Photo of a white candle on a dark background
Image credit: Irene Kato

Unlike many religious denominations, Unitarian Universalist congregations are independent congregations that choose to join the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Monetary support for UCBR is solely and entirely the responsibility of our church, so everything from social justice initiatives to paying the electric bill comes from local support.

How do I pledge?

To make your financial commitment to UCBR, fill out and return a pledge form. You can also fill out a pledge form online. You can get a pledge form any time from the church office.

You can also email your pledge commitment to: office@unitarianchurchbr.com

How do I pay my pledge?

There are many options for paying your pledge. For detailed information, please click here.

How much should I pledge?

This is a personal decision. We ask that you consider your personal budget, and determine an amount you can contribute to the church on a weekly or monthly basis. We believe that our standard of giving should reflect our standard of living.

We ask everyone to consider making a pledge that is both responsible and significant based on his or her own financial situation. A commitment appropriate to our faith tradition is 2% to 5% of net household income.

Most of our members are able to contribute on a regular basis, and many households already pledge at these levels. For those who do not, we ask you to consider working towards this goal over time.

Please know that you are always welcome at our church. If you’re out of work, have a modest income, or are facing demands on your resources, then pledge what you can.

Where does my pledge go?

Your pledge and other donations pay for all UCBR operational costs including staffing, committee and team work, building maintenance, supplies, programming, religious education, utilities, and more. Your pledge funds the entire church budget, supporting our great worship services (including music), religious education programs, social justice programs, in short – all of the congregation’s activities. Your pledge also helps sustain the UUA.

Ultimately, pledges and other financial gifts make it possible or this congregation to fulfill its mission and vision – to move minds and hearts and to change lives, within our congregation and in the world around us. ​

How is pledging different from giving money to the offering on Sunday morning?

While donations via the weekly offering are greatly appreciated, and are used to help support the church and its work, they are unpredictable, and thus we cannot rely upon them in planning our budget. Also, undesignated cash offerings go toward our shared offering to support an organization in our community.

Pledge payments may be placed in the Sunday morning offering, but we ask that they be made by check with a notation on the memo line that they are for your pledge. If you want to place cash in the offering toward your pledge, you can place it in an envelope with your name on it; otherwise, we have no way to track cash contributions.

What if I want to contribute by volunteering?

Your volunteer efforts are greatly appreciated! We could not survive without the generous donations of our members’ and friends’ time and talents.

If you are eager to know more about our volunteer opportunities, committees, and other areas where energies are needed, go here to learn more about the ways you can get involved as a volunteer. If you’re ready to get to work, please contact the office.

How do I change my current pledge?

If your financial circumstances change and you want or need to change your pledge – either up or down – simply contact the church office.

A pledge is a promise – it is not a contract – but letting us know of your intention if you need to change your pledge helps us anticipate our cash-flow and manage our budget.