Growing Healthy Stewards in Your Diocese – a year-round stewardship education program for parishes

Mr. Peter Misiaszek, CFREJune 6, 2014TENS ConferenceAtlanta, Georgia

About Our Diocese The Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Toronto founded 1839 A.D.

205 parishes covering 26,000 square kilometers stretching from Mississauga to Brighton and north to Haliburton.

Largest Anglican Diocese in Canada (by # of parishes and members) and includes the City of Toronto (population 2.5 million+) and considered to be most multicultural city in the world.

About Our Diocese• Culturally diverse

congregations including: Chinese, Filipino, French, Hispanic, Japanese, Korean, Tamil.

• Parishioners originate from all parts of the world including: Africa, the Caribbean, Europe, India, Middle East, Pakistan, Sri Lanka.

• Diocese includes 4 episcopal areas, each with its own suffragan (assistant) bishop.

• First Canadian Anglican Diocese to have a female bishop (The Rt. Rev. Victoria Matthews) and first and only Asian Bishop in Canada (The Rt. Rev. Patrick Yu).

Demographics Overall ASA declined from 2000-2013 Sunday attendance increased in 29% of

parishes in 2013 Number of givers has declined since 2000 –

accelerated since 2009 Offertory giving has crested at just over

$32mm Average annual gift per giver has increased

every year since 2001 – stands at $1,215 Every parish that engaged in some

stewardship program increased their giving in 2013

ASA & Easter Attendance

Decreased Number of Givers

Offertory Growth

Average Gift

FaithWorks Support

Evolution of Stewardship Education 1988-1990 – Faith in Action Ministry

Campaign raised $18-million Pre 2003 – No resources or staff support 2004 – “A Plan for Stewardship Education

and Development Through the Year” by David Gordon (diocese of New York) Year-round Intensive – lots of work Results were not always immediate Little variety

Year-round Stewardship – the early years

Evolution of Stewardship Education 2005 – “A Program to Encourage Sacrificial

Giving in Your Parish” Six weeks in length Encourages giving of time, talent and treasure Increases offertory 15% in first year Emphasis on education of congregation Designed to be used annually Works best in Fall The “go-to” program in the diocese for 8 years Used successfully by over 125 parishes

Evolution of Stewardship Education 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 – diocesan

stewardship conferences Intensive period of volunteer

identification and recruitment Feasibility study for major fundraising

campaign 2010-2012 – Our Faith Our Hope:

Reimagine Church Ministry Campaign - $41mm

Campaign engaged 180 parishes 9,000 donors 4 strategic objectives:

Strengthening local parishes Building for the church of tomorrow Revitalizing our inheritance Giving to others

Evolution of Stewardship Education Campaign was catalyst to begin thinking

about doing stewardship education differently Consulted the 30 most successful parishes

and consolidated their ideas – we need a program that is easy to follow and user friendly results oriented clear roles and responsibilities for

volunteers strong theological focus

The result… Growing Healthy Stewards

Program Overview

Three unique features about Growing Healthy

Stewards:

It is coached Tried & tested Measurable and results oriented

It is Coached Each parish is teamed with an experienced lay

volunteer Trained as both facilitator and stewardship

leader Engages in quarterly meetings with parish

teams and round-tables conversations with fellow coaches

Helps to motivate and “push through” road blocks; answer questions and identify resources

Ensures that parishes follow the program as designed

Doesn’t do the work for them

Tried and Tested

Each module has been tested in a parish environment

Components has been developed, used, critiqued and refined by clergy and volunteers in the diocese (and beyond)

>100 parishes have used some part of the program with consistent results

GHS consolidates all the parts Is always changing – new ideas are

constantly added

Measureable & Results Oriented Use annual parish stats to help identify

best practices and forecast outcomes At its core is that each parish has capacity

to become healthy, but they need a yardstick

Parishes are evaluated against 14 measureable best practices – indicate financial, congregational, ministry and leadership health

Objective to move parishes from C grade to A grade over three years

How is the program organized? Orientation with parish leadership Covenant Calendar of monthly objectives Individual parish charts Position descriptions Programs/Manuals Reflections/Sermon Resources Forms, etc.

Leadership Team

Chair Vice Chair Secretary Arrangements Coordinator Commitment Coordinator Information Coordinator Cleric Coach

Personal Stewardship Audit – why? To evaluate your own level of commitment To better understand stewardship more

deeply To inspire leadership To help assess what “blocks” you

individually from being a more generous Christian

To help us evaluate our giftedness To encourage us to give more of our time,

talent and treasure

Why a Covenant? Clarify the program

Outline the unique features of the program

Expectations – ours and yours

Help you understand that we take the process very seriously

GHS Annual Highlights Meet with Coaches quarterly Legacy Giving Sunday – February FaithWorks/Outreach Campaign – Lent Time and Talent Focus – April Prepare Narrative Budget – Summer Intentional Giving Campaign – October Emphasize stewardship in all

communications Semi-annual assessment of progress Regular preaching on the life of a faithful

steward (at least seasonally)

14 Best Practices

1. Active stewardship committee2. Committed clergy3. Conduct annual intentional giving

campaign4. Get everybody engaged in some form of

ministry5. At least 4 stewardship sermons preached

each year6. Narrative Budget7. Proportional Giving

14 Best Practices

8. Individual giving at diocesan average - $1,215

9. Offertory equals 2.5% of average family income

10. 40% of givers use PAR11. 70% of operating revenue comes from

offertory12. 10% of revenue goes to outreach13. Engaged in new member ministry14. Legacy giving promoted annually

C Grade Parish - Average clerical enthusiasm but unsure of direction of

parish dated mission statement some outreach strong volunteers though in limited supply inclined toward growth but not clear about

what that means frequently rotate the same people in leadership static growth in congregation would like to do stewardship but concerned

about the reaction from the congregation givings are barely sufficient to meet operations

(and sometimes have to ask one of our top donors for a little Christmas gift)

A Grade Parish - Excellent strong clerical leaders who are engaged in

the life of the parish energetic and enthusiastic volunteers many opportunities for ministry

involvement variety in Eucharistic celebrations clear vision statement outreach/in reach is very important, strong

support for diocesan activities growing congregation with ministries

serving diverse age groups this is a place people want to be and feel at

home Giving is exceptional with funds invested

and/or redirected to new ministry each year

Parish Case Study – St. Margaret, New Toronto

St. Margaret, New Toronto, Challenges ASA has declined 40% in 4 years Number of givers fell 30% in 6 years Offertory is substantial, but fewer giving more Average gift is above diocesan average Congregation: 33% between 46-65; 50% is

>65 FWs appears to be lost amid the other

outreach taking place here Sacred presence of the church is missing in

the community

Offertory Growth

Average Gift

Declining Number of Givers

Congregational Growth – ASA/Easter

Observations There is energy and enthusiasm. Parish

reached its OFOH goal. There is great potential for Legacy Giving. Investment in new member ministry is key

if the parish is to grow. People need to know you are here.

Need to convert new attendees to givers. Of 70 donors, ? use PAR If parish had the same # of donors today

as in 2006, it could collect $168,064 Fear of volunteer burn-out

Outcomes – Change is happening Growth is happening – ASA/Easter growth

in 2 successive years Offertory increased by 14% in 2013 Average gift is >$1,800 PAR donors represent 34% of total donors Did community walk – dist. 2000 flyers Preaching, pledging and member

participation is up Legacy giving promoted The “feel” of the place is different

What are people saying about GHS… “Not a hard sell” – Gordon Longman, Stewardship

Coach, St. Timothy, North Toronto “Spirit of gratitude is abounding in this program” –

Jim Finlay, Stewardship Chair, All Saints, Whitby “Program consolidates stewardship essentials” Joy

Packham, Stewardship Chair, St. Margaret, Barrie “The relay doubled our commitment rate” – Eleanor

Stevenson, Stewardship Coach, St. Dunstan, West Hill

“Giving, attendance and participation are all up in one year, what’s not to like” – Terry Grier, Stewardship Chair, St. Margaret, New Toronto

Ongoing parish support… Semi-annual round-table discussion with

Parish Chairs and Coaches Semi-annual evaluation of parish progress

against benchmarks Annual review and upgrade of program as

appropriate New coaches are recruited from participating

parishes Touch-base with parishes after intensive

coaching period Annual coaches’ seminar to refresh, inspire

and thank volunteers

And the Results Are…

A Vibrant Faith Community