Stewardship

A pledge is our promise to give a certain amount of money to the congregation over the coming budget year (July 2024-June 2025). We declare our pledge during the Stewardship Drive in the month of March, to be fulfilled during the budget year. We are encouraged to pledge generously and optimistically even if uncertain about our financial situation because a pledge can be adjusted if necessary. A pledge is a statement of intent, not a legally binding obligation.

OUUC strives to be a Beloved Community that supports us throughout our lives. When we attend OUUC, we count on it to provide worship and faith development for ourselves and our families. We give to help each other in intensely personal ways such as when we celebrate, when we grieve, and when we work for justice.

All members, friends and program participants in our congregational life are invited to pledge! OUUC is dependent upon the generosity of all who make pledges, and each pledge is gratefully received and spent responsibly. If you have found solace, support, or meaningful work here, your pledge will help OUUC continue and extend these benefits to others within and beyond our congregation community.

Your pledge is welcome anytime, but traditionally members and friends are asked to pledge during the March Stewardship Drive in order to prepare for next year’s operating budget, which is voted on by the congregation at the annual meeting in June. This year’s pledges will fund the work and mission of OUUC during the budget year beginning July 2024 through June 2025.

The proposed budget for this coming year is $631,976.

The following charts show the costs of OUUC’s current budget expenditures and next year’s budget proposed for each ministry area. As you can see all operational costs have increased due to cost of living, increased staffing for on-line services, and across-the-board inflation.

2024-25 Proposed Budget Operational Expenses by Ministry Area (personnel costs included)

Operational Expenses for 2023-24 (approved)
and 2024-25 (proposed)

2024-25 Proposed Budget Income Sources

Income Sources for 2023-24 (approved)
and 2024-25 (proposed)

Because everyone’s circumstances are different, we recognize and embrace the financial diversity of our congregation. And because financial need is not an obstacle to congregational participation, we ask those who are able, to carry a greater financial commitment to support our community to ensure we remain a congregation for all.

The Unitarian Universalist Association guideline encourages us to experience the spiritual practice of open-hearted generosity. Let your financial support be an expression of your spiritual journey and know that it is deeply appreciated.

To reach your pledge decision, please take a few moments to consider:

• What brings you to OUUC?    What keeps you coming back?
• What personal and spiritual commitments do we strive to honor here?
• What is the spiritual value of giving generously to what you value and want to share?

If you would like to support a specific program, this would be considered only as an addition to your current annual pledge. An additional special financial gift is sincerely appreciated.

If you wish to make a donation to the future of OUUC, please talk to a member of the Legacy Giving Committee.  Current Legacy Giving Team Board members are Rev. Eric Ness and Jeff Goltz.

OUUC has made pledging easy!

• You can pledge during any stewardship event or on Sunday mornings during the coffee hour.

• You can pledge online from the OUUC website: OUUC.org. Click on the “Giving” tab to see the drop-down menu. Use the Stewardship Drive link, and click this button:

There are several payment options listed OUUC.org website. Click on the “Giving” tab to see the drop-down menu, then open the “Ways to Give” link. While automatic bank withdrawals are common and encouraged, there are several options, and you may choose your preferred payment schedule. Note that there is information about direct stock transfers and using annual IRA distributions to fulfill your pledge.

We are grateful for your pledge however you choose to complete it!

Our lives are constantly in flux, financially and otherwise. At OUUC we are here for each other, through good times and hard ones! Please contact our business manager Isaac Jennings at businessmanager@ouuc.org or Reverend Mary at minister@ouuc.org if you need to modify your pledge confidentially.

OUUC is a non-profit religious organization, so your contributions are tax deductible. The office issues an end-of-the-year tax statement showing your total gifts during the preceding tax year.

Gifts of all kinds and amounts are appreciated. And the amount collected on Sundays comprises a small fraction of the congregation’s operating expenses. In fact, Sunday offerings represent just 5% of OUUC’s total income and only 2.5% of the operating budget. We dedicated half of our Sunday offering to putting our faith in action by sharing our resources with community organizations that share our values.

Thank you for giving generously on Sunday morning and in your annual pledge!

If you have questions about OUUC Stewardship, please look for the Stewardship Team in the Commons after the Sunday service. 

If you have questions about pledging, please contact the OUUC Office.