Browsing Congregational Finance
Healthy Talk about Stewardship
It’s not hard to understand why talk about money and giving might make a congregation uncomfortable, and maybe even guilty and resentful. So how do we move to healthy ways of talking and preaching about money in our churches? This post from The Episcopal Network for Stewardship has some great ideas. (Photo: Fallonyates, Creative Commons)
When Vision & Discipleship Meet Budget
Everything is a choice, and leaders choose the financial culture they create. Every conversation can be both a vision and discipleship conversation, including planning the annual budget. Invite congregants to invest in a vision rather than simply approve a budget. (Photo: © Artur Gabrysiak – Fotolia.com)
Deadline is Sept. 15 for SOLI Grants!
Time’s almost up for applications for the latest funding round in the Stewardship of Life Institute’s grant program. The deadline is Sept. 15! Got a creative idea for stewardship education? SOLI is offering grants to help fund projects to advance stewardship in the ELCA. See details inside! (Photo:Stephen Depolo, Creative Commons )
Local Church Planned Giving Manual
The United Church has compiled a comprehensive guide to educate leaders about how to establish a planned giving ministry. Includes sections devoted to establishing and promoting a Planned Giving program, congregational endowments, wills emphasis, how life-income gifts work, and more. The quintessential Planned Giving resource!
Bible Stewardship Principles
When it comes to stewardship, why do we do what we do? Where do we get the guidance and authority from God? Well, the Lutheran Church – Missouri Synod has got some excellent answers to those questions, all contained in their handy document “Bible Stewardship Principles.” It is available in a variety of forms for […]
50 Ways to Encourage Faithful Giving
Wow! Here are some solid ideas for cultivating stewardship at your congregation! Use them as a discussion starter, or to map out a strategy for year-round stewardship: Which could your church implement in the next year? From the United Methodist Foundation for the Memphis and Tennessee Conferencees.
Handling Our Wealth
Good stewardship education helps people see the connections between their use of money and their walk as disciples of Jesus Christ. This series of four short articles explores key ideas in steward discipleship and cites Scripture to back them up. Churches are free to use them in whatever way find useful, and even to reproduce them (with credit, of course!) in newsletters, bulletins or websites! (Photo © Pei Lin – Fotolia.com)
Form a Gift-Acceptance Policy
You never know when your congregation may receive a gift that raises moral, legal or ethical questions, but you can be better prepared if you think through the issues a bit and form a policy. This sample gift-acceptance policy from the United Methodist Church can guide you. (Photo: Asenat29, Creative Commons)
Money Talk
Do you hear people complain that the church talks about money too much? It’s just not true. In fact, the church does not talk about money enough — not nearly as much as Jesus did, says this Episcopal blogger. (Photo:Â Andrew Magill, Creative Commons)
Pastors and Finance Committees Need Each Other
Pastors need another meeting to attend like a street needs another pothole, but they dare not overlook the finance committee. It’s where some of the key ministry takes place, as one pastor describes in this essay, posted on the website of the Center for Stewardship Leaders at Luther Seminary. (Photo by ThinkPanama, Creative Commons)
