The PCUSA website has a good definition of what Stewardship should mean to Presbyterians.

Stewardship is about making choices, as individuals and in community. It is more than giving money to the church. Stewardship is about being faithful disciples, caring for and managing all that God has given us.

Stewardship is not just one part of Christian discipleship; it involves every aspect of life in all the stages of life.

Stewardship is the grateful response to God's grace and goodness. It requires a consideration of how our choices affect us and others, of how we can be good caretakers of the created world, and of how we can best serve God as disciples of Christ.

Black Mountain members are urged to tithe their monetary resources and pledge whatever amount they are able to give regularly to the operation of the church.  At the same time they are encouraged to give of their time and talents, filling out Time and Talent questionnaires periodically to indicate which areas they would like to work with in the daily life of the church, whether it be in serving on a specific committee, or helping host community Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, or teaching Sunday School, or helping with the Logos program, or in donating their handyman talents on the property committee or in helping build houses for Habitat for Humanity.  There is a need, as well as a use,  for many kinds of talents in our church.

 As a result of 2009 end-of-year "catching up" on
pledges we were able to end 2009 with a surplus of about $9000 in our church coffers.  Thanks both to committees and their chairs who held their expenses to a minimum or even under budget, and thanks to the generosity of the congregation we have been able to restore the 2009 salary cuts to the church staff.  More complete details about the church's budget for the coming year will be presented at the annual church meeting on Sunday, February 7.  Plan to be here for that important meeting.

From The Stewardship Committee...

We have wonderful news as we head into the
new year! Our pledge campaign has met its goal
of $600,000 and has gone beyond! As of the 1st of
February, we have received  $605,000 in
pledges.  This means that we are able to
fully fund our reach budget for 2010.
Our congregation indeed has responded to
God’s call to be good stewards of all God has
given to us. Thank you for your generosity!
The stewardship committee will continue to
keep you informed as we move into the year.
               — Gladys Brooks, on behalf of Stewardship

 Another aspect of Stewardship at Black Mountain Presbyterian is the Endowment Fund.

The Session of the Black Mountain Presbyterian Church established the Endowment Fund to provide members and friends of the Church an opportunity to extend their stewardship beyond their lifetime by making gifts directly or through planned giving to permanently fund the ministry and mission of the church.  Exciting?  Yes.  Far reaching?
Very definitely!

 Endowment Fund Mission Statement

The Endowment Fund seeks to provide and promote the opportunity for planned giving that supports the ministry and mission of both the donor and the church into perpetuity.

Categories

          Funded Categories

        •  General Fund - To benefit the general programs of the Church as determined annually by the Endowment  Board
             and Session      

        •  Christian Education - To be used to supplement the Christian Education program of the Church

        •   Mission - To be used to bring a higher level of commitment to missions of the Church, both local and worldwide

        •  Presbyterian Home for Children - To be used to assist in the Church’s special relationship with the Presbyterian
             Home for Children    

        •   Weekday School - To benefit and enhance the operations of the Church’s Weekday School

        •   Worship and Music - To benefit and enhance the Worship and Music Program of the Church   

         Categories Approved but Currently not Funded

·           •   Scholarship - To aid those who cannot afford the full cost of an educational experience related to the program of  the    Church.

·           •   Property - To be used as needed for maintenance and upkeep of the physical plant of the Church

How to Make a Gift 

There are several ways to make a gift to the Endowment Fund. Some involve gifts during life, and others are gifts at death.

•    Marketable securities may be given

•    Cash gifts are accepted thankfully

•    Charitable Gift Annuity whereby the donor receives income

•    Charitable Remainder Trust or Annuity Trust which also provides for income to the donor

•    Life insurance may be assigned or the Endowment Fund may be named as a beneficiary

•    Bequest may be made through estate planning documents

Example of Giving: 

A gift of $10,000 in 1981 to the BMPC Endowment would have been placed in the Presbyterian Permanent Endowment Fund.  The $10,000 would have provided $34,300 to Church Mission during the 26-year period and have a principal value of $30,200 at the end 2007. This gift will be used by the Church into perpetuity.

The Endowment Board 

•  Rachael Lee                     Class of 2010
•  Wendy Craig                   Class of 2011
•  Jerone Herring                 Class of 2012
•  Carey Jo Elam                  Class of 2013 
•  Jim Burt, Moderator       Class of 2014
•  Meredith Burpeau, Secy. Class of 2014
•  Calvin Chrisman              Class of 2015
•  Bill Cox                             Class of 2015
•  Gene Schimpf, Ex-officio and Historian