grace duddy and chick lane center for stewardship leaders luther seminary

Grace Duddy and Chick LaneCenter for Stewardship Leaders

Luther Seminary

1. What - What is stewardship?2. Who and Why – The roles of rostered and lay

leaders in stewardship ministry.3. What – Eight stewardship ideas

What do we mean when we use the word “stewardship”?

What is “stewardship”?

For most people, “stewardship” is a code word.– For most congregation members, it is code for

“What the congregation does to get some of my money out of my pocket and into the offering plate.” (and my job is to give just enough to not feel guilty)

– For most congregation leaders, it is code for “Those things we have to do to get enough money to pay the bills.” (and we know how well we have done at year end when we know if we have enough money to pay all the bills)

What is “stewardship”?

• For most people, the common thread is that stewardship is about the need of the congregation to receive.

• It is what we do to feed the business side of the congregation’s life.

• If stewardship ministry is ever going to be what it can be:– We need to crack the code.– We need to disconnect stewardship from bills and

budgets.

Stewardship begins with God

• It is not about you!• Three movements:– Creation– Jesus– Baptism

Creation

“Be fruitful and multiply, and fill the earth and subdue it; and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth.”

(Genesis 1:28)

Humanity is not an owner but a steward of God's creation!

Jesus

“For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him

may not perish but may have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

In Jesus, God brings us love, life and salvation.

Baptism

"But now that faith has come, we are no longer subject to a disciplinarian, for in Christ Jesus you are all children of God through faith. As many of you as were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves

with Christ." (Galatians 3:25-27)

Through baptism, we receive God's grace, are freed from the law and invited into the community

of faith.

It All Belongs to God

Psalm 24:1-2The earth is the LORD’s and all that is in it,the world, and those who live in it;for he has founded it on the seas,and established it on the rivers.

It All Belongs to God

Psalm 89:11The heavens are yours, the earth also is yours;the world and all that is in it--you have founded them.

It all belongs to God.

We are stewards.

Sty warden – the keeper of the sty.

We are stewards.

I Corinthians 4:1-2Think of us in this way, as servants of Christ and stewards of God’s mysteries. Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.

We are stewards.

I Peter 4:10Like good stewards of the manifold grace of God, serve one another with whatever gift each of you has received.

We are stewards

“The human being is, as God’s steward, accountable to God and responsible for its fellow creatures.” The Steward, p. 26

The Steward

We are Stewards

"Teacher, which commandment in the law is the greatest? He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ ” (Matthew 22:37-39)

A steward is someone who uses all that God has entrusted to her care to love God and her neighbor.

Shift the Stewardship Conversation

The most important thing you can do in stewardship ministry is to move the money

conversation…

From “Paying the Bills”To helping people connect faith and finances in their lives.

The Role of Rostered and Lay Leadersin Congregational Stewardship

Ministry

• Three contributions that Rostered Leaders are best equipped to make

• Three contributions that lay leaders are best equipped to make

• Five observed roles of Rostered Leaders and Stewardship Committees/reflection on these

Three contributions that Rostered Leaders are best equipped to make

• Keep the focus on God’s word• Keep the focus on the mission• Engage in the difficult work of tending to the

long-term plan and the weekly details

Three contributions that lay leaders are best equipped to make

• Be willing to talk about money• Be willing to share your story• Bring the best of the rest of your life

Five observed roles of Rostered Leaders

#1 - Absent – The Rostered Leader does not take an active role in stewardship ministry. Either there is no stewardship ministry or lay leaders do everything.


#2 - Non-Invested Participant – The Rostered Leader attends stewardship committee meetings, but takes limited role in stewardship ministry beyond attendance at meetings.


#3 – Solo - The Rostered Leader is the only person in the congregation who is responsible for stewardship. Often there is a Finance Committee who is responsible for financial management.


#4 - Non-participatory Vision-Caster – The Rostered Leader creates a vision for stewardship that fits with the overall vision of the congregation, passes this vision on to the stewardship committee, but has no or limited participation in the implementation of the vision, except, perhaps, to monitor it as an outside observer.


#5 - Participatory Leader – Along with lay leaders, the Rostered Leader participates in the development and implementation of the congregation’s stewardship vision. The pastor is often the one who monitors the ongoing progress of the implementation. A strong, committed lay leader may also serve this role.


1. Absent2. Non-Invested Participant3. Solo4. Non-participatory Vision Caster5. Participatory Leader

Reflection on these roles

• Which of the five best describes how you currently operate in stewardship ministry?

• Historically, which role has the Rostered Leader had in the congregation?

• How would you like to provide leadership?• What steps can you take to move in that

direction?

Eight Stewardship Ideas1. Talk about money when you aren’t asking for any2. Preach faith and finances3. Plan your annual response program (starting tonight)4. Tell your congregation’s story to your congregation5. Develop a plan for thanking6. Offer a personal financial wellness resource7. Expand your “ways of giving”8. Talk about stewardship year-round

#1 - Talk about money when you aren’t asking for any

“Here is what we say through our stewardship practices: 10% belongs to God; the rest belongs to you. Give that 10% to the church, which will use it for God’s purposes. The other 90%? Do whatever you want with it.” - Rolf Jacobson

What we say . . .

GodMe

What we believe . . .

God

What are some helpful steps forward?

• Name that you are talking about money without asking for any, then don’t dare ask for any money

• Sermons – (the year of Luke is a goldmine)• Adult education opportunities– “Holding a Money and Values Conversation”

• Fearless Feasts• Read and discuss – “Enough” by Adam Hamilton• “Mind Your Money” at sharesavespend.com• Money Autobiography

#2 – Preach Faith and Finances

• September 5 – Luke 14:25-33 – “None of you can become my disciple if you do not give up all your possessions.”

• September 19 – Luke 16:1-13 – Dishonest Manager

Preach Faith and Finances

• September 26 – Luke 16:19-31 – Rich man and Lazarus

• October 31 – Luke 19:1-10 – Jesus and Zacchaeus

• How about a sermon series on generous people in the bible

#3 – Plan Your Annual Response Program (Starting Tonight)

• Giving Magazine - http://www.stewardshipresources.org/

Plan Your Annual Response Program (Starting Tonight)

• New Consecration Sunday - http://store.augsburgfortress.org/store/search?ss=New+Consecration+Sunday&c=-1&x=28&y=16


• Walk with Jesus – http://resources.elca.org/Stewardship-A_Walk_with_Jesus.html


• Stretch yourself – Consider how you might target your ask to specific members or groups of members.

#4 – Plan to Tell Your Congregation’s Story to Your Congregation

• Develop a month by month plan for the next year• The need to tell something many times using

different media before the message is heard• The knowledge gap between leaders and others• Tell as you thank• Tie your telling to your mission• “Because of you…”• “Look what you’ve done now…”

Telling the local story

• To repeat myself – don’t assume too much knowledge

• Temple Talks (short, sweet and well-rehearsed) are effective for this task

• Tell the congregation’s story• Tell the story of the congregation in the community• Connect telling, serving and giving• This might be the best place to engage younger

members

Telling the story of designated giving

• Use the web and available print resources• Guest speakers/preachers• Mission trips?

Telling the story of synod and churchwide

http://www.swmnelca.org www.elca.org

#5 – Develop a Plan for Thanking

Lessons from Luther Seminary (and many other non-profits)– How Luther Seminary thanks donors– How much of this is transferable?– What are the possibilities of giver targeted

thanking?– What are the dangers of giver targeted thanking?

Develop a Plan for Thanking• Think of as many occasions as possible that people give to

your congregation• Develop a plan for how you will respond to each occasion– Regular giving by members– Regular giving by non-members– First time gift– One-time gift by member or friend– Memorial gift by member– Memorial gift by non-member– Don’t forget estimates of giving

Develop a Plan for Thanking

Stretch yourself – To thank effectively, a pastor must know what people give. Does your pastor know what people give? – If so, how is this knowledge used to further the

ministry of the congregation? – If not, why not?

#6 – Offer a Personal Financial Wellness Resource

There are lots of options:• “Enough” by Adam Hamilton – book with discussion• Financial Peace University – Dave Ramsey• Good Sense Movement – Willow Creek• Share Save Spend resources – Nathan Dungan• More than Money Matters - Thrivent

#7 – Expand Your Ways of Giving

• Assess how people can give to your congregation

• Ask how they would like to give to your congregation

• Implement at least one new way of giving

Expand Your Ways of Giving

• Check/Cash in offering plate or by mail

• Designated gift• Stock gift• Endowment gift

• Automatic Transfer• Credit/Debit Card• Online Giving through

your website• Text Giving

#8 – Talk about stewardship year-round

• Stewardship isn’t a season• Stewardship is a way of life. It is a mindset, a

culture, and a practice that can never be contained in an annual three-week campaign.

• Year-round stewardship is intentionally holistic.

What might year-round stewardship look like in your congregation?

• Bi-Annual Plan– Annual Response Program– Another emphasis (time, talent, earth, etc.)

• Quarterly Plan– Annual Response Program– 3 other seasonal stewardship themes

• Monthly Plan– 1 stewardship theme for each month

Stewards of God’s Love

Stewards of God’s Love

DOWN

IN

OUT

Annual Response

Congregational Community

God’s Abundance

God’s GraceStoryCreation

JusticeLocal CommunityGlobal Community

TalentsTimeMoneyStuff

Eight Stewardship Ideas1. Talk about money when you aren’t asking for any2. Preach faith and finances3. Plan your annual response program (starting tonight)4. Tell your congregation’s story to your congregation5. Develop a plan for thanking6. Offer a personal financial wellness resource7. Expand your “ways of giving”8. Talk about stewardship year-round

grace duddy and chick lane center for stewardship leaders luther seminary

Documents