Stewardship and Gifts
Generosity is our response to God’s call to be compassionate disciples. Together, the people of the United Church live out Jesus’ vision and values by caring for each other and the world. Each and every day, we join God’s life-changing mission to make ourselves, our community and our world more peaceful, just and loving for everyone. “I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” (John 10:10b)
Called to Be the Church: The Journey – Stewardship Update – Winter Sessions
All of these courses are offered online on the CHURCHx platform. If you are new to CHURCHx and have questions, please email stewardship@united-church.ca. The Community of Faith Stewardship team is there to help you.
Getting Started in Stewardship Winter 2026 – Online session January 26, 2026 and optional reunion March 9, 2026
Come on your own, or come with a team and join United Church people from across the country to learn some stewardship first principles. In this 90-minute live meeting we’ll answer questions like:
- What is stewardship all about anyway?
- Isn’t stewardship just a churchy word for fundraising?
- Why do people give, and why would they give to our church?
- What can we do to encourage greater generosity?
This course is great for new Stewardship Committee members, folks looking to activate stewardship work in their community of faith, or those looking for a refresher. It is free to attend! Read more about the course and register right here.
Stewardship Best Practices Winter/Spring 2026 – February 23 to March 26, 2026
Good stewardship is about discipleship, generosity, and spiritual growth. Gather a team from your community of faith and sign up for this 8-week program that will transform how you invite generosity, express gratitude, and communicate your vision.
Your team will need to attend 5 Learning Sessions (lecture style) and on alternating weeks 4 Cohort Sessions (small group discussion). You can get more information and look at dates and times on CHURCHx. If you have any questions, please get in touch with me. It is a bit confusing. The cost for this program is $100.00/ team. One team member needs to register and pay. From there they will receive a link to send to the rest of the team. Registration and more information can be found right here.
Bequests and Estate Giving On Demand — TEAM Registration – come as a stewardship team, and learn at your own pace
This course will help you get your Planned Giving program set up and running, so that your community of faith can benefit from these financial gifts. A Planned Giving program can excite your community of faith and offer them new ways to financially support your ministry. These gifts from your donor’s estates or savings can be transformational to both the donor and the church. Find more information here.
Setting Up Your Giving Program Spring 2026 – April 15, 2026 to April 30, 2026
This course is designed for you and your Stewardship Team to develop the resources you need to get your Congregational Giving Program off the ground! Each giving team consists of 3-5 people who are organising your giving program, plus the minister or key lay leader if you are without a minister. A smaller team means more work for each team-member. Our time together will facilitate building relationships between communities of faith, so you will be able to encourage each other in your stewardship work. More information can be found here.
Stewardship Resource Kits
We now offer a series of free Stewardship Resource kits for download:
- Stewardship Starter Kit
- Stewardship Campaign Kit
- Digging Deeper Kit
- Planned Legacy Giving Kit.
To access these materials, just complete an online form. Ready to save or print, and share. Click here: register here
Stewardship Staff Update:
Roger Janes, our Regional Stewardship Support Staff retired at the end of December 2025. While the process to choose his successor is set to begin early in the new year, clergy and pastoral charge leaders seeking stewardship resources and support in the in-between time should e-mail: stewardship@united-church.ca. The Community of Faith Stewardship team is there to help you.
Roger would like to extend to all pastoral charges and outreach ministries in the Region his very best wishes and to offer a big thank you to all those people and communities of faith he had the privilege to work with.
Joining God’s Mission
Mission and Service changes lives. When you give to Mission and Service, you make a profound difference. Through an astounding variety of life-changing ministries and programs in Canada and around the world —including Global and Canadian justice initiatives, Indigenous ministries, community outreach centers, faith formation, innovative ministries and more — your gifts change and save lives. Donate to Mission and Service today!
Gifts With Vision is where your gifts meet the world’s need. Each year’s gift catalogue offers a glimpse of the church’s Mission and Service ministries. It includes gift ideas to suit every interest, budget, and person. Whether you feel God is calling you to care for the environment, support marginalized people through a unique outreach program, or promote Right Relations, Gifts with Vision ensures your gift reflects your values. A thoughtful, year-round gift giving opportunity!
The Healing Fund is one facet of the United Church’s ongoing work of reconciliation with Indigenous people addressing the long-term effects of residential schools. The Healing Fund is used to support innovative and effective programs in Indigenous communities that are helping people in the healing process.
The Emergency Response Fund is one way the United Church responds to urgent needs. Discover the world of difference United Church people are making at our Act Now web page. Learn about other funds on our website.
Stewarding God’s Gifts
Stewardship is everything we think, say, and do after we say “I believe.” Stewardship is all about discipleship – following Jesus’ example in every aspect of life including how we spend our time, take care of our body, direct our talent, set financial priorities and care for the environment. Discover stewardship tips and practical resources for you and your faith community at Called to Be the Church: The Journey | The United Church of Canada (united-church.ca)
Called To Be The Church: The Giving Program is an annual stewardship resource that will help your faith community become even more generous and make a bigger difference in your community and world. For additional support and coaching to carry out your Stewardship Giving Program, please visit Congregational Giving Program module—Do It with Us | The United Church of Canada (united-church.ca), you will inspire people to change lives, invite people to join others to make a difference and thank them for their generosity. Available in print and online, Called to Be the Church is a free, always fresh resource to help you build and sustain generosity in your community of faith.
Realizing God’s Vision
Legacy Gifts make a lasting, meaningful difference that brings Christ’s vital message of compassion and hope to others. Leave a legacy of care and compassion through a bequest in your Will, a gift of life insurance or another type of legacy gift. Learn more about how to leave a legacy gift and/or reach out to your regional Stewardship and Gifts Officer, Roger Janes, for more information.
The United Church Foundation puts your dreams for your church into action. The Foundation raises, invests and grants funds to grow faith, develop community, restore healing, and promote peace and justice at home and abroad. Find out more about how the United Church Foundation helps generous United Church people like you make a difference in our world and sustain the work of your church.
Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
2 Corinthians 9:7
Your generosity makes a difference…
- See inspiring videos of your gifts at work
- For Mission and Service Worship Resources, please visit Mission and Service in Worship | The United Church of Canada (united-church.ca)
- Like Mission and Service on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.
Mission and Service
You are at the heart of Mission and Ministry when you give to Mission and Service. By making Mission and Service a part of our giving, we answer God’s call to help mend the world. Each and every day, your gifts – our gifts – transform lives. Together, we make more of a difference that we ever could alone. Donate to Mission and Service.
Meet United Church generosity in action through stories you can share in person or on social media. Visit Mission and Service Stories (formerly Minutes for Mission).
When we gather to worship, we celebrate and respond to God’s generosity with our gratitude and our gifts. Visit Stewardship in Worship for more worship materials.