God’s abundant love.
How do I make my pledge?
Most pledge cards will be received during our service on Commitment Sunday (October 18). You can also place your completed pledge card in an envelope and place it the collection plate during any Sunday service or mail it to the church office. Online pledging is another easy option where you can make your pledge using the form on our website.
Do I have to pay at the time I pledge? Can I pay in installments?
You can pay your pledge as a lump sum, or in monthly or quarterly installments.
- You can pay part or all of your pledge online by credit or debit card.
- You can write a check and put it in the offering plate or mail it to the church office.
- You can have a bank account or credit card drafted monthly or quarterly.
- You can also make your contribution via stock transfer or other investments.
Should I pledge even though I regularly put money in the offering plate?
Undesignated donations in the offering plates do help support the operating budget and ongoing life of the parish. However, pledges are very important because they enable us to plan responsibly and to establish a realistic budget for the coming year.
Can I change my pledge?
Yes. You can change your pledge if your circumstances change. Simply contact the parish administrator at our church office.
Is my pledge confidential?
All pledges, whether received by mail, in person, or online, are confidential and seen only by a few people for administration purposes. Pledge amounts are never shared.
2027 ANNUAL GIVING DETAILS
What is the goal of this year’s Annual Giving effort?
Our goal for 2027 pledge receipts is $930,000, to be submitted over the next two months.
How does this year’s Annual Giving goal compare to last year?
Our goal represents an 8% increase compared to last year. Like all of us, our church is experiencing significantly higher costs due to inflation. This is particularly evident in the cost of repairs, supplies, and maintenance for the Duncan-Giersch Parish Life Center, sanctuary, landscaping, and higher utility costs – an increase of 18% over last year.
Does this mean we’re cutting expenses in other areas, such as Outreach?
In some areas we are trimming expenses or looking for grants to help offset higher inflationary costs. Our commitment to Outreach is fundamental to Good Shepherd’s mission, so we are proposing an increase of 6%. Our overall program support will increase by 3%. Without the retirement of the debt on our PLC in 2024, this would not be possible.
How are our worship services and family ministries affected?
Our family ministry continues to blossom with the addition of our new Associate Rector for Family Ministry and Spiritual Life, Rev. Polly Robb. Worship expenses will remain flat, while music will increase by 3%, supporting the beauty and richness of our common worship. We are excited to note that our music ministry now includes a revamped children’s choir.
What about personnel costs?
We are proposing a 3% increase for clergy and staff to cover salaries, as well as the increased costs in benefits and overhead expenses.
Are we looking for ways to increase revenues to support our church?
As part of our long-term strategic plan, we are constantly exploring new sources of revenue and income streams to make more efficient use of the Duncan-Giersch Parish Life Center. We have developed strong partnerships with other organizations, from founding and supporting Shepherd’s Table Soup Kitchen to hosting Raleigh Mennonite Church and others, which provide nearly $40,000 in annual revenue. In the month of October, we have three weddings scheduled and we are looking for many more opportunities.
If you have any further questions about this year's annual giving campaign, or any information presented on this page, please contact
- Jack Boyne or Esther Hall, Stewardship Committee Members
- The Parish Office
Members of the "Stew Crew" prepare the traditional Brunswick Stew for a previous year's Commitment Sunday
A Stewardship Prayer
Gracious and loving God, we understand that you call us
to be the stewards of your abundance, the caretakers
of all you have entrusted to us. Help us always to use your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. May our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Christ in our lives. Amen.
to be the stewards of your abundance, the caretakers
of all you have entrusted to us. Help us always to use your gifts wisely and teach us to share them generously. May our faithful stewardship bear witness to the love of Christ in our lives. Amen.
