giving

What is Stewardship and why invest in the mission and ministry of Trinity?

As Christians, we strive to follow Christ. Christ is our example of selfless giving. God created the world and all that is in it.  All that we have belongs to God. Therefore, we give back a portion of what we have been given to be used in God’s Kingdom work, encouraging others to grow in faith and to become followers of Christ. As a community of faith, we are ever discerning God’s will for us as a place of Christian worship and mission. Your investment keeps this work moving forward and enables us to be effective missionaries in our community and world. This is Stewardship.

Why Tithe and Pledge?

United Methodists practice tithing as set forth in numerous biblical examples of God’s directive to Israel to offer their first fruits to God – 10% of their harvest yield. Therefore, our Book of Discipline states that we strive for tithing, 10%, to be our “minimum goal of giving.”

At Trinity and in the whole of Christendom, we understand that pledging a tithe is a challenge. We ask that you prayerfully consider a portion of your income to be given to the church for God’s Kingdom work. Not everyone is able to tithe 10%, but perhaps you can tithe 2%, 5%, or even 20%. The point is, spend time with your family and with God. Prayerfully discern a projected gift. In John Wesley’s sermon “The Use of Money,” he emphasizes three points: Gain all you can, save all you can, give all you can.

Trinity will base its 2026 budget on pledges received.

By making a pledge, Trinity will be able to more accurately plan for funding for our mission and ministry. We will no longer plan a budget based on hoped for unpledged gifts. This will enable Trinity to end their fiscal year in the black, avoiding year-end pleas to close the deficit, which this year, has soared to $200,000. In your pledge packet, you will find a separate card, asking for a special year-end gift to resolve this deficit.

Pledging is an excellent family tool to teach our children and youth financial stewardship. We encourage pledge cards from children and youth to help them learn to invest in the mission and ministry of the church.

Can I give gifts without making a pledge?

Yes, however, we encourage you to prayerfully make a pledge to assist Trinity in budgeting. You are welcome to give an unpledged gift. If you identify your gift, you will receive giving statements in the same way as those persons who pledge.
 
Can I give to certain causes or funds and not tithe / pledge?

Of course! You don’t have to tithe or pledge to invest in certain causes or special funds at Trinity. We hope you will invest in any of the numerous funds and areas of need, as identified in the Financial Structures brochure which is included in your Stewardship packet. Please prayerfully consider tithing / pledging as a part of your charitable giving. A directory of designated funds including our endowments is also available from our Finance Office.

Oops! I pledged, but I cannot make my pledge. Can I change it?

Of course! You can change your pledge at any time. Again, pledging is a tool to help the church successfully manage our finances. Please contact the Finance Office at any time to confidentially manage your charitable giving.

How can I give my offerings to Trinity?

For your convenience, gifts can be made by ACH monthly deductions, automatic recurring payments through your personal online banking institution, online giving through the GIVING page on our website (tumct.org/giving), through the US Mail, through your brokerage firm or bank, through bequests, OR you can give offerings to Trinity through the weekly collection during worship services via check or cash (giving envelopes are provided in the pews for record keeping).,Also, you can give by dropping off donations during office hours at the church. We encourage you to include Trinity in your estate planning. When you invest in Trinity, we will work with you to make it as easy as possible!

Giving from your IRA may save you money!

Do you have an Individual Retirement Account (IRA) and/or are you 70 years old (or getting close)? If so, a gift to Trinity UMC can produce tax savings for you. When you reach 70 1/2 you may take at least a minimum amount each year from you IRA, which is call a “required minimum distribution,” or RMD. You are required to do this distribution at age 73.

Since you didn’t pay tax on the money you put into your IRA, you are required to pay income tax on it when money comes out. RMDs can push some people into a higher tax bracket – this can be avoided!

Make your tithes or offering directly from your IRA to Trinity. The tax benefit for you is that your donated distribution is excluded from your taxable income. These are called “qualified charitable distributions,” or QCDs.  Consider making your tithe or offerings from your IRA and save on your income taxes!