Episcopal Church Foundation Vestry Papers - for leading congregations

Stewardship. What does it mean to you? For some it can be an anxious reminder of scarcity – the deep and difficult concerns for the future of our churches. In this issue we invite you to focus, instead, on the abundant gifts we have – our people, our buildings, our energy and our ideas, trusting that bringing our whole self to God is enough.

“The early Church did not act out of scarcity, but abundance – the abundance of the Lord’s presence, and of one another.” In Benedictine Stewardship, Steven Peay reflects on this ancient yet increasingly relevant understanding of stewardship that grounds itself in mutual care and obedience.

Fundraising can often be frustrating and stressful. In 10 Common Mistakes in Fundraising for Congregations, Erin Weber-Johnson lists 10 pitfalls to avoid when fundraising and how to make the experience joyful, focused and successful.

Space is a valuable asset, and one that can be used to generate income for a church. In How Much is Your Congregation’s Space Worth?, Jerry Keucher provides key questions to consider before renting out space and shares a tool to determine what it costs to operate and how much to charge.

Are you thinking of a church rummage sale as a way to raise funds? In Rummage Ministry, Lu Stanton León shares wisdom from rummage sale veteran – Christ Church, Winnetka, including 5 tips on running a fruitful rummage sale for your church.

Is your church considering a capital campaign? At ECF, we have more than 25 years of campaign experience, with 92% of our clients meeting or exceeding their campaign goals. We have worked with hundreds of Episcopal organizations, creating effective leadership and step-by-step plans that have resulted in achieving financial goals, strengthened relationships, and a heightened sense of community. What makes ECF’s approach so successful? Click here to find out.

To learn more about ECF and our programs, please visit our website.

Faithfully,

Charis Bhagianathan
Editor, ECFVP