stewardship

An appeal to parishioners to fund “the next chapter” at St John’s as the 2026 pledge campaign is launched

An appeal to parishioners to fund “the next chapter” at St John’s as the 2026 pledge campaign is launched.

It calls for a 10% increase in giving to fund a three-quarters-time priest and a new director of education.

Senior Warden Jon Cook tells the church, “the needs of our parish exceed what our current staffing structure can provide.”

Parishioners are being asked, “What kind of parish do we want to be?”

The 2026 pledge campaign has been launched, appealing for increased funding for St John’s to enable the church to go beyond simple maintenance to meet the needs of “long-term survival”.

Presenting the new “10-10-10 Pledge Campaign”, Senior Warden Jon Cook told parishioners that St John’s was at inflection point in its life. He said the church was asking everyone to increase their annual giving by 10 percent over each of the next three years to make sure it continued to thrive.

Jon Cook – third from left with the Men’s Group Pancake Day team. He said,“Our parish is at an important moment in its life.”

Jon highlighted the two principal aims of the campaign, to provide a priest at 75% time – instead of Mother Jackie’s current 30% – and to appoint a new, paid Director of Christian Education to replace the current volunteer co-leaders Evamarie Cooper and Jan Nykyforchyn.

He said, “With this appeal for pledges, we are asking a big question.

“It’s not just about being able to employ Mother Jackie – or another priest – for more hours each week but considering what kind of parish we want to be in three years’ time and what kind of paid staff we need to support that vision and mission.”

Ken Nowell, Chairman of the Finance Committee, said his “aim and passion” was to build St John’s finances so that it could afford to pay for a priest able to devote more time to the parish. He said, “What we need more than anything is to have such a presence inside and outside this building to bring a natural increase in new membership.”

“Mother Jackie serves us faithfully and generously within a 30%-time position” said Jon Cook, “but 30% of a priest’s time cannot provide all that a thriving parish needs.”

Jon Cook said the church had “been greatly blessed by the co-leadership of Jan and Evamarie…but they are stepping away from this role after this year.”

Jon will launch the campaign with a presentation during the announcements at the service on Sunday, October 4th. He will be followed on successive Sundays by Ken Nowell speaking on the importance of pledging, Holly Cheeseman describing ways church members can most easily make their pledges, and Chip Flanagan preparing parishioners for the arrival of pledge cards in the mail. People will be asked to return their cards by November 15th, Pledge Sunday.

The website will present each person’s message before they are delivered to the congregation during October.

Evamarie and Jan have built a thriving Christian Education program, both inside and outside church; building on it is one of the principal aims of the 10-10-10 Pledge

Jon paid tribute to Jan and Evamarie, who he said had served selflessly in their unpaid role as co-directors of Christian education at St John’s, building a thriving program and this year helping Mother Joan Phelps to guide five young people to confirmation. He said a new, paid director of Christian education could safeguard their work, increasing youth engagement and providing opportunities to bring new families into the church.

A priest giving more hours each week to the parish – whether Mother Jackie or someone else – would be able to provide more pastoral care, increased adult formation and Bible study, and more time to develop worship and parish life.

“We are asking each household prayerfully to consider increasing its annual pledge by 10% for each of the next three years” said Jon. “For example, if someone’s pledge is $2,000 a year, a 10% increase would be $17 a month during year one.

“The 10-10-10 Pledge Campaign is really about investing in our ministry. It is faith for our future.”

“We love what we have”, said Jon. “We believe in what we can become.

“Three years from now, we hope to look back and say that this was the moment when our parish decided to invest in its future.”

Jon’s message in full:

The Next Chapter of St. John’s

The 10-10-10 Pledge Campaign

Our parish is at an important moment in its life.

We are blessed with a congregation that cares deeply about this place, about one another, and about our ministry in the community. We also recognize that the needs of our parish exceed what our current staffing structure can reasonably provide.

Mother Jackie serves us faithfully and generously within a 30%-time position. But 30% of a priest’s time simply cannot provide all that a thriving parish needs: pastoral care, worship, Christian formation, outreach, community presence, and the day-to-day leadership that helps a congregation grow and flourish.

We have also been greatly blessed by the co-leadership of Christian Education by Janice and Evamarie, who have selflessly served in this role without pay for three years. With the help of many volunteers, they have built a thriving Christian education program both inside and outside church, and this year – with Mother Joan’s help - guided five young people to confirmation. However, they are stepping away from this role after this year and therefore we need to hire a paid Director of Christian Education.

For the next three years, we are asking each household to prayerfully consider increasing its annual pledge by 10%. Together, these additional gifts would allow us to support a priest at 75% time while also creating a Director of Christian Education position.

This isn’t simply about adding staff.

It is about creating more opportunities for children to grow in faith. More pastoral care when our parishioners need us. More opportunities for adults to learn and deepen their faith. More support for families in need. More presence in our community. And more time and energy to nurture the relationships that make our parish a true spiritual home.

With this appeal for pledges, we are asking a big question. It’s not just about being able to employ Mother Jackie – or another priest – for more hours each week but considering what kind of parish we want to be in three years’ time and what kind of paid staff we need to support that vision and mission.

We believe this is an opportunity to begin the next chapter of our life together rooted in the faith and traditions that brought us here while building a stronger and more vibrant future for the generations who will come after us.

For the next three years, let’s invest 10% more in the parish we love so that we can build the parish we want for the future. Imagine what our parish could accomplish with a priest here three-quarters time and someone dedicated to Christian formation.

With a 75% priest we would have

More pastoral care, including training for lay pastoral visitors
More adult formation and Bible study
More time developing worship and parish life

With a Director of Christian Education, we would be able to

Continue to build upon a strong program for children and families
Increase youth engagement
Foster intergenerational activities
Provide support for parents
Create opportunities to bring new families into the life of the church

We are asking each household to prayerfully consider increasing its annual pledge by 10% for each of the next three years. For example, if someone’s pledge is $2000 a year, a 10% increase would be $17 per month during year 1.

We recognize that everyone’s circumstances are different. This is an invitation to prayerfully consider what increased commitment is possible for your household. The 10-10-10 pledge campaign is really about investing in our ministry. It is faith for the future, by growing our ministry, we are strengthening our parish. It is investing in the future of the Next Chapter of St. John’s.

Three years from now, we hope to look back and say that this was the moment when our parish decided to invest in its future. A stronger ministry. More pastoral care. More Christian formation for our children and adults. Greater connection with our community. And a parish that is ready to welcome the next generation.

We love what we have. We believe in what we can become. And together, we can make the next chapter possible.

Thank you.

Jon Cook

Senior Warden