Why should I think of St. James’ as more deserving than other non-profits I support?
The hope is that St. James’ feeds your soul and that of others, a unique and essential mission. It is not an issue of need—although the need is there—but rather one of sharing our gratitude for the blessings that have been bestowed upon each of us.

Does my money really make a difference when the church has an endowment?
Our goal is to use the endowment (bequests from past parishioners) to enhance our ability to carry out our mission in our parish, our city and the world. We depend on it too much for the day-to-day operations of the church, and with a projected 2008 budgeted deficit of $285,000, we will have to exceed the prudent 5% drawdown from the endowment to support the operating budget.

Is St. James’ controlling costs?
Yes. In fact, in 1998 dollars, the budget today is significantly lower than it was ten years ago. We have learned to do more with less, but some of the programs we treasure—Lilly Fellowships and our Partners in Mission initiatives in Malawi, Haiti, and with children in New York City—are being funded through temporary grants. We need to be looking forward and preparing for the time when we will be supporting such programs through our operating budget alone.

Why should I consider increasing my pledge?
The dollar you gave ten years ago is equivalent to pledging 78 cents now. Pledging the same amount every year is essentially decreasing your support of St. James’, which must struggle to deal with increased costs for everything from utilities to health care.

For more information on pledging, corporate matching gifts, gifts of securities, or estate gifts, contact Robin Young, Stewardship Coordinator.