Finances at St. Albans
Stewardship
Each year, several parishioners — at least one being a Vestry member — lead a pledge drive for the following year. In this process, it is common to emphasize giving back to God as well as proportional giving. These volunteers meet with the Rector and the Pledge Secretary to plan the strategy for the drive, sometimes called the Every Member Canvas, agreeing on a timetable and procedure for the process of asking and thanking the congregation for its support as well as informing it of the resulting benefits of their giving.
Treasurer
The treasurer is a member of the Financial Action Team and works closely with the Rector, the Finance Chairman and the Pledge Secretary to manage the finances of the church. Responsibilities include assisting with budgeting, bookkeeping, and reporting. The treasurer provides cash disbursements for church administration and operations and outreach on behalf of the church.
Pledge Secretary
The Pledge Secretary is responsible for ensuring that all members receive a proper accounting for all funds donated to the church for its ongoing operation and for other activities. The Pledge Secretary is actively involved with the Finance Committee, working closely with the Treasurer and the Finance Chairman, and assisting with the annual stewardship campaign. This position is responsible for tracking and maintaining records of money donated each week for every area of giving and then providing that information to the Treasurer each month. Quarterly or semi-annual statements are produced and sent to all members.
Counters
The Counters consist of approximately 5 to 7 teams of two people each whose main responsibility is to gather the money after the service, count, categorize, and record the weekly offering. They are provided a weekly “Record of Receipts” form to complete along with detailed instructions and training. The counting function typically takes 30 minutes, and it is done in a separate room in the back of the church. Once the money has been counted and properly recorded, it is placed in a night depository bag and taken to the local bank and placed in the night drop. Counters are usually scheduled to count every 4 to 5 Sundays. Individuals interested in becoming Counters should contact the Pledge Secretary or phone the church at 302 478-7778.
Grocery Coupons
On the first and third Sundays of each month after both services, grocery store coupons are available for purchase in the Narthex. Coupons are available for Acme, Shop-Rite, Super Fresh, or Super G. The purchaser pays for the amount of the coupon (usually $100); St. Albans makes a profit of about $5 for each coupon sold because the stores give us a discount. The $100 coupon buys $100 worth of groceries, and doing it this way benefits the church. While the $5 does not sound like much, 20 families purchasing $500 worth of coupons per month would increase our income by $6,000 per year. This is a wonderful supplement to pledging, since it helps the church in a substantial way at no extra cost to the family.