Annual Appeal 2021

The
American
Cathedral
in Paris
2021 Annual Appeal
23 avenue George V • 75008 Paris • www.amcathparis.com • pledge@americancathedral.org

Beloved in Christ,
It’s different this year.
It’s not like it was BC – Before Covid. It’s hard. Things
keep changing, and a lot of this is scary.
And we have no idea when we will get to After Covid, or even what that “new
normal” might look like.
It’s in times like these that our faith becomes very, very real. It’s our firm foundation.
It’s by faith that we hear again the message of the angels: DO NOT BE AFRAID. It’s
by faith that we reach out to others in the name of Christ. It’s by faith that we see the
light in the darkness, the new things that are being revealed even as much that we
counted on is no longer there.
Here at the Cathedral, and in our extended community, we have become more aware
than ever of our need for each other, and our need of God. We are here for each
other, in person, on-line, by phone, by Zoom, in prayer – often in deeper ways than
ever before. And with other things being stripped away, we can see more clearly
what is truly important. We see God at work in new ways, and even in the midst of
anxiety find joy that surprises us.
Pledging to the Cathedral for 2021 is an act of faith and an act of love. It’s saying
YES to God, and responding to all that God gives us. It’s something we need to do for
our own spiritual growth, and it’s something we need to do for each other. It’s about
incarnation: finding God’s life and love in this place, in this time, with these people,
and living it out here and now.
We need your prayers, and we need your financial commitment to our life together.
Our needs are great, yes. But we give from abundance, not need, for God’s gifts are
showered upon us. I believe absolutely that we have what we need if we all give as
we can. There’s joy in this!
I urge you to make your pledge now for 2021, and raise it if you can. I will. We’re in
this together, thank God.
Blessings,
Lucinda+
The Very Reverend Lucinda Laird. Dean & Rector of the American Cathedral in Paris

What is
Stewardship?
Stewardship is our response to what God
has given us, and how we care for God’s
world and people. Pledging is part of
stewardship and the Episcopal Church
practice that connects our lives to the
mission of the Cathedral. Pledges provide
vital revenue for the maintenance and
operation of the Cathedral and its programs.
It supports our excellent clergy who provide
pastoral care and engage us in activism,
outreach and prayer. Stewardship is a way
of giving thanks for the blessings we receive
and share with others in service. It enables
us to be a part of something bigger than
each of us alone.
We have a wonderful community and a
very special heritage to pass on here at
the Cathedral. WE are the Cathedral, and
we open it to the world to share. There are
several ways to become a steward of the
Cathedral:
• Make an Annual Pledge
• Make a donation
• Join Friends of the Cathedral if you
live outside Paris or abroad
• Legacy giving: join the Trinity
Society and make a bequest
• Special gifts: grants, memorials or
other special philanthropic gifts
Tax Deductibility
Contributions to the Cathedral receive
generous income tax treatment in France.
As an individual donor, you receive an
income tax credit equal to 66% of the
amount of your gift, for contributions up
to a maximum of 20% of your total taxable
income.
Contributions to the Cathedral are also
deductible for US income tax purposes to
the fullest extent permitted by law.
Please consult your tax advisor to confi rm
how these rules apply to your situation.
Pledge paid
in EUROS
French
tax credit
Net cost of
pledge
Per MONTH after
French tax credit
(for one year)
500 € 330 € 170 € 14 €
1 000 € 660 € 340 € 28 €
1 500 € 990 € 510 € 42.50 €
2 500 € 1 650 € 850 € 71 €
3 000 € 1 980 € 1 020 € 85 €
Increasing your
pledge by 25%,
will only cost you
8% more per year
if you are eligible
for tax deductions
in France.
5 000 € 3,300 € 1 700 € 142 €
10 000 € 6 600 € 3 400 € 283 €

How do I
Pledge?
Making a pledge is easy. During these unprecedented times, we encourage you to pledge
online via our website www.amcathparis.com. If you do not have access to a computer,
please fill out a physical pledge card and mail it to the Cathedral.
Pledges may be paid in weekly or monthly installments by credit card, bank transfer or
check. You can also choose to pay in full when you submit your pledge or later.
No gift is too small.
Why Pledging
Makes a difference
Baptism, Sunday School, community, music, formation, history, solace, celebration, peace
— the list of reasons we give to the Cathedral is endless. Each of us supports the Cathedral
for a different reason. But we ALL need to support the Cathedral.
An annual pledge differs from other charitable contributions. It is both a spiritual practice
and a practical way to support the life and work of our Cathedral. For our warm and
inclusive congregation to flourish, we need members to give generously of their time, talent
and treasure. Gifts of all sizes are meaningful and contribute to the health of our common
life. Your pledge enables us to plan for the future. Please consider increasing your pledge
by 25% this year to help us close the gap due to Covid.

2020 Full Year Projections in Euros
The table below shows the principal sources of income and expense items for the Cathedral.
Cathedral Funding Budget Update
September
Pledges 460 750 460 750
Impact
Covid-19
Plate and donations 55 000 20 000 -35 000
Other donations and
designated gifts
22 000 22 000
Development & Friends 60 000 60 000
Space rental & special
liturgies
444 400 287 650 -156 750
Grants & Memorial gifts 17 200 17 200
Other income 56 850 52 850 -4 000
Foundation operations draw 186 000 186 000
Total Funding 1 285 000 1 106 450 -178 550
Other
income
36+4+2+5+35+4+14+e
Development
& Friends
2020 Budget
Foundation operations draw
Space
Rental &
Special
Liturgies
Pledges
Plate &
Donations
Other donations & designated gifts
Cathedral Expenses Budget Update
September
Savings
implemented
Clergy and staff costs 568 928 536 531 32 897
Buildings and grounds 229 188 225 788 3 400
Music program 156 343 154 843 1 500
Ministry programs 40 110 40 110
Mission & Outreach 47 075 47 075
Administration 113 460 110 460 3 000
Convocation assessment 99 800 89 415 10 385
Marketing & Development 32 220 26 720 5 500
Total Expenses 1 287 124 1 230 942 56 182
44+17+12+4+3+9+8+3+e
Convocation
assessment
Administration
Marketing & Development
Music
Program
Building
& Grounds
Mission & Outreach
Ministry programs
Clergy &
Staff costs
Other Financial Details Budget Update
September
Projected result for the year -2 124 -124 492
Projected daily cost of running the Cathedral 3 397
Number of pledging households in 2020 204
Average pledge in 2020 2 268
Target pledge total for 2021 600 000

FAQs
WHAT IS A PLEDGE?
A pledge is a financial commitment to the Cathedral for the year ahead. It is your way of
affirming your membership at the Cathedral and your expression of gratitude to God for all
that has been given to you.
WHY IS MY PLEDGE IMPORTANT?
Our operating budget is based on the amount of pledges we receive each year. We do
not receive financial support from the Diocese, the National Episcopal Church or any other
entity. Our pledges currently represent 40% of our funding. We need to increase this amount
to enable our ministries to thrive and grow in the future.
WHY PLEDGE WHEN I CAN PUT MONEY IN THE COLLECTION PLATE?
We are grateful for the generosity of all visitors who donate during the weekly offertory.
However, as Members of the American Cathedral in Paris, we are called to make an
annual pledge as stewards of this wonderful church community. Pledging enables us to plan
responsibly and establish a sustainable annual budget.
HOW MUCH SHOULD I GIVE?
Giving is a spiritual practice that should be prayerfully considered. Scripture encourages
proportionate giving or giving a percentage of one’s income as an act of thanksgiving for
the bounty we have received, with the Scriptural tithe (10%) as a goal.
DO I HAVE TO PAY MY PLEDGE ALL AT ONCE?
No. Many people fulfill their pledge weekly, monthly, or quarterly. Some set up a regular
payment schedule by bank transfer or credit card.
WHAT PAYMENT METHODS DOES THE CATHEDRAL ACCEPT?
We welcome bank transfers, checks, credit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, Pay-
Pal) or gifts of appreciated stock. During the pandemic, we encourage contactless payment
methods.