Support Presbyterian Mission year-round through Special Offerings
Four opportunities to make God’s love present to those in need
Individuals and congregations continually seek ways to support
mission that makes God’s love present to people around the world. In addition
to regular giving, the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) has
created four churchwide opportunities each year called Special Offerings to support
specific causes. The focuses of the offerings correspond with the season of the
liturgical year or special days of the church calendar: the Christmas Joy Offering
is generally received the Sunday before Christmas; One Great Hour of Sharing
on Easter Sunday; the Pentecost Offering on the Day of Pentecost; and the Peacemaking
Offering on World Communion Sunday. All the ministries supported by these
offerings represent priorities lifted up by the denomination.
The General Assembly urges congregations to receive all four
special offerings and reevaluates them every four years. The session of each
congregation decides which offerings are to be taken and when. Congregations
that support mission through all four offerings plus basic mission support are
considered “Five
for Five” congregations.
The Christmas Joy Offering has
been a Presbyterian tradition for more than 70 years. Its proceeds benefit active
and retired workers of the church in times of need and also support the work
of racial ethnic Presbyterian schools and colleges.
Since 1949 One Great Hour
of Sharing has helped
people in need around the world. The offering supports Presbyterian Disaster
Assistance, Self-Development of People and the Presbyterian Hunger Program.
Congregations are encouraged to retain 40 percent of the
Pentecost Offering for local work with children at risk. The remaining 60 percent
is shared among ministries with youth and young adults, young adult mission volunteers
and child advocacy.
The Peacemaking Offering is
distributed among local congregations (25 percent), presbyteries and synods (25
percent) and the General Assembly (50 percent) for peacemaking efforts. The offering
is received on World Communion Sunday, the first Sunday in October.
Standing orders
Resources for promoting and interpreting each of the offerings
are now sent according to a standing order mode of distribution. Churches receive
a confirmation letter letting them know, according to their previous year’s
order, what they should receive this year. If they wish, they may change that
order; otherwise it remains the same for the next year.
Download a calendar  showing
this year’s suggested dates
for special offerings. |
