Frequently Asked Questions

Why should I give?

Christian stewardship is set in the context of God's generosity to us, Christ's lordship over all aspects of our life, and our complete dependence on God. We give in gratitude because God has given so much to us; we give as part of our commitment to following Christ; and we give to be partners with God in his work in the world.

How much should I give?

In the Old Testament, God instructed his people to set aside one-tenth, a tithe, of their income for him: to support the Levites, to provide for the poor, and to offer in praise and worship to God. In the New Testament, we recognize that the whole of our lives belongs to God, and we use the tithe as a starting point for Christian stewardship. God challenges us to give both generously and cheerfully, because our generosity to others always flows out of God's generosity to us.

What is First Fruits Giving?

Planning to give out of your "first fruits" means budgeting your giving to the church as a priority in your financial planning. First Fruits Giving increases our reliance on God, reflects more deeply our gratitude for all that we have, and connects us more significantly to God's work in the world.

Why should I pledge?

Completing a pledge card can be a statement of faith — a chance to make a tangible commitment of faithful financial stewardship. It provides an opportunity to look ahead and plan your financial stewardship thoughtfully and prayerfully. Your pledge helps First Pres to plan as well. For 2012 in particular, we ask that everyone pledge in order to encourage thoughtful and regular giving and to help us plan our budget.

What does the church's General Fund support?

The General Fund supports the full range of the church's ministries, in Berkeley and around the world. The General Fund also supports our local congregation — caring for the sick and dying, supporting children and families, challenging youth and college students with the gospel, providing for corporate worship, and training and equipping us for Christian discipleship. Included in the General Fund are our operating expenses and, beginning in 2011, the church's mortgage payments of roughly $1M each year.

Should I give only to First Pres?

If First Pres is your church home, we believe you should give your tithe first and primarily to the church's work through the General Fund. Many people also support other Christian and secular non-profit programs above and beyond their support of the General Fund.

What if I want to allocate a portion of my giving to a specific First Pres ministry?

If you allocate your gift to a specific ministry, it will be used for that purpose. If we are unable to use the gift for that purpose, we will contact you.

Do we have a faith-based budget?

Yes. Every fall, our Session approves an annual budget and our congregation is asked to provide giving pledges for the next year. Although we do not base our budget solely on these pledges, by grace and your faithful giving, we have always received the amount needed to cover expenses.

What is the total General Fund budget for 2012?

The budget for 2012 will not be finalized until January 2012, after this fiscal year has ended. However, we know that next year's General Fund budget must increase by $175,000 (4%) for two additional monthly mortgage payments. (This year, the January and February payments were made by the Capital Campaign.) In order for our ministries to continue at their current level, we hope that many will increase their giving in 2012 by at least 4%.

What are our mortgage payments?

We completed a refinance of our debt in 2008; our mortgage is now roughly $12M. The current principal and interest payments are roughly $1M per year at a rate of 5.8%.

Is there a commitment by the church to pay down loan principal whenever possible?

The Session of First Pres has made it a priority to accelerate the reduction of loan principal whenever possible. First Pres has a "Principal Fund" that has been quietly established and we welcome targeted donations to help us reduce our debt more quickly. In 2012, we will be presenting the Principal Fund more formally to the congregation.

We have completed many large projects on our church campus through Capital Campaign funding…are there still renovation plans for the Sanctuary?

We do have plans for a renovation of the Sanctuary which are currently on hold, pending funding.

How can I give automatically; does First Pres have online giving?

You may make one-time gifts to the First Pres General Fund online through PayPal at any time. First Pres does not currently offer an online option for automatic giving, but there are several ways to set up automatic payments:

• Complete the Automatic Offering Enrollment Card on the back of the Pledge Card. First Pres can automatically deduct from your bank account on the 5th and/or 20th of the month.
• Direct your bank to issue a regular automatic payment from your account.
• PayPal and some credit card companies offer individual automatic payment options that you may choose to use. 

Click here to read more about Stewardship 2012, download a pledge card, or pledge online. Questions? Please email stewardship@fpcberkeley.org.