Giving

Giving of our resources is a core spiritual practice for Christians. It reminds us that all we have comes from God, and it helps us participate in God's dream of a world in which we all learn to love and rely on one another.

Many people establish a pledge - a commitment to give at a specific rate over the course of the year. Click here to make a PLEDGE. You can effect your pledge by mailing checks or setting up automatic payments online.

Do I have to give money to be a member?

Membership is about baptism. Those of us who regularly receive Holy Communion, participate in the ministries of the church, and give of our resources are called “members in good standing,” but that doesn’t mean that anyone is holier than anyone else.

We encourage all our members to make a pledge to Good Shepherd regardless of their income level. We don't distinguish between large and small amounts: elders on fixed income and children with allowances can give just as joyfully as those with traditional salaried jobs.

How can I decide how much to give?

We recommend the traditional practice of giving 10%, which is called a "tithe." But if that feels out of reach for you, we recommend choosing a specific percentage, calculating your gift, and then sticking with it for a while. Regardless of our level of wealth, God calls us to be generous in ways that stretch us and help us grow.

Make a gift today.

You can make a one-time or recurring donation through any of the following methods:

a) Set up a recurring direct payment through your bank. This option gives the benefit of the most security. Contact your bank or use their online system to set this up.

b) Set up a recurring direct payment through Vanco. This option gives the benefit of ease of use and the ability to route portions of your pledge to specific ministries. (The Good Shepherd finance team has the ability to support your use of this system, including altering or canceling your pledge. Internal systems of checks and balances are in place to ensure that no alterations are made without your express permission.)

c) Mail checks to the Church of the Good Shepherd, P.O. Box 3108, Federal Way, WA 98063 (note that our P.O. Box ZIP code is different from that of our street address). This option gives the benefit of being a continual reminder of your commitment to Good Shepherd each time you make a gift.