What is stewardship? Merriam-Webster defines it as “the careful and responsible management of something entrusted to one’s care.” While stewardship and fundraising are related, they are not the same.

Stewards look to the future and recognize that, while we do not own what is entrusted to us, we are responsible for handing it to the next generations in better shape than we received it. As members and friends of First Unitarian Church, we are all called to be stewards of our historic building, our community, and our faith tradition so that it endures for future generations. How do we care for one another with more intention as we move forward?

With this vision of stewardship in mind, last October, the Board of Trustees established a new Stewardship Committee with the following goals:

· To “cultivate a culture of abundance at First Unitarian Church and encourage spiritual growth and development in the congregation by providing opportunities for deepening financial generosity,” and

· To consolidate the Church’s fundraising efforts under one standing committee.

The committee’s duties include organizing not only the annual pledge drive campaign (which provides most of the Church’s operating funding) but also new-member stewardship, capital projects and campaigns, planned giving, special fundraising events, and identifying new funding sources.

As we prepare for Commitment Sunday on September 25, you will be hearing more about the Stewardship Committee’s plans for a “re-visioned” approach to the annual budget drive — one that we hope will simplify the pledging process and enable Committee members to reach out personally to everyone in our community on a three-year rotating basis.

Please look for an email and “snail mail” letter from the Committee in the coming days with more details. If you would like to be on this year’s list for a personal call from a Stewardship Committee member, please email Maria Lauro at mlauro@first-unitarian-pgh.org.