During the Sunday offering, are you asking your congregation to “give money” or are you inviting them to participate in what God is doing in the world? Here, from the United Methodist Church, is a beautiful brochure that explains how to raise money AND disciples. (Photo: Lisafx, Bigstock.com)
What’s happening in congregational stewardship? Drawing on close to 20 years of observation with thousands of congregations, the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving identifies these different sets of values and practices as as traditional and emerging paradigms. From Luther Seminary. (Photo: Robert Couse-Baker, Creative Commons)
The pandemic has challenged how churches operate, but most congregations are getting by as they adopt creative strategies to adopt to the new normal, a study by the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. How is your church faring? (Image: AJC1 i, Creative Commons)
In many churches money talk is a leader’s “third rail” — touch it and you die! It doesn’t have to be that way. Lovett Weems of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership offers two principles that, applied consistently over time, can help make it easier to talk about money in church. (Photo: Rhys A., Creative […]
Fall is the time for “Harvest Festivals,” but with so many of our siblings hurting from the Covid-19 crisis, it’s a ripe time to urge people to share their plenty with those in need. That’s the theme for October’s free Stewardship Toolkit, which includes an original newsletter article, Sunday bulletin snippets and more. (Photo: Neil […]
Leadership is necessary only if an organization needs to go somewhere and is accountable to a mission more important than its own survival, writes Will Willimon, theologian, author and retired Methodist bishop. A leader helps an organization face the pain that must accompany change and growth. From Faith & Leadership.
What’s the “common good” mean in our “me first culture”? Stewarding the Common Good is the theme of this month’s free Stewardship Toolkit from Rob Blezard, web editor for the Stewardship of Life Institute. It explores the theme in a newsletter article, Sunday bulletin snippets and links to web resources.
Theory is great, but putting it into practice is even better. Here are eight steps you and your leadership team can follow to develop a written theology of stewardship to guide and grow your church’s culture of generosity. By Horizons Stewardship’s Joel Mikell, via Vanco. (Photo: Photo (c) Keren Tan, ShareAlike License)
What are the stewardship practices that work in a crisis? They’re the same ones that work in good times, says Bishop Greg Rickel of the Episcopal Diocese of Olympia, Wash. His illuminating PowerPoint presentation provides excellent insight for stewardship leaders in times good or bad. (Photo: Winston Heath, Creative Commons )
It’s a dilemma that many congregations face: Church funds have seeded a childcare program, outreach or other ministry, but now its outgrown the congregation’s support. Maybe it’s time to spin it off as its own nonprofit, says this article from Faith & Leadership. (Photo: Photo: Niuton may, Creative Commons)
