Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Does this sound like a typical church check list?

• Conduct annual stewardship campaign
• Approve next year’s budget
• Celebrate Christmas
• Conduct Annual Meeting; explain what happened with stewardship and the budget
• Breathe a sigh of relief that you don’t have to deal with stewardship again until this fall

Dear congregational leaders, it’s not that you don’t deserve some relief, but perhaps it’s time to consider stewardship as a year ‘round ministry. God’s abundance is not a once-a-year occurrence, and our response to it shouldn’t be either.

There is so much to learn and to celebrate, why confine the experience to just the same few weeks of the year? Stewardship is Christian formation, deepening spirituality and faith as people consider all of God’s blessings. Its lessons are for all people, regardless of age or financial capacity.

Consider the widow and her pennies. More importantly, consider how Jesus spotted her… He was watching what people were giving! He knows how difficult it is for us to keep our priorities straight, to trust Him in all things.

Lessons regarding our relationship with God certainly can start in childhood. I wonder how many churches still give Lenten coin collection materials to their children? It is simple but can be a profound exercise to teach young people that when they share, they will receive even more, perhaps in unexpected and delightful ways.

Lessons about keeping God first are appropriate all through our life, and right to the end of our time on earth. If your parish does not have a planned giving program, consider launching one in the Spring. Celebrate those who have remembered Jesus in their will! The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) has so many wonderful resources for planned giving – don’t breathe a sigh of “I don’t know how to begin.” Start here!

Does your congregation offer on-line giving? Launching this technology in the months before an annual stewardship campaign offers another opportunity to discuss God’s faithfulness, and our own. 

Year ‘round stewardship is an intentional, strategic undertaking. No time to sigh! As you are planning for the rest of 2016, consider implementing creative ways to enliven this important ministry.

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