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Stewardship-not a money issue, but a faith issue

Charitable giving, or stewardship, is not simply giving money to the church, or tithing a percentage.  Stewardship is a way of life, it is everything we do after we say the words: “I believe in God the Father almighty…” Stewardship is our response to the gift that we have received through Christ.

It is through your generous contributions that St. John’s can do M.O.R.E.

Minister to the needs of those in our congregation, our community and the world.

Outreach to those who have not yet heard the saving gospel of Christ Jesus.

Renew our zeal for the word of God through dynamic, meaningful and faithful worship.

Educate our children in the faith in a way that appeals to their uniqueness.

        Together, we can do M.O.R.E.!!!

Electronic Giving—Opening your heart without opening your checkbook.

5 Reasons to consider electronic giving:

Frequently asked questions about electronic giving

Q.    What is electronic giving?
A.     Electronic giving is a direct payment program whereby your contribution is debited automatically from your checking account.

Q.  What are the advantages of electronic giving?
A.  It makes it easy to fulfill stewardship commitments, even when you are unable to attend church.  Giving electronically also helps the church  save money and improve its budget!

Q.  How are my contributions automatically deducted from my account?
A.  Once you complete and sign an authorization form and return it to the          church, the contribution amount you specify will automatically be transferred from your bank account to the church’s General Fund bank account.

Q.  Is electronic giving risky?
A.  It’s less risky than writing checks or bringing cash to church.  Electronic contributions cannot be lost, stolen or destroyed and have an extremely high rate of accuracy.

Q.  If I do not write checks, how do I keep my checkbook balance straight?
A.  Since your contribution is made at pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register on the appropriate date.  Electronic contributions are also recorded for you on your bank statement.

Q.  What if I try electronic giving and don’t like it?
A.  You can cancel your authorization by notifying the church at any time.

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Simply Giving Individual Enrollment Form

Gifts and Estate Planning

If you are considering making a contribution to a charity, you may want to consider donating appreciated stock that has been held for more than one year from your investment portfolio instead of cash. This may result in enhanced income tax benefits.

Generally, the deduction for a donation of property to a charity is equal to the fair market value of the donated property. However, a special rule exists for certain gifts of stock to a private foundation.

If the donated stock has appreciated in value since the time of purchase, you are entitled to a charitable deduction equal to the stock’s fair market value. In addition, you may not have to recognize any of the appreciation on the donated stock if you donate the stock directly to the
charitable organization.

For example, Robert and Michael each plan on donating $10,000 to their favorite charity. Each also owns $10,000 worth of stock in ABC, Inc. They each bought the stock for $2,000 several years ago.

• Robert sells his stock and donates the $10,000 cash. Result: He is entitled to a $10,000 charitable deduction, but must report his $8,000 capital gain on the stock.
• Michael, on the other hand, donates the stock directly to the charitable organization. Result: He is entitled to the same $10,000 charitable deduction. However, he is not
subject to any tax on the capital gain. So, as you can see, how you donate the property to charity may have a significant tax difference for you. The amount of the charitable deduction for stock held for more than one year is limited to 30 percent of your adjusted gross income (20 percent for “qualified appreciated stock” contributed to a private foundation) for that year. Any excess may generally be carried forward for five years.

Keep in mind that you must complete your gift to a charity in the year that the donation is made in order to be eligible to claim a charitable contribution on your tax return for that year. If the donation is made at or near year-end, you should be particularly aware of the December 31 deadline if you’re donating stock, as special tax rules apply:

• If you unconditionally deliver or mail a properly endorsed stock certificate to a charity, the charity’s agent or authorized representative, the gift generally is considered completed on the date of delivery or on the date it is mailed.

• If you bring the stock certificate to your bank or broker, or to the corporation that issued the stock, in order to transfer it to the name of the charity, the gift is considered completed on the date the stock is transferred on the books of the corporation.

There are several gifting alternatives you might want to consider rather than making a direct contribution to a charity. Please contact us to discuss these options.