Making an Annual Commitment

This week I was presented with the opportunity from OSV to renew my annual commitment to United Way with a gift automatically withdrawn from my paycheck.  In the next few weeks I will be presented with the opportunity to renew my annual gift to other non profits I contribute to each year such as The American Red Cross, The American Cancer Society, Susan G Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, and others that I give to because I believe in their cause and want to help make a difference in the goals they are trying to achieve.  When I think about it, annually I contribute to 18 non profits each year.  They are not always large gifts, sometimes just $25 or $50 dollars. 

This got me thinking....why am I not being presented with the opportunity to renew my annual offertory gift to my church?  My next thought was that my gift to the church has not changed in years because I have not been asked to grow my offertory gift or presented with a commitment card to do so!

Here's the fact; thousands of non profits are soliciting our parishioners for contributions and gifts.  Our archdioceses and dioceses are asking for pledges each year to support the Annual Bishops Appeal.  But most churches are not asking parishioners to formalize their annual commitment to the church or challenging parishioners in their offertory giving.  I know why--most Pastors don't want to have to give the "money talk."

The fact of the matter is, if you annually address parish offertory needs and discuss your important missions and organizations and how your ministry is changing lives and fostering the Catholic faith, parishioners will want to participate and will want to grow in their giving.  Annually parishioners should be presented with a commitment card to challenge offertory giving. This process should be one of celebration!  It should be a time when the Pastor gets up and says "Look at all we have accomplished together this past year!  Let's continue to grow our parish.  Let's continue to build God's kingdom together. Your sacrifices will continue to enable us to foster to those in need and bring Christ to the lives of others."

Would you like to have this conversation with your parish community?  We can help.  OSV's Increased Offertory Program is designed to help parishes facilitate this conversation with their parish community.  We've been making a dramatic difference in the offertory of hundreds of parishes.  Give us a call so we can help you facilitate this conversation with your parishioners.  I promise, you'll never have to give the "money talk" again!