How Much Should Newcomers Pledge?
October 1, 2001
Q. We're struggling with how to tell newcomers about what amount is appropriate to pledge to the church. How do other congregations handle this?
A. Rev. Richard Nugent, interim minister at the Unitarian Universalist (UU) Congregation of Columbia, MD, has a conversation with those who wish to become members. It includes a discussion of the rights and responsibilities of membership including a discussion about finances. He specifically discusses the range of pledges in the congregation and the average pledge.
New members at Mt. Diablo UU Church in Walnut Creek, CA (370), are told that the church needs an average pledge of $1,300 to operate. "We emphasize that for some that is not possible, while for others it is much too low," says Sue Polgar, president. "We have come to the conclusion that newcomers, particularly those who have never belonged to a church, need some giving guidelines. That first pledge sets the level for subsequent years."
For more information contact interconnections @ uua.org.
Last updated on Friday, April 18, 2008.
