Stewardship and Pledging
The Rev. Dr. Peter S. Raible has adapted a passage from the book of Deuteronomy that reads:
We build on foundations we did not lay.
We warm ourselves at fires we did not light.
We sit in the shade of trees we did not plant.
We drink from wells we did not dig.
We profit from persons we did not know.
We are ever bound in community.
UUCB is here today because of the generosity, commitment, and good stewardship of generations of people before we were born. And through our generosity, commitment, and good stewardship today we can ensure this congregation exists in whatever form church will in the future to nurture, support, and inspire our great-grandchildren. In order to be “ever bound in community” it is we who must take up the responsibility of stewarding the community’s many resources. In this regard, stewardship is about taking responsibility for fairly compensating our church staff, maintaining our facilities, operating our programs, and sustaining our commitment to our wider Unitarian Universalist faith.
The easiest way for the church to be able to plan the yearly budget that funds our programs is by asking everyone to tell us how much they plan to give the church in the next fiscal year. We call that commitment a yearly pledge. For more information about the 2020-2021 Stewardship campaign, please read the letter and take a look at the Stewardship brochure by clicking the links below:
Stewardship Brochure 2020
Make My Pledge
If you are a new member or you’ve lost or simply not received a pledge packet, have no fear! You can make your pledge for the 2020-2021 church year right here on our website. Just click on the link below and it will take you to a simple, easy to complete online form:
Pay My Pledge
In an effort to make things as easy as possible, there are lots of ways you can pay your pledge, including some new options:
- PayPal: Click on the Donate button:
Check the box for “Make this a monthly donation.”
- Cash: Mail to the church office or drop into either the offering plate or through the office door slot in an envelope. Indicate on the envelope your name and that it is for your pledge.
- Check: Mail to the church office or drop into either the offering plate or through the office door slot in an envelope. Don’t forget to write “pledge” in the subject line.
- Stock Transfer: Contact Larry Nagel, UUCB Treasurer, for more information.
- InFellowship: We also have a secure online payment system through our church database system called InFellowship:
- If you have registered with InFellowship select here to give online.
- If you have not registered (created a profile) or are not sure, select here to create a profile.
- If you need support logging in, please email support@uucb.org.
Thank You!
Every pledge matters; no amount is too small or too large. Only you know how much you or your family can give. And if everyone gives what they can from deep within, UUCB will have more than enough to do the work we are called to do with one another and for our world. Thank you for your generous pledge!
Pledge FAQs
What is a Pledge?
A pledge is a promise to contribute a specific amount of money to UUCB over a specific period of time (typically a church year, which runs from July 1 to June 30). Collectively, pledges paid by the UUCB church community constitute a little over 50% of the income received by the church to fund all church operations.
What is a Pledge Unit?
An individual or family who makes a pledge is referred to as a pledge unit.
Why and when are Pledges solicited?
UUCB operates under an annual operating budget prepared by church leadership and presented to and approved by the congregation at an annual meeting each May. A pledge drive is held in the spring to canvass the UUCB community to pledge their financial support for the upcoming church year. The results of the pledge drive enable church leadership to project the pledge income for the upcoming church year and to set the budget accordingly.
Are church members expected to make pledges?
UUCB Bylaws state that a requirement of membership is an annual “contribution of record.” This can be done by pledging and paying off the pledge over time. Contributions can also be made, when possible, at any point in the church year. Be sure to mark the contribution with your name and as a contribution to UUCB. If financial constraints preclude doing either of these things, please reach out to one of the ministers so that you may be excused from pledging.
Do I need to be a member of the church to make a pledge?
No; we hope everyone who calls the church their own will want to financially support the church and make a pledge.
How many people pledge to UUCB and how much is pledged?
Please take a look at our Stewardship Brochure for this information
What about changes to or questions about my pledge?
Yes; you can make a change to your pledge at any time. Just let Anne Greenwood know (annegt1@sbcglobal.net or 510-215-6620).
Does all of the money I give to the church count towards my pledge commitment?
All money specifically marked as a pledge payment will be applied towards your pledge commitment. Cash and unspecified checks placed into the offering plate and other contributions made that are not labeled as a pledge are considered general gifts. Please be sure to note “pledge payment” on the memo line of your check, or choose “pledge payment” when paying by credit card. If you pay in cash, please be sure to fill out a pew envelope (also available in the office to the left of the Office Administrator’s door) so it will be applied as a pledge payment to your account.
What happens to unpaid pledge commitments at the end of the church year?
Each church year ends on June 30. In early to mid-June, the church sends out a pledge status to each pledge unit, and adjusts pledges per the feedback received. If someone states that some/all of the amount owed will not be paid, that pledge is adjusted accordingly. If no feedback is received, future payments are applied to the unpaid pledge commitment until it is fully paid off.
2018 Tax law and Charitable Deductions
The new standard deduction may not enable itemized deductions for charitable contributions. Individuals age 70 1/2, who are doing required minimum distributions (RMD) from their IRAs, may be able to make a direct transfer charitable contribution (pledge) to the church from their RMD and lower their taxable adjusted gross income. For individuals not doing an RMD, a charitable donor advised trust or other options may be appropriate. Interested individuals should check with their tax preparer and/or legal counsel.
