The Nuts and Bolts of Stewardship, pt. 3

Patrick Vaughn, Pinnacle Affiliate

During these autumn months, many congregations hold their annual stewardship campaign. In our two previous conversations we explored key insights and lessons regarding faithful stewardship programs. These include:

Develop your budget only after you have conducted your stewardship program. 

Remember that giving does not come naturally. It must be taught and nurtured.

Acknowledge that while personal, stewardship is not private. It is communal. We serve and give and love in a network of relationships.

Invite reflection on what God is doing in your midst.

Utilize music, drama and video in your nurture of generosity. Words alone are not effective. 

Tell stories that describe how your congregation’s generosity is making a difference in the world. 

Find ways to strengthen a sense of community in the congregation. There is a correlation between how we share our financial resources (belongings) and how well we are connected to one another in our church (belonging).

Be joyful!

(Reread Part 1 and Part 2 here.)

Here are three more lessons and insights to keep in mind.

Ninth, draw a line between generosity and the impact of the church’s ministries in the lives of those in the church and community. Make it as personal and concrete as possible. For example, you could put a “Did You Know Box?” in the bulletin or newsletter several times a month. “Did you know that our church gives $1200 each year to the homeless shelter. That $1200 makes if possible for 42 men to sleep in a warm and safe environment when the temperatures plunge below freezing.” Or, you could devote three minutes in every worship service to celebrating a particular ministry of the church (e.g., choir, food pantry, Sunday school teacher etc...) Ask a leader or participant in that ministry to share “what keeps them coming back.” This moment of sharing is not only educational. It can also generate excitement, and excitement is contagious. People will be drawn to it and want to support it. 

Tenth, set aside a season of the year to invite people to reflect on how they invest their time and talent in the church’s ministry. Even as people fill out pledge cards and dedicate them during a worship service, provide a similar opportunity for people to commit to a year in serving in one or more of the congregation’s ministries. Importantly, however, do not combine the stewardship of money with the stewardship of time and commitment. It tends not to be as effective as when separating them, and some will inevitably seek to focus on time and talent as a way to avoid stewardship of financial resources. 

Eleventh, in addition to sending our annual giving statements in January, mail statements at the end March, June, and September as well as the beginning of December. Do not simply send a financial document! Include a letter that thanks the member/guest for their gifts and a brief update of several ministries. This not only expresses appreciation but it also helps people to see how their gift is having an immediate impact in the world.

As I noted in my first article in this series, churches tend to approach financial issues with a mixture of fear and apprehension. Given the idolatrous power of money in our society, this is unavoidable. Yet, when channeled faithfully, this fear and  apprehension can serve as the stimulus to embrace stewardship for what it truly is, a gift from God.