On behalf of the entire Southern New England Conference (SNEC) staff and Board of Directors your Stewardship and Development Team would like to thank you, our churches, for your generous financial support of the Conference. As we all know, this was a very challenging year due to COVID-19. In addition, we faced economic, healthcare, and racial crises. The stress and difficulties encountered by our congregations and their authorized and lay leaders was truly unprecedented.
Yet despite the numerous hurdles you had to overcome you contributed $3,715,254 to support the work of the SNEC and the national setting of the UCC! We received contributions from 473 churches (78%). The overall average contribution was $6,111. However, when we only consider the churches that made a contribution, the average increases to $7,855! The median contribution was $3,000.
Your generosity during this very challenging year is deeply appreciated! Because of it, we helped make God’s love and justice real and changed the lives of countless individuals in communities throughout southern New England. Please know that we are most grateful for your contribution as it enabled us to fulfill our Conference’s calling to make a difference in our churches’ and people’s lives, and it is never taken for granted!
This past year was a one in which the abiding love of God was strongly felt in the connections of friendship and prayer within and among our congregations, and our commitment to living the love and justice of Jesus by: making disciples; loving and serving our neighbors, children, and all creation; seeking racial, economic, environmental, and LGBTQ justice; bringing new life as agents of change; and partnering with all who work for the common good.
In the first year of our Conference’s life, a time unprecedented in so many ways, we did far more working together than we ever could have done acting separately. By cooperating, we were able to magnify our individual resources so that we could better empower local congregations to provide life-changing ministries in their communities and live out the love and justice of Jesus.
Additionally, because our new Conference was conceived with flexibility and adaptability as core tenets, we were able to quickly shift our ministry resources to adapt to the needs that COVID-19 with all its physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual deleterious effects required, and anti-racism demanded. As individual churches and as a Conference, we were able to be life giving instruments through which God’s inexhaustible, unquenchable love and compassion were made real.
Together, we will continue to support one another through these challenging times. Together, we will continue to respond to God’s call to mission and ministry. Together, we will continue to be spiritually united as the body of Christ known as the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Thank you for your generosity and may God bless you and your church in your mutual ministry!
Your SNEC Stewardship and Development Team,
David Cleaver Bartholomew and Lee Gagen
Yet despite the numerous hurdles you had to overcome you contributed $3,715,254 to support the work of the SNEC and the national setting of the UCC! We received contributions from 473 churches (78%). The overall average contribution was $6,111. However, when we only consider the churches that made a contribution, the average increases to $7,855! The median contribution was $3,000.
Your generosity during this very challenging year is deeply appreciated! Because of it, we helped make God’s love and justice real and changed the lives of countless individuals in communities throughout southern New England. Please know that we are most grateful for your contribution as it enabled us to fulfill our Conference’s calling to make a difference in our churches’ and people’s lives, and it is never taken for granted!
This past year was a one in which the abiding love of God was strongly felt in the connections of friendship and prayer within and among our congregations, and our commitment to living the love and justice of Jesus by: making disciples; loving and serving our neighbors, children, and all creation; seeking racial, economic, environmental, and LGBTQ justice; bringing new life as agents of change; and partnering with all who work for the common good.
In the first year of our Conference’s life, a time unprecedented in so many ways, we did far more working together than we ever could have done acting separately. By cooperating, we were able to magnify our individual resources so that we could better empower local congregations to provide life-changing ministries in their communities and live out the love and justice of Jesus.
Additionally, because our new Conference was conceived with flexibility and adaptability as core tenets, we were able to quickly shift our ministry resources to adapt to the needs that COVID-19 with all its physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual deleterious effects required, and anti-racism demanded. As individual churches and as a Conference, we were able to be life giving instruments through which God’s inexhaustible, unquenchable love and compassion were made real.
Together, we will continue to support one another through these challenging times. Together, we will continue to respond to God’s call to mission and ministry. Together, we will continue to be spiritually united as the body of Christ known as the Southern New England Conference of the United Church of Christ.
Thank you for your generosity and may God bless you and your church in your mutual ministry!
Your SNEC Stewardship and Development Team,
David Cleaver Bartholomew and Lee Gagen
Authors
David Cleaver-Bartholomew
Rev. Dr. David Cleaver-Bartholomew is the Director of Stewardship and Donor Relations for the SNEUCC. Contact David for: Proportional Giving How to calculate proportional giving for 2021 Annual Giving/Stewardship Campaign General advice and ...
Lee Gagen
Lee is the Major Gift Officer, Common Services, Philanthropy for the national setting of the UCC. (She was formerly the Director of Individual and External Donor Relations at the Southern New England Conference.)