Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Fall is a time of abundance, with evidence of nature’s generosity everywhere, particularly my native New England. Our gardens and trees are alive with vibrant red, orange, and yellow hues. Pumpkins, apples, and the other colorful fall fruits and vegetables compete for our attention at the farmers’ markets and in displays at people’s doors.

This month, we continue to share stories of the different ways Episcopal communities of faith are sharing their gifts: within their congregations, their communities, and, because of their willingness to write for Vestry Papers, with all of you. If you find the information in this issue useful, please consider two things: Sharing this issue with others and becoming a subscriber.

Our October stories include:

“God’s Economy” by Jamie Coats invites readers to consider stewardship as an opportunity to deepen their relationship with God.

Erin Weber-Johnson’s “Lessons from Fund Raising Volunteers” identifies five of the top lessons she’s learned from congregations, the common thread being that fundraising is so much more than the accomplishment of a monetary goal.

Einstein said, “Insanity is doing the same thing over and over, and expecting different results." “An Experiment: Year Round Stewardship” by Ken Howard outlines the process his congregation adopted once they made the decision to end their annual giving campaign.

Karen Hunter’s “Stone Soup” uses this familiar folktale as a way to illustrate that the declining resources of our churches can be a gift as well as a challenge, using her small congregation in Nampa, Idaho as an example.

Each Vestry Papers article includes a practical application related to the article that you might try at an upcoming vestry meeting. You’ll also find a list of the resources mentioned in the article as well as additional information related to the topic. If you have a resource you’d like to share, please email me with the link or add it to the site using the Your Turn feature. If you’re a subscriber, click on the Make a Submission button. Not a subscriber? It’s easy – and free – just click here. Subscribers to ECF Vital Practices also have Vestry Papers and ECF Vital Practices content delivered twice a month to their email inbox.