Giving at St Philip's
"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)
Regular financial giving is one of the ways that members of our church express their belonging and partnership with us. Because we receive no funding from Anglican Church head office, we depend upon our members to support the ministry of our church.
For information about giving at St Philip’s and why we give, please download our giving brochure here.
How can I give at St Philip's?
There are several ways available for regular giving, as well as special occasion or special purpose gifts.
- Internet Banking: Most people prefer to deposit their giving electronically from their bank account to the church's bank account. To do this, you will need the following account details:
Account name: St Philips General Parish
BSB number: 633000
Account number: 160062824
For accounting purposes, it would help us if you indicate in the 'Description' field which congregation you belong to
2. Periodical payment: If you do not have access to Internet banking, or you choose not to use this facility, you can make arrangements with your own bank to set up a recurring payment, using the account details above. You would need to contact your bank via telephone or visit your local branch to set this up.
3. Tap & Go: If you prefer to give from time to time, and prefer not to carry cash with you, then you can pay via our self-serve contactless Square payment system. Simply use your credit or debit card, or enabled mobile device, using our Square payment terminal. Transactions are simple and secure. You can also request a receipt to be sent you by email.
4. Cash: we have a designated "giving box" which people can use to give by cash or cheque when they attend church. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we are seeking to minimise the physical handling of cash, and encouraging people to use other forms of giving.
5. Bequests: Bequests are made through your Will, and would normally be arranged for you by your legal advisor. You may make St Philip’s the beneficiary of cash, securities, and/or other property. You may designate specific amounts or a percentage of your estate, or you may make St Philip’s a residual beneficiary of your estate, that is, a recipient of some part of the balance after payment of specific bequests, expenses, and taxes. An unencumbered bequest is the most flexible way to benefit the future generations of our church.
Why give to my local church?
There are a number of good reasons why Christians give money to their local church.
- Stewardship
Everything I own belongs to God, and I am accountable to him for the way I use it. This is emphasised in Jesus’ stewardship parables (Matthew 25:14-21; Luke 19:11-27), where the good steward of his master's wealth is commended, while the bad steward suffers judgment. We are to store up riches for ourselves in the Kingdom of Heaven instead of here on earth (Luke 6:24; 12:16-21; 16:19-31; 18:18-30). When Jesus speaks of this kind of stewardship, he has in mind our whole lives, not just our money. In this sense, it is true that our use of money can be an indicator of our true spiritual condition. - As an expression of gratitude to God
Though he was infinitely 'rich', Jesus made himself poor so that we might become rich (2 Corinthians 8:9). Financial giving is often an expression of thanksgiving to God for salvation and material abundance in this life - Our obligations to our church staff
Christians have an obligation to share all good things with those whose work it is to teach and preach. This has always been the practice of the Christian church, which found a precedent in the Old Testament temple system of priests and tithes (1 Timothy 5:17-18; 1 Corinthians 9:3-14; Galatians 6:6). - Compassion for the poor
Christians are to give generously to the poor as a demonstration of the grace God has bestowed upon us (2 Corinthians 8-9; Proverbs 19:17; 22:9). This was the practice of Christians from the very beginning, first of all to those within the Christian community, and then to all people generally (Acts 4:32-37; Galatians 6:10). - Gospel partnerships
The wise steward will want to get the greatest gospel return for his or her investment. We share in the gospel work of others when we partner with them financially. Not all of us are evangelists, preachers, missionaries or youth workers. But we set them free to do the job to which God has called and equipped them when we commit to supporting them financially (Philippians 1:3-7; 4:10-20); giving is part of our "partnership in the gospel". - Fleeing from Greed
Christians also give in order to free themselves from the tyranny of greed—wealth can be a trap! (Ephesians 5:3-10, 1 Timothy 6:3-10; James 1:10-11; 5:1-6). - Other obligations
Christian giving also occurs in the context of other financial obligations that we have to governments (Romans 13:1-17), to our families (1 Timothy 5:3-16), to be prudent (Proverbs 6:6-11; 27:23-27), and to support ourselves (1 Thessalonians 4:11-12).
Without ignoring these obligations, Christians are to be generous and free in their giving—for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
How much should I give?
The amount that you decide to give is a matter between you and God. In Old Testament times, giving towards the support of the temple system began at the level of 10% of gross income and then 'freewill', 'fellowship' and other offerings were added to that amount.
Although some Christians find this a useful guide, this principle of 'tithing' does not have any force in the New Testament. Christians are free to decide before God what they give—there is no obligation. Instead of such 'tithing' laws, Christians are instructed to give generously, systematically, and in proportion to what they have (1 Corinthians 16:2, 2 Corinthians 8:1-12, 1 Timothy 6:18). So, having prayerfully determined what you will give, stick to it and rejoice that you are able to share in this work.
What is the money used for?
Money given to St Philip’s is used in three main ways:
1. Supporting and growing the ministry of our church locally by providing staff (primarily), ministry resources, and support functions;
2. Investing in buildings and equipment that effectively serve ministry functions—both for current maintenance as well as future development; and
3. Partnering with other individuals and organizations engaged in mission and mercy ministries. If you would like to give to mission work, in particular, you can do so via our St Philip’s Mission Account.
Account name: St Philips Missions
BSB number: 633000
Account number: 160062915
If you’re a member of St Philip’s, then we’d love to encourage you to prayerfully consider the value and priority of supporting our church financially.
If you have any questions about Giving at St Philip’s, please speak with our Senior Minister, Jaime Dickson. He will be happy to speak with you in confidence.
