- God created humans in God's image to glorify and enjoy him forever (Genesis 1:27, Westminster Shorter Catechism).
- As part of the church, individuals carry out God's mission by proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ and demonstrating faith through service (2 Corinthians 9:13, John 10:10).
- The local church supports the wider church through the General Mission Pledge and Per Capita funds which are used for administration, ministry, and mission.
1. Yet we are unique
one person in a big crowd
What difference do I make?
2. Created by God
God created humankind in his image. (Genesis 1:27)
Yet we are unique
Created for God
You shall love the Lord your God with all your
heart and with all your soul and with all your
might. (Deuteronomy 6:4)
3. Created for a purpose
The chief end of man is to glorify God and to
enjoy him forever.
(Westminster Shorter Catechism)
Jesus said, “I came that they may have
life, and have it abundantly”
(John 10:10)
Enjoy
You glorify God by your obedience to
the confession of the gospel
(2 Corinthians 9:13)
Glorify
4. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity,
which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for
the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs
of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to
God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God
by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ
and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with
all others.
2 Corinthians 9:11-14
5.
6. In the Presbyterian tradition
the people of God are
organized and empowered
to carry out the mission
of Jesus Christ
through the local church.
The church is the Body of Christ
The church is the people
7. The mission of the church is known from
God’s activity in the world as seen in the
witness of scripture and in the life and
ministry of Jesus Christ.
The church is called to tell the good news of
salvation by the grace of God through faith in
Jesus Christ, proclaiming in word and deed
that the kingdom of heaven is near and God
is still at work in the world.
8. proclaiming the good news
taking part in the life and worship of the church
praying and studying the scriptures
supporting the work of the church with money,
time, and talents
participating in governing responsibilities
demonstrating a new quality of life – living in faith
serving others
working for God’s peace and justice in the world
Members are Ministers
who carry out the mission of the church by:
10. First Presbyterian Church
Expense Budget Items
Salaries and Benefits
Operations
Property
Per Capita
Christian Education
Outreach
Fellowship
Worship
Mission (includes General Mission pledge)
11. Two streams of giving
out of the local church
General Mission Pledge
shared resources from local churches
for the mission of the whole church
Per Capita
provides Presbytery, Synod, General Assembly
with funds for operating expenses and
administrative personnel
12. General Mission Pledge
General Mission Pledge is included in our
Mission Committee budget.
Our check goes to the Presbytery office.
Distribution:
66% Presbytery
3% Synod
31% General Assembly
13. Mission Budget
Presbytery & Synod
Presbytery (66%)
Kirkmont Center
Networks: e.g. Campus Ministry, Medical Mission, Columbian Partnership,
Multi-Cultural, Urban Ministry, Youth
Korean New Church Development
Hispanic Ministry
Synod (3%)
Ministries in Higher Education: Campus Ministry, Scholarships
Development and Transformation Shared Grants
Mobile Health Fair
Midwest Ministry Development
Ohio Council of Churches
15. Per Capita
The local church shares in the costs that belong to the
whole church: e.g., administrative, ecclesiastical,
legislative, and judicial.
2011 Per Capita
15.50 Presbytery
3.25 Synod
6.50 General Assembly
$25.25 Per Capita Assessment
16. Per Capita is used for
Personnel: salaries and benefits
Office space and supplies
Administrative fees and expenses
Legal services
Communication and Publication: equipment, materials,
postage
Meetings of the Presbytery, Synod, General Assembly:
travel, facility, accommodations
Travel
Ecumenical relations (participation expenses not programs)
PCUSA College and Seminary shared expenses
Ordination examinations (GA level)
17. Two streams of giving
out of First Presbyterian Church
General Mission Pledge ($6,000 in 2010)
shared resources from local churches
for the mission of the whole church
Per Capita (about $4,000 annually)
provides Presbytery, Synod, General Assembly
with funds for operating expenses and
administrative personnel
18. Our Funding of
General Mission Pledge and Per Capita
General Mission Pledge ($6,000 in 2010)
Included in Mission Committee benevolences.
Per Capita (about $4,000 annually)
Our assessment is based on our active
membership roll.
2011 assessment is $25.25 per active member.
19. Created for a purpose
The chief end of man is to glorify God and to
enjoy him forever.
(Westminster Shorter Catechism)
Jesus said, “I came that they may have
life, and have it abundantly”
(John 10:10)
Enjoy
You glorify God by your obedience to
the confession of the gospel
(2 Corinthians 9:13)
Glorify
20. You will be enriched in every way for your great generosity,
which will produce thanksgiving to God through us; for
the rendering of this ministry not only supplies the needs
of the saints but also overflows with many thanksgivings to
God. Through the testing of this ministry you glorify God
by your obedience to the confession of the gospel of Christ
and by the generosity of your sharing with them and with
all others.
2 Corinthians 9:11-14
21. In the Presbyterian tradition
the people of God are
organized and empowered
to carry out the mission
of Jesus Christ
through the local church.
The church is the Body of Christ
The church is the people
22. With joy you will draw water from the wells of
salvation.
And you will say in that day:
Give thanks to the Lord
Make his deeds known among the nations
Proclaim his name
Isaiah 12
23. The mission of the church is known from
God’s activity in the world as seen in the
witness of scripture and in the life and
ministry of Jesus Christ.
The church is called to tell the good news of
salvation by the grace of God through faith in
Jesus Christ, proclaiming in word and deed
that the kingdom of heaven is near and God
is still at work in the world.
Everything the church does is Mission
24. We are all ministers as we carry out the
mission of the church.
The ways we share our gifts
(time, talent, treasure)
is Stewardship.
25. We were made for a purpose
to joyfully glorify God
God is glorified when we live as he calls us
providing for others
through the Body of Christ
Stewardship is
how we share God’s gifts
to proclaim God's love
26. What difference does one person make?
What difference do I make?
When I consider all of God's gifts to me ...
And as I consider my gifts of time, talent, and treasure
What am I willing to:
Give to God?
Give for God?
Notas do Editor
Unique
and not by accident
Created by God – for a purpose
Created by God AND Created for God
Many aspects of our life with Christ at the center
Church, home. community, school/work
Many more sermons for another day about these aspects – today we’re talking about church
“Here’s the church, here’s the steeple. Open the door ...
... and here are the people
we are the church – the people are the church
in the days of the apostles – the days in which “the church” started,
they did not go about erecting buildings and calling it “church”
they went about starting communities of faith, and the people who gathered were “the church” ekklesia
We have looked at these aspects of chruch membership before – and will again
today, the week before Stewardship Sunday, we are looking at how we support the work of the church
how we give
and where the money goes
take some time also to clarify two particular funding streams in which money flows from the local chruch,
upstream to the Presbytery, Synod, and General Assembly levels to support mission and provide for administrative and operational costs
n.b. these are by no means a full report and analysis of Presby and Synod budgets, but representative areas of expenditures
Administration and not Mission
again...not a full analysis or report, only representative areas
Admin Fees, etc.: audit, financial review
Meetings: travel, facility, accomodations, etc. are mostly at GA level
Stewardship is what we give
Financial support – we just discussed
Our time and talents