‘Lifestyles of generosity’
Stewardship—it’s not just for autumn anymore.
by Pat Cole
Learn more
» The Stewardship Resource Center—a ministry of the Presbyterian Foundation that provides stewardship tools and training: presbyterianfoundation.org/stewardship
» Ecumenical Stewardship Center—a multidenominational organization that creates stewardship resources: stewardshipresources.org
» Texas Presbyterian Foundation—a PC(USA) financial services agency of the Synod of the Sun that also produces stewardship curriculum and videos: tpf.org/resources
» Lake Institute on Faith and Giving—a component of Indiana University’s Lilly Family School of Philanthropy that offers programs and training focused on faith-based giving: philanthropy.iupui.edu/the-lake-institute
» The Stewardship Companion: Lectionary Resources for Preaching by David N. Mosser (Westminster John Knox Press, 2007)
» Giving Together: A Stewardship Guide for Families by Carol A. Wehrheim (Westminster John Knox Press, 2004)
» Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate (Abingdon Press, 2008), Whose Offering Plate Is It? (2010), and Rich Church, Poor Church: Keys to Effective Financial Ministry (2010) by J. Clif Christopher
» Stewardship Kaleidoscope—an annual PC(USA) stewardship training and conference usually held in March: stewardshipkaleidoscope.org
Donate
» Online giving opportunities for all ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency: presbyterianmission.org/give
» A portal for making online gifts to Presbyterian causes ranging from local congregations to national and international ministries: presbyterianmissionexchange.org
Support
To help your congregation determine its priorities for giving, improve stewardship, and connect with giving opportunities, the Presbyterian Mission Agency offers regional consultants for congregational mission support. Call 502-569-5611, or contact one of these individuals.
» Elizabeth Little, East region, 980-224-8000, elizabeth.little@pcusa.org
» Chris Roseland, South region, 859-224-8118, chris.roseland@pcusa.org
» Bruce Whearty, Midwest region, 502-569-5157, bruce.whearty@pcusa.org
» Rachel Yates, West region, 303-400-3329, rachel.yates@pcusa.org
In thousands of congregations, the brilliant colors of fall signal the season for annual budgets, stewardship sermons, and pledge cards.
For many congregations, it’s the only time of year they give financial stewardship high visibility. In the best-case scenario, the members pledge enough to meet the church budget, and the congregation is on its way to another year of ministry. Except for budget reports, talk about money is mostly set aside until the next autumn.
However, a growing number of congregations regard financial giving as an important part of Christian discipleship that deserves year-round emphasis.
“We and many other congregations are moving from thinking about stewardship of fundraising to encouraging lifestyles of generosity,” says Karl Travis, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Fort Worth, Texas. “Generosity is a spiritual virtue that is part of a larger life of discipleship.”
“You have to do the stewardship campaign, but typically that is not enough,” says Dan Hans, pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Lexington, Kentucky. Congregants, he adds, need a constant reminder of the difference their gifts are making and will make. “I heard it said years ago that money follows vision, and I think it’s true,” Hans says. “People will get excited about the vision and excited about serving Christ.”
On most Sundays at Second Presbyterian, a member gives a short testimonial before the offering, telling how gifts to the church are used. Topics, he says, range from children’s Sunday school to international mission trips. “I tell them to limit it to 30 seconds,” he says. “It’s not a minute for mission. It’s just a chance to say thank you.”
Travis agrees that people convinced of their church’s commitment to ministry are more generous. “Congregations need to pay mission commitments first, before they pay the pastor and the light bill,” he insists. “It’s an anti-institutional age, so congregations must practice what they preach. We must constantly remind people what the mission and ministry of the congregation are and consistently interpret that.”
Both Travis and Hans say pastors should integrate stewardship themes in their preaching throughout the year. The lectionary texts, Travis notes, often present opportunities to stress stewardship.
At Hans’s church, he emphasizes the themes of grace, gratitude, generosity, and giving during the stewardship campaign and at other times. “I’ll incorporate them in sermons, pastoral prayers, prayers of confession, and even in the promise of God’s assurance,” he says.
Christian education and new-member classes are also venues to underscore generosity, but Travis says financial management classes are often needed as well. “Sometimes people need to get their financial house in order first,” he says. Learning to manage money well, he explains, can help people “put their values into motion.”
Both Travis and Hans say fear is one of the biggest impediments to generosity. “The psychological challenge is to live beyond fear, which is related to the economic challenge of living a Christian lifestyle in a society that reduces our worth to what we own and tells us we need things we don’t really need,” Travis says. “The theological challenge is to trust. Do we really believe Psalm 23 when it says ‘I shall not want’?”
Uneasiness about economic circumstances can contribute to tightfistedness, Hans observes. Borrowing from 1 Corinthians 13:13, he says, “In addition to faith and love, you have to have hope.”
Pat Cole is a communications specialist with the Presbyterian Mission Agency.
Stewardship dos and don’ts
DO
1. Emphasize stewardship consistently.
2. Make God and the believer’s relationship to God the starting points.
3. Stress mission and vision more than budget numbers and church needs.
4. Educate yourself about stewardship.
DON’T
1. Forget that generous acts transform the giver as well as the lives of others.
2. Rely excessively on stewardship techniques and programs.
3. Be shy about proclaiming God’s call to stewardship.
4. Neglect to practice what you preach about stewardship.
