The Capital Campaign continues to move forward as we build upon our already strong momentum and approach our closing date of May 5th.  Even though the pledges are scheduled over a 3-5 year period, we are asking for pledge cards to be returned by May 5th so we can begin scheduling the projects. If someone reaches out to you for a meeting please kindly respond to them! These are no-pressure meetings and one of our goals is to build our community at St. James the Less by meeting with new members and deepening relationships among the long standing.  Whatever you decide to give will be much appreciated.  So far we have received 54 pledges and have raised almost 2 million. 

We still have a lot of people to meet with before May 5th.  Then the fun begins as we start the project phase!  We are forming a project management committee to closely monitor the project schedules and track the financials.  Please let us know if you would be interesting in joining this committee as we move forward.

And once again, thank you to all who've already pledged. We are so grateful for your commitment to St. James and its future!

Help get us over the 2 million dollar mark! And remember, pledges come in all sizes and shapes. We're thankful for every pledge, whether it's $5000.00 or $50,000+ (and remember, gifts are typically given over a 3 to 5-year period). Schedule a visit below, and/or with the visitor who reached out to you. Look for our progress every week in this email and see the difference each and every one of us makes to this campaign.

Hadley Miller, a member of the vestry and lifelong committed Episcopalian, well-versed in what it takes to support her church, tells us that even she was nervous about their campaign visit ... and what made it surprisingly great. She and her husband Doug were visited by Mother Storm and Margy Loftus.

Why am I being visited? Is that really necessary?
Absolutely. The goal of the Capital Campaign is to visit 100% of the member households to inform you about this effort and to answer any questions you may have. It is important that every household participates in this campaign for it to be successful. Everyone counts.

Will I be asked to give a specific amount?
No. You may be asked to consider a gift at a specific level, but this is a personal and thoughtful decision to be made by you and you alone. While the foundation of our campaign is “Sacrificial Giving”, there is no requirement to contribute to the campaign. No one who visits you, nor any members of the vestry or capital campaign will know what you give. Only our staff finance director and Mo. Storm will know what was pledged.

Is this part of my annual pledge?
No. While we are running both campaigns at the same time, there are two separate and distinct campaigns. We need your annual pledge to keep the lights on and the staff paid. The annual pledge is just that, an annual pledge. The capital campaign is a multi-year campaign that you contribute to over a period decided by you. However, both are being discussed during this visit. While they are independent pledges, they are intertwined with the health and future of St. James the Less.

Why do I have to have a visit now?
The period for pledging is from now until May 4, 2024. On May 5th , we will announce the amount pledged towards the capital campaign and determine which projects we will undertake. If we do not raise the full $4MM, lower priority projects will be tabled for another day. In short, without everyone’s commitments, we cannot plan, nor can we determine which projects we can embark on. The sooner members pledge and start contributing, the sooner we can start all these exciting projects.

What should I expect when I am visited?
You can expect a friendly, informal conversation about what St. James means to you and the person visiting you. It is a lovely, personal experience. Everyone who has been visited walks away knowing a little bit more about a fellow parishioner and St. James.

Does it have to be at my home? Can I choose who visits me?
No. You can select any location you please. Some enjoy making it a social occasion and meet at a restaurant. Others meet in the Isom Room. And others have invited the visitors over for wine and cheese. There is no wrong answer. And yes, absolutely you can choose who visits you. This is an important decision, and it is critical that you feel comfortable.

You can schedule your own visit, and even (if you like) select the person, whether Mother Storm or a fellow parishioner, you'd like to have come visit you. Visits are the heart of this campaign--and people often say, the best part! We hope to see you soon.

Choose from a variety of roles, from visiting, to serving on the project team once work begins.