Why pledge?
A pledge is an indication of what you intend to give in the coming year. Pledging allows church leadership to discern what resources will be available and thus what commitments the church will be able to honor for the year ahead. Fourth Presbyterian Church asks for pledges of time, talent, and treasure. These are the gifts we are called to share for the greater good as faithful followers of Christ and active citizens of the world in which we live. Below are some descriptions and examples of what those pledges could mean or look like.

Time
Can you pledge one hour per day for prayer or meditation? Be creative. Disconnect from cell phones, iPods, e-mail, and other gadgets—during your commute if you take public transportation, or during a lunchtime walk—to think about your relationship with God or to pray. Take your time at the gym or on a bike ride to tune your mind to a place of meditation.

Talent
Can you put your gifts to use for others? Can you tutor a child? Can you make lunches or serve meals? Can you help at the Chicago Avenue Community Garden? Can you serve on a committee? We all have God-given gifts and talents. Where and how are you using yours?

Treasure
When we give to God out of gratitude for what God has given us, the possibilities are endless. One by one our gifts make a difference. As you prayerfully contemplate your financial situation, how much of your financial resources will you share to fulfill God’s will for you and for Fourth Presbyterian Church?

At Fourth Presbyterian Church, we never tell members what to pledge. We believe that is up to
each individual to discern. For those who have asked, however, we make the following information available.

Regarding the “Treasure” I pledge, what’s expected?
There is an expectation that all members will participate with a pledge that is meaningful and attainable as their individual situation allows, at any level, or that they will make a gift. Of the 1,350 pledges received in 2007, more than 200 were from nonmember households. Fourth Presbyterian Church includes more than 4,000 member households.

What are others in the congregation giving?
We have pledges from members and friends that are more than $25,000 per year, pledges that are less than $25 per year, and everything in between. The average pledge for 2007 was about $2,200 per year, with nearly half of the pledges received (41 percent) being $1,000 or less per year.

What’s a tithe as it applies to financial giving?
While we do not ask for a tithe, there are those within our congregation who do tithe of their own accord. The concept of tithing is giving away a percentage—historically understood as 10 percent—of one’s annual resources, in this case to the church. There are members of this congregation who apply the concept to their overall charitable giving; their giving to the church is included but does not represent all of their “tithe.”

If you would like to discuss these guidelines, would like more information or have questions, please contact Lisa Radetski, Director of Giving Ministries, at lradetski@fourthchurch.org (312.981.3380).

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