Church Expense Apportionment Plan—No. 2

A Typical Set of Letters

As suggestive to any who may wish to at­tempt this method, the following four letters were used successfully in introducing and con­ducting for the first year this plan for the rais­ing of church expense funds. It has been suc­cessfully employed for some twenty-six years in America and elsewhere. When fully carried out as set forth in these mimeographed letters, it has never failed to cover all expenses with­out making Sabbath calls for church funds.

Letter No. 1

Dear Brother

As a member of the ___  church family, we know you will be pleased to learn of the new financial plan adopted by the church. One prin­cipal object of this plan is to eliminate the ne­cessity of making a call for church expense funds on the Sabbath. This plan, known as the "apportionment plan," is not a new one, for many churches have used it with marked suc­cess for years. The secret of its success is that every member has a part, and this is as the Lord would have it, for we read in the "Testi­monies," Volume IV, page 18: "Every believer should be whole-hearted in his attachment to the church. Its prosperity should be his first interest." We are sure your heart accords with this statement.

At a recent business meeting of the church, the "apportionment plan" was adopted, and it was voted to ask the Church Council to go over the church list and apportion to each church member—old and young—a suggestive amount to be brought in each month for church ex­pense. This "apportionment plan" for church expense is in no wise intended to interfere with the present church school fund arrangement. Those now paying tuition or pledges will con­tinue to do so, and the regular tuition and pledge plan for the support of the school will continue. However, the fact that some are pay­ing tuition or pledges has been taken into con­sideration by the Council in apportioning the church expense.

The amount for church expense for 1935 which has been set opposite your name, is only____________  per month. 7f this is less or more than you feel you ought to give, please notify the church treasurer, and he will set opposite your name the amount which you signify. If we do not hear from you, we will consider that it is agreeable to you to give ____  per month for regular church expense, and the church will gratefully receive this amount from you monthly.

Owing to the fact that we have apportioned only a small amount monthly to each person, it is the earnest desire of the Church Council that each one who can do so will increase the amount above what we have suggested. Doubt­less some will desire to give a full year's appor­tionment in advance. When you bring your ex­pense offering, it should not be placed with the loose change in the collection basket. but in the envelope and marked "Church Expense," with your name signed.

We are sure you will see the wisdom of this plan, for it places on no individual a burden heavier than can easily be carried. This plan gives to members who live out of town and who cannot attend church regularly, the opportunity to do their part in keeping their church home in good order. Those who have not had the privilege during the past year, or years, of giving to the local church expense fund, will no doubt, in addition to meeting the small monthly apportionment for 1935, gladly seize this oppor­tunity to make a liberal offering covering the past.

Once each quarter a newsletter will be sent to each member of the church, and at that time we will report to you personally your standing on the expense fund, according to the amounts you have placed in the envelopes for church expense. Trusting that this year may be filled with spiritual and temporal blessings for you, we remain

Yours in service,

..................................................  Pastor.

..................................................  Treasurer.

Letter No. 2

Dear Brother:

How fitting it was for the first quarter of the year to close in celebrating the ordinance serv­ice with such a large number taking part! On such occasions our minds are drawn back to the first advent of Christ, as well as forward to His second coming, which means so much to every advent believer. Before that day comes, the gospel message is to be given to the whole world to make ready a people, and in this mes­sage we are all to have our part in praying, working, and giving.

During the quarter the church treasurer has received $4,006.98 tithe, or an average of $9.54 per capita; mission funds, $2,043.68, or an aver­age of 37¹/2 cents a week per member; on the school fund, $1,027.51; and on the apportion­ment fund for church expense, $645.05, which is one of the largest quarter's receipts ever re­ceived by this church.

Through the instrumentality of the Sabbath school, the-decp spiritual^--tone of the young people's meeting, the increasing attendance at the midweek prayer service, the interest in personal missionary work, and the development of the medical missionary activities, there is developing a deeper consecration preparatory, we fully believe, to the "loud cry" of the third angel's message. That all may share in this experience, each one needs to recognize his personal responsibility to God and faithfully fulfill His appointments in his daily experience.

According to our promise in the letter of we are herewith reporting to you concern­ing the "apportionment plan" and how it is succeeding. From the report given us by the church treasurer, the members are responding heartily, and more funds are coming in than ever before. Any new plan requires coopera­tion, careful planning, and time for adjust­ments. Reports expressing confidence in this plan are coming to us from the members, and we believe it is solving the financing of the church work without overburdening any one; and it is doing this without making calls upon the Sabbath for church expense funds. Some have responded by paying the full year's appor­tionment in advance. Every member, young or old, will assuredly desire to have a part in this endeavor.