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First Church's philosophy of giving stems from a believer's obligation to be a wise steward of all the resources with which God has blessed him / her. From the way you serve God with your time and talents, to the attitude with which you give back to God the first fruits of your labor through monetary giving — each of us is called to worship Him with our entire life.
Why Do We  Give? - Joy in giving comes through your participation in the life of the First Church family of faith. We find joy in giving and receiv­ing because these acts relate us to one another. Giving to First Church is different from other charitable giving. We give to the church because we are followers of Jesus! We give to support the ministries that touch thousands of people in our neighborhood, city, state and world. Whenever members enter our family of faith, they are asked to support First Church with their gifts, service, prayers and pres­ence. This is a vow in response to God’s invitation to be a part of His church and the First Church community.
Why Do We Pledge? - “We pledge because all we have comes from God and ultimately belongs to God,” says one couple that gives a percentage of their income to the church each year. “We know the church depends on pledges to help in financial planning. It would be hard for our family to figure our budget if we didn’t know how much we were getting paid at work.” This couple has increased their pledge a percentage each year for the last several years. They hope to work their way up to giving 10 percent of their income to First Church  soon. “We have found the more we give back to God through the ministries of the church, the more involved we are in touching the lives of people.” Another First Church couple gives because they too understand their gift of money does much more than “keep the lights on.” “As two of the many members of His church, we are glad that our efforts, multiplied by the other member’s various gifts and talents, can make a real impact on the world — an impact greater than we could make alone.” 

Percentage, Not Dollars - When you complete your estimate of giving card, we encourage you to reflect on how your church is touching the lives of thousands of people across the city and across the globe. Rather than focusing on how many dollars you want to commit to these lives, think about the percentage of your income you will give.

Every family needs to decide what percentage of its income to give back to God. We believe the Bible teaches a tithe or 10 percent. Others feel five or eight percent is more in line with their lives and budgets. Whatever your family decides, we encourage every member of the family to pledge.

What is stewardship? In Jesus’ time, the word steward referred to a specific vocation—the manager of a household, a responsible administrator of the owner’s property—not to the owner of the assets. Today, church people often refer to it as the way members use their time, talent, and treasure.

 

Stewardship in the Bible means being faithful managers of all that God has given to us. Jesus tells his disciples in the book of Luke, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). Throughout the Bible, there are several clear principles about what it means to be a good steward. First, being good stewards of our resources means that we recognize that everything belongs to God. He is the one who gives us the ability to earn a living (Deut 8:17-18). Second, being good stewards means exercising self-control and living within our means (Proverbs 13:11). Third, being good stewards means giving sacrificially to the Lord’s work. Jesus praised the widow who put her last two copper coins into the offering (Luke 21:4). Fourth, good stewardship means giving from the heart, not out of obligation (2 Cor.9: 7)  

What is tithing? How much should I give? The practice of tithing (giving 10% of one’s income) was given as a command to the Hebrew people of the Old Testament and is not specifically commanded in the New Testament. However, tithing is always presented positively in scripture, and Jesus told the Pharisees they should tithe (Matt. 23:23). Tithing teaches us to trust that God will provide for our needs if we honor him first. This is a personal decision. We realize that each person must take a step of faith and respond to what the Lord is calling him or her to give. We also keep records private so that only the accountant and business administrator know how much each individual is giving.
People often ask, "How much should I give to the church?"  
       
The following percentage chart shows how much a weekly gift would be if determined as a percentage of income. 
These percentages are examples to consider in making a decision about how much to give to your church.
       
Weekly Percentage Giving Guide
 
Annual Income Weekly Income 3% of Weekly Income 5% of Weekly Income 10% of Weekly Income
15 000.00 288.46 8.65 14.42 28.85
20 000.00 384.62 11.54 19.23 38.46
25 000.00 480.77 14.42 24.04 48.08
30 000.00 576.92 17.31 28.85 57.69
35 000.00 673.08 20.19 33.65 67.31
40 000.00 769.23 23.08 38.46 76.92
45 000.00 865.38 25.96 43.27 86.54
50 000.00 961.54 28.85 48.08 96.15
55 000.00 1 057.69 31.73 52.88 105.77
60 000.00 1 153.85 34.62 57.69 115.38
65 000.00 1 250.00 37.5 62.5 125
70 000.00 1 346.15 40.38 67.31 134.62
75 000.00 1 442.31 43.27 72.12 144.23
80 000.00 1 538.46 46.15 76.92 153.85
85 000.00 1 634.62 49.04 81.73 163.46
90 000.00 1 730.77 51.92 86.54 173.08
95 000.00 1 826.92 54.81 91.35 182.69
100 000.00 1,923.08 57.69 96.15 192.31

Does the United Methodist Church encourage tithing? The United Methodist Book of Discipline affirms and encourages tithing [see Para. 629.5(a) (e)]. Throughout Christian history, tithing has been a helpful way for persons to measure their giving. The roots of the tradition are deep within Hebrew history. Most Christians view tithing as a spiritual discipline rather than as mathematical legalism. It is a gift from God to help us put God first in our lives.

What do you mean when you say God owns my money? When we say that God owns everything, we are acknowledging His rights as creator in accordance with the Scriptures. The Bible says, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it” (Psalm 24:1). Whatever we have has come from the Lord’s hand, and only indirectly by our earning it (1 Chronicles 29:14). Our wealth belongs to us in the same way that a child’s bedroom belongs to the child. The room actually belongs to the parent, but the child is given temporary, accountable charge over it. This is especially the case for Christians, who have been bought at the price of Jesus’ death (1 Corinthians 5:20). Our lives and all our stuff are utterly at the disposal of the God who bought us.

What are the key points to remember when developing my financial giving plan to the Church?

1. Give with a Total Commitment—As St. Paul said, “God loves a cheerful giver.”  He loves people who understand that everything we have--everything we are--comes from Him. As stewards let us give in thanksgiving and experience the joy of giving. The more you trust in God, the more generous you become. God will provide you with the resources you truly need through His blessings.

2. Give sacrificially—true Christian giving means giving up something else in order to give to the Lord.  It means giving up spending on things and activities that may distract us from the Lord. It does not mean causing financial hardship--just as fasting from food should not be done at the expense of one’s health, but to help us grow spiritually.

3. Give proportionately--get into the habit of establishing your stewardship financial pledge as a percentage of your annual income.  This is sound financial planning and helps put your pledge into perspective.

Ways to give –

  1. Cash or Check - For some families, this is the best way to support the ministries at First Church. When choosing this option, it is helpful to fill out the estimate of giving card, indicating the amount you are giving to encourage the mission of First Church. You can then send in your check each month or put the gift in the offering plate on Sunday morning. Either way, you will receive a full accounting of your support to the ministries of the church.
  2. Electronic Contribution or Bank Draft - Many who give in support of the min­istries at First Church choose an automatic bank draft of their pledge. The bank draft option allows the giver easily to keep track of their investment in the ministries of the church, while adding the convenience of a regular withdrawal. Fill out the Bank draft form from the Finance office and attach a voided check, and you are all set.
  3. Prepaid Pledge - Some years you may need to take advan­tage of the tax benefits of giving to First Church. One of the best ways to do this is to prepay your pledge. This means you give your entire pledge or a portion of it to the church at the end of the current year for use in the next year. For example, if you are giving money for use in 2004, you can give your check to the church on Dec. 31, 2003. You may then deduct your gift for the 2003 tax year, rather than waiting for 2004. Your gift to the ministries at First Church is then used for ministry in 2004. Gifts of Securities - The best stocks to donate are those that have increased greatly in value, particularly those producing a low yield.

How can I make a stock contribution to First United Methodist Church?  

If you wish to give stock gifts to First United Methodist Church by electronic transfer, please give the following information to your broker. The church maintains an account with ScotTrade in the name of First United Methodist Church . Our ScotTrade account number is 32706871 and the DTC number is 0705. The address is ScotTrade, Inc. 390 W. Main Street, Lexington , KY 40507-1601. ScotTrade’s telephone # is 859-226-0044 or 1-877-607-1980. Please instruct your broker to contact ScotTrade with the type and number of shares and the approximate date of the gift before initiating the transfer. Also, please give your broker our church's name and Todd Nelson's name and number, (859) 233-0545, so that he may be of assistance to them during the process. In order for us to give you credit for your contribution, please notify us of the number of shares and the name of the stock(s) that you are transferring. Our fax number is (859) 254-2083, and e-mails may be sent to todd@1stumc.org.  

 

Unless otherwise requested, stock gifts will be deposited into the church's general operating fund or designated to GENERATIONS, if that is your desire. You will receive written confirmation of your gift once your transaction is complete. Thank you for your gift to God's kingdom through the ministry of First United Methodist Church . Please do not hesitate to call if I can be of any assistance to you or if you have any further questions.

Receipts

You will receive a receipt of your tax-deductible gifts in accordance with IRS requirements. Please let us know if you have any specific needs regarding the timing of these notifications, otherwise you will receive only the minimum summary of your gifts necessary to meet government standards. 

Answers To Common Questions About Electronic Contribution

Q.     What is Electronic contribution?

A.     Electronic contribution is an automatic transfer program which allows you to make contributions without writing checks

Q.     What is the advantage of electronic contribution?

A.     It saves time!  It saves work!  It simplifies your life!  You also help the church stabilize its budget and save money

Q.     How is my electronic contribution automatically deducted from my account?

A.     Once you authorize the transfer, your specified contribution is electronically transferred directly from your checking or savings account to the church’s account.

Q.     When will my contribution be deducted from my account?

A.     On its due date.  You never have to worry about forgetting a payment or mailing it on time.

Q.     If I do not write checks, how do I keep my checkbook balance straight?

A.     Since your contribution is made at a pre-established time, you simply record it in your check register on the appropriate date.

Q.     Without a canceled check, how can I prove I made my contribution?

A.     Your bank statement gives you an itemized list of electronic transfers.  It is your proof of contribution.

Q.     Is electronic contribution risky?

A.     Electronic contribution is less risky than check contribution.  It cannot be lost, stolen or destroyed in the mail.  It has an extremely high rate of accuracy.

Q.     What if I change bank accounts?

A.     Notify us and we will give you a new authorization form to  complete.

Q.      How much does electronic contribution cost me?

A.     It costs you nothing and saves you time.

Q.    What if I try electronic contribution and don’t like it?

A.    You can cancel your authorization by notifying us any time.  But, once you’ve enjoyed the convenience, time and money savings of electronic contribution, we doubt you will want to go back to making contributions the way you did before.

Q.    How do I sign up for electronic contribution?

A.    Complete and sign the authorization form available from the church office and return it to the church office along with a voided check or savings deposit slip.

Endowment - Click to go to the endowment section.
 

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