What Is Stewardship?

Stewardship is understood by the Orthodox Church as giving back to God a portion of what He has given to us in three categories: time, treasure, and talent. We invite all members (including catechumens) to release the bondage of earthly desires through giving back.

For time and talent, we invite all members to volunteer with one of our ministries. If you are unsure where to volunteer, please discuss with the priest. For treasure, all are invited to tithe (details below).

Why Do We Pledge?

Every year, each Member of St. Paul Orthodox Church is asked to submit a Pledge, including the total amount that the submitting Member commits to giving over the year. These Pledges, in a practical way, help the church develop a budget for the year. Of course, we do not just give to meet the needs of the parish. We give for our spiritual health. Remember that we are not doing the parish a favor by giving. We are being obedient to what God has already instructed us to do. Our giving is for the good of our salvation if we give freely in a spirit of obedience, generosity, love, and joy.

As we decide how much to give, remember to think in terms of proportion (percentage), not just dollar amount. A tithe (10% of income) is a Biblical standard of minimal giving (Leviticus 27:30, Matthew 23:23). We should strive to give God the first fruits, the first and best, not what is left over from our other obligations. The tithe is not a legalistic requirement for Orthodox Christians, but it gives us a spiritual goal to unburden ourselves from the bondage of money. Even if we can’t offer the full tithe of 10% of our income, consider increasing at 1% per until and work towards 10%.

Thank God, St. Paul Orthodox Church is a growing parish! We have a lot of children, youth, and adults who need the best education and highest quality spiritual environment we can offer. Please give with faithfulness, generosity, and joy so that we can build a stronger and more active parish for our own families and for the people around us who need the power of the Gospel in their lives.

How Do I Pledge?

There are TWO OPTIONS for submitting a Pledge:

1) Submit a Recurring Gift to be deducted from your Credit Card or Bank Account at the interval you choose through our Online Giving Platform.

2) If you do not want to give electronically, please email saintpaulorthodoxchurch@gmail.com to receive a Membership Pledge Card.

Need More Help?

If you need more help, please talk with Jim Aivalis (jaivalis@gmail.com), our Stewardship Coordinator. He is prepared to keep all information anonymous and confidential.