Browsing Ideas for thought
The Spiritual Practice of Generosity
If generosity is how we honor and express human value, than any act of kindness counts in the bigger picture. We can all be kind. We can all be generous. This is one of the key teachings of all the world’s religions. So we decided to look into our databases of quotes collected from our reading and see what teachers of our times and earlier ones have said about the spiritual practice of generosity. Read this assortment of quotes and observations, share them, and make them a part of your own development. (Photo: Bert Haymans, Creative Commons)
iPad Giving Station Increases Engagement
Cross of Christ Lutheran Church, Roberts, Wis., looked at digitial giving options and decided to go with an iPad giving station. Now 8 percent of its offerings are received that way. Read about their experience. From the Center for Stewardship Leaders at Luther Seminary. (Photo: Creativity 103, Creative Commons)
The Official Stewardship ‘Don’t Panic Kit’
If your church is at sixes and sevens when it comes to stewardship, it’s definitely not alone! The important thing is to keep your heads, trust in God, and make a plan! This free resource from the Episcopal Diocese of Washington has some great ideas, as well as helpful links! (Photo: Techme Slowly, Creative Commons)
Create a Culture of Giving in Your Church
In the competitive world of nonprofit funding, church leaders have an advantage capturing the hearts and minds of people to support ministry. Why? Because we often see them face-to-face. How are we doing at creating a culture of giving when our people are present? Here are tips from the Mennonite Church USA. (Photo: ThrasherDave, Creative […]
Giving Thought to a Narrative Budget
There’s another way besides a line-item budget to present your congregation’s proposed annual spending plan. A Narrative Budget tells the story of how your church practices good stewardship of the gifts entrusted to it. It provides a vision of where the church hopes to be in the coming budget cycle. It reflects how the congregation spends its time, talent, and treasure rather than paying the bills.Check out this free 12-page resource. (Photo: Rob Nguyen, Creative Commons)
Crowdfunding for Congregations and Nonprofits
Because the church has always funded its ministry through small gifts from a large number of people, crowdfunding is not too much of a stretch for congregations. Crowdfunding has gained a respectable status among the many ways to fund new ventures, whether business-related or charitable. Crowdfunding presents a clear opportunity for church-related giving to expand its focus, audience, vision, and reach. (Read more in this free download!) (Photo: James Cridland, Creative Commons)
Stewardship Planning and Preparation
Here’s a handy how-to guide for setting up a stewardship committee and program in your church. It lists the players you need on the team, their role and their strategy. Good stuff from the Catholic Foundation of the Diocese of San Francisco. (Photo © Robert Kneschke – Fotolia.com)
Stewardship and Lent
Among the many opportunities the Lenten season provides for us, it also gives us many chances to broaden the discussion of stewardship. In our world, which is so driven by consumerism, greed, and wealth, this season calls us to turn away from these, and look again to the one true God. Here are some ideas […]
16 Ways to Increase Church Giving
Here are 16 great — yet simple — ideas that your congregation can take and run with. Number one should register a collective “Dugh”: Establish a stewardship committee. Check out the other 15, from the Anglican Diocese of Ottawa, Canada. (Photo by Lisafx, via Bigstock.com)
Christian Stewardship: 7 Tips for Handling Money
To be a good steward you have to recognize your relationship to things that you have. The proper relationship to things is to understand that everything belongs to God and that you have been given them to manage on God’s behalf. Here are some tips to help you put that into practice in the real […]
