Stewardship The topic of Stewardship at Canadian Memorial Church is lead by a team that includes Rev. Bruce Sanguin, Russ Quinn, Marilyn Kernahan, Karen Arnason, and Natalie Hall.

Online Giving click button above, or for details go here

Commitment

The stewardship team is inviting everyone to hand in a "Commitment" pledge.  You can download the form here (pdf format) and print it out.

What is Stewardship?

As The Rev. Bruce Sanguin preached in his sermon "Money, Money, Mission" :

"Few Christians realize that money is a dominant topic in the Bible. It has more than 2500 references about money and related topics. Jesus himself did not shy away from the topic. The New Testament says more about money than heaven and hell combined. Five times more is said about money than prayer and faith. Money and how we use it is a spiritual issue."

A good article that offers guidelines to Charitable Giving by Tim Cestnick of the Globe and Mail can be downloaded in pdf format here.

How Do I Give?

The website is full of examples of how people can and do give of their time and talents.  Financial giving is of many types as well, but can be broken down into two general categories: support for the current work of the church; and Legacy giving to fund works of the church that would be otherwise beyond the congregation's abilities.

•  PAR - debit or credit card
  Regular giving is facilitated by PAR (Pre Authorized Remittance).  This can be done by an automatic debit to your chequing account (more information is found at the United Church website here), or by a pre authorized VISA or MasterCard charge.  You can specify what part of your gift is allocated to supporting the local congregation, support for the Mission & Service Fund, or other designated work.  Printed cards are available at the entrance to the church to add to the offering plate for those who have given by PAR.
•  Envelopes - cheques or cash
  For those who prefer to make a donation directly onto the offering plate, we will provide envelopes upon request with a giving number to track your gifts for tax receipt purposes. 
•  You don't need to be a member to sign up for PAR or envelopes.  Speak to any member of the Stewardship Team or at the church office.
•  Online giving
  We have a secure server link to make an instant donation to Canadian Memorial.  As soon as you make your donation, CanadaHelps.org will immediately send you an official Canadian tax receipt as an e-mail pdf attachment, and will deposit your donation (less a 3% service charge) into the bank account of Canadian Memorial. Canadian Memorial can not issue a second tax receipt for gifts given through this link.  Click the Donate Now button to make your online gift.  After you specify your amount, click "make donation" and it will then ask you for your information, any special messages or designations (you can make the gift in honour or memory of someone, and can designate the funds to go to different areas of need) and your credit card information.  Your credit card information is not shared with anyone, not even Canadian Memorial Church.

Our Legacy Fund is a way you can leave a Planned Gift for the future of the church.  Members of the Stewardship Team are willing to help with advice on how you can add the church to your Will, or fund Annuities or Life Insurance that both benefits the church and gives you a tax break.

What should I give?

Giving ranges from many modest donations to a few very sizable donations.  The local congregation costs about $7,000 per week to do all the things you see in this website, so the church does depend on its community to give, within their ability. The biblical references to tithing meant you were to give 10% of your income.  In an age of social benefits and taxation, there is a looser definition of what you can give.  Here is a guide that will be suitable for some, but not everyone.  Generally we look at "income" to be after tax income.

Tax Deductible?

Canadian Memorial United Church is a registered charitable organization with the Government of Canada (Registration Number:118834001RR0001), which allows us to offer a Canadian tax receipt for all gifts.  Unless specially requested, we issue one tax receipt for all giving in the year for each donor, with the receipt being produced in January or February of the next year.  Although income tax situations will vary, generally speaking a charitable donation by a BC resident will give a 43.7% deduction on charitable gifts (24% on the first $200 of total donations).

So as a simple example, gifts of $200/month will typically give an annual tax deduction of over $1,000.

Legacy Fund

Canadian Memorial Church and Centre for Peace has been blessed with gifts from those who have left a legacy to the work and mission of our congregation.  The church was built and equipped by donations, leaving us with wonderful facilities, mortgage free.  In the 1990's we had a Renewal Campaign that raised over $500,000 for renewal of some of the facilities and some innovative new programs.  There is a substantial fund administered by the Vancouver Foundation for Canadian Memorial, and we have a skilled professionals that administer our own Legacy Fund.  These funds generate income for the church.

We face some challenges to continue this tradition, as we realize that the church will soon need a new roof and some other upgrades.  We also know the work of our congregation is bursting with good ideas that are constrained by funding limits.  We are hoping that members and friends of Canadian Memorial will find ways to carry on the Legacy.

quick links

  how to give ?

  legacy fund