Introducing the Campaign for Ministries
Repairing the Ascension window is one of several projects that will be funded by the Campaign for Ministries.
By Patrick Heijmen, Senior Warden
Patrick Heijmen
Dear Saint James’ family,
As I enter my second year as your senior warden, I have been reflecting on the life of Saint James’. We are a community rooted in faith, service, and a deep love for our ministries. We are also a growing and vibrant parish — thanks to Father Ben, our staff, your Vestry, and the many volunteers who sustain our church and school each day.
In the years following the pandemic, our parish faced real challenges. Attendance declined, giving decreased, and necessary improvements to our campus were delayed. Yet, through your faithfulness and generosity, Saint James’ has emerged stronger. Now, we have an opportunity to strengthen the foundation that will support our ministries for years to come.
Today, I am writing to invite every member of this congregation to be part of an important next step in our shared life together.
The Vestry is launching the Campaign for Ministries to complete several long-postponed and essential projects across our campus. These include repairs to our stained glass windows, updates to the Children’s Chapel, improvements to the Reception Room that supports so many gatherings and ministries, long-overdue maintenance to the rectory, and the final payment for the purchase of the far field.
This capital campaign is about preserving and strengthening the spaces where worship happens, children grow in faith, ministries serve others, and our parish community gathers together.
This campaign already has momentum. As of May 14, $516,500 had already been committed by our fellow parishioners. This early generosity is a powerful sign of what is possible when we move forward together in faith and purpose.
Now, we are asking the entire Saint James’ family to join in to meet our goal of $700,000.
Our aim is simple: broad participation across the parish. Every household has a role to play. Whether your gift is large or modest, what matters most is that we come together in support of the ministries and mission of Sames James’.
This is a campaign for both “now” and “later.”
We invite you to make a gift to the 2026 Campaign for Ministries now or in installments through June 30, 2029.
We also ask you to prayerfully consider including Saint James’ in your estate plans as a lasting expression of your commitment to this community and future generations. The Vestry’s goal is for 20 households to name Saint James’ in their estate plans, and six have already done so by May 13. If you’ve already included Saint James’ in your estate plan, please make that known to the parish accountant.
This capital campaign is separate from our annual pledge campaign. It remains essential that we continue supporting the ongoing ministries and operations of our church through regular annual giving, so please don’t reduce your annual pledge in order to contribute to this campaign.
We are moving forward with our Campaign for Ministries with purpose and urgency, as some of the work has already started! I encourage you to review the additional information in this packet, reflect on what Saint James’ means to you, and consider how you are called to contribute.
Together, we have an opportunity to maintain what we have inherited and to strengthen it for the generations who will follow us.
Thank you for your faith, your generosity, and your commitment to Saint James’.
Faithfully,
Patrick Heijmen
seniorwarden@saintjameswarrenton.org
