Stewardship, in the theology of the Episcopal Church, is fundamentally a spiritual discipline rooted in gratitude and trust in God. It begins with the recognition that all of creation—including our time, talents, and treasures—belongs to God, and that we are called to be faithful caretakers rather than owners. This perspective flows from the understanding that humanity is created in God’s image and entrusted with the responsibility of caring for the earth and one another. Stewardship, therefore, is not merely about financial giving but about embracing a way of life that honors God’s abundance and our role as participants in God’s ongoing creation and redemption.
As a spiritual discipline, stewardship invites intentional reflection and regular practice. Just as prayer and worship draw us into deeper relationship with God, stewardship shapes our hearts toward generosity and compassion. The Episcopal Church teaches that giving is an act of worship—a tangible expression of gratitude for God’s grace in our lives. When we offer our resources, whether through service, advocacy, or financial gifts, we participate in God’s mission to reconcile and renew all things. Stewardship transforms scarcity thinking into a theology of abundance, reminding us that God provides more than enough for all when we share faithfully and justly.
Practicing stewardship also strengthens the communal life of the Church. The Episcopal understanding of the Body of Christ emphasizes mutual responsibility and interdependence; our collective gifts sustain the ministry, worship, and outreach of the Church in the world. Through stewardship, we acknowledge that our giving supports not only the maintenance of sacred spaces but also the witness of the Gospel in our communities. When approached prayerfully and joyfully, stewardship becomes a lifelong discipline of discipleship—aligning our priorities with God’s purposes and deepening our awareness that everything we have and are is a gift to be offered back in love.
2025 Stewardship Campaign
Saint Mark’s is a visible symbol of God’s love in our community. We host immigrants and refugees and welcome all worshipers proudly with open arms. Our commitment to our community is evident in our support for youth, arts, athletics, and community events. Our beautiful music inspires, and our open space welcomes groups of all ages and backgrounds. We feed the hungry, support new mothers in Appalachia, and help provide housing for families in need. We gather to worship and learn, to play and eat. Saint Mark’s is a vital part of the Upper Arlington community and beyond.
Our members’ dedication and expertise make this possible. Sunday worship relies on ushers, lectors, choir members, chalice bearers, acolytes, livestream producers, and more. Youth groups and outreach programs depend on countless volunteers willing to give their time.
Saint Mark’s mission also relies on giving, and 80% of our annual budget comes from pledges. 110 households pledged a total of $485,000 to support Saint Mark’s in 2025. With this level of pledging we passed a budget assuming that we would have a deficit of about $14,000 in 2025. We are hoping, due to generous giving, to end 2025 in the black.
To maintain our current level of worship, ministries, and activities and to have a balanced budget, we need $543,000 in pledges for 2026. Everyone has a role to play in helping us meet this goal.
When you pledge, you help the vestry plan for the upcoming year by sharing how you intend to support Saint Mark’s. There is no wrong way to pledge, and people make their contributions in different ways. Weekly, monthly, or once a year, by cash, check, online, and even with gifts of stock or IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution. We keep pledges confidential and only the treasurer, rector, and a few people involved in maintaining our giving records will have access to this private information.
Building the Vision Capital Campaign
The Building the Vision Campaign is a three year campaign that was launched in 2025. The campaign is focused on a variety of projects to get Saint Mark’s building and campus prepared to serve our congregation and community for the next 75 years.
We are continuing to accept commitments to the campaign as well as one time gifts.