No, we don't. We don't charge "fees", preferring to depend on the generous heart of our members.

I've attended over a half dozen United Churches in my life (all in Nova Scotia) and have never run across "Pledge Cards".  I'm on PAR so my church knows exactly how much I'll give.  Before that if I missed church, I just gave double the following week..  In fact, I'm on PAR for my church back home (the one I grew up with but moved away back in '99) and as well just put an envelope in the plate at my local church here.  Win-Win for all :)

The "United Church" doesn't use pledge cards. Some United Churches do. I've personally never pastored a congregation that uses them. That never seemed to prevent any of them from making a realistic budget.

Well. thank you Rev. Steven. I thought all UC churches used pledge cards. You learn a lot on WonderCafe,ca.

We're a very diverse bunch, and it's so easy to think that "our" way is the "United Church way." Actually, a place like this is good to bring together people with those diverse experiences. It gives a broader picture of the United Church than we get from just our own or immediately neighbouring congregations.

Both the congragtion I'm part of now and my previous one used pledge forms. Stated purpose was to help prepare a realistic budget.

In the past our congregation has used pledge cards, but we're not doing it currently. That said, I always opted out of the campaign as I never felt comfortable with them. Around the time that we were doing these campaigns, I was having a hard time financially and couldn't afford to give with any sort of regularity. I was embarrassed to sign my name on a card and say that I could only afford to give a dollar or two a week. I can now afford to give regularly, and I do, but I would still opt out if my church ran a pledge campaign this year. I would opt in, however, if the pledge campaign was about more than just money - if there was something about volunteer hours too. When I couldn't afford to give money, I made sure to donate time - doing what I could to help out my congregation.

We use them

We have a stewardship campaign kick off, usually in October

We ask members to consider their donations in relation to their own personal budgeting. I would say that of our 500 or so families about 2/3 rds pledge, about 1/4 use PAR and the rest do what ever they wish.

A pledge is simply a plan you make about your donations. I like to do it. Helps me remember that my gifts to the church are relied on by congregation, even if I am not there.

Of course no one is obligated to meet their pledge though I think about 98% do.

It is also the time that our church asks us to assess our donations. A reminder to consider whether this year you can afford to increase or need to decrease your obligations.

And it is a time for the church to outline what new programs will be undertaken and at what costs

My UU fellowship uses them but I've been dodging and weaving a bit in recent years. We have dinners, special services, and other events around pledging (our stewardshp campaign, though we don't generally use that term in UU for some reason). I haven't actually submitted one in recent years. Don't like to pin myself down as I waiver between them and various United Churches (and if I'm visiting a church on a regular basis, I do put something in the plate).

As for why, I suppose it makes revenue forecasting easier (just add up the pledges and cross your fingers) but there are other ways of doing that as any accountant can tell you. In the end, it's really just people guessing at what they are going to give save for ones who then sign up for PAR, postdated chequing, or other schemes that essentially lock them in to what they've pledged.

As lastpointe suggests, it can also be a chance to publicize the church's needs and requirements and ask people to consider deeply what they can give. This is especially important for the ones who are on PAR and may not really pay attention to whether they could give more (ie. increase the PAR) once they sign the PAR authorization. Having things happen automatically in the background has it's downside. However, you don't necessarily need pledge cards to do that, just an annual campaign to promote stewardship.

Mendalla

I've been in churches that used them.  I never minded - I generally didn't sign one because I couldn't be sure how much I could pledge - I just give as much as I feel I can when I can.   But I know of people who resented them, especially people who didn't get out much (perhaps because of age or illness) and who said that the only time they saw anyone from the church was when the church needed money.   My suggestion, if your church is considering them - make sure that there is at least one contact or visit before the 'pledge' visit.

This. Exactly. When I was editing the newsletter I, somewhat controversially, included a "How I Became a UU" article in which the writer explained why she left and then came back. The reason was aggressive stewardship campaigning during a time when she really was not in a position to pledge. She's now left again but that's due to a move and she may well be active in UU where she lives now.

Personally, I would separate the visit from the pledging to at least some degree. The last couple years, we have been getting people together in small groups for dinners that double (subtly) as focus groups to discuss specific issues and ideas. The cards are handed out to the attendees at each dinner but they are not expected to pledge there and then nor, IIRC, do they actually discuss the meat and potatoes of budgets. The focus groups are more mission-y; how do we see ourselves, where are/should be going in the coming year, what aren't we doing that we could be doing, and that sort of thing. The cards can be returned to the church at a service or to the office. Confidentiality is maintained as much as possible.

Mendalla

This. The perfect reason to be on WonderCafe.

We usually have a financial campaign every 12-18 months or thereabouts.  There are some announcements & info updates provided at Sunday services and then letters and pledge forms are sent out by mail.  They can be returned in person - confidentially placed in a designated, locked box, or can be mailed back to the office.  We do not visit in person, as far as I know, to seek a pledge amount.  I would not feel comfortable with that kind of visit - my own finances are confidential, IMO.

As others commented, in earlier years, I was not able to contribute much money, so I satisfied myself with ensuring contribution of my time & talents to support church activities.  I still do that, and now am able to also contribute more financially as well. 

I'm just listening to an EDGE webinar - free, in their archives - Stewardship for an Emerging Church - with Rev. Brenda Watt from Calgary area.  Excellent so far!