Episcopal Church Foundation Vital Practices

September 2022

Stewardship in a New World

A Wonderful Time To Be Generous
By Yvonne Lembo
What does it mean to be generous of spirit? In A Wonderful Time To Be Generous, ECF’s new Director of Development Yvonne Lembo, shares her passion for generosity that is habitual, flexible and planned, and includes several relevant resources to help get us thinking of generosity in new ways.
Afrontar los nuevos retos de la mayordomía
By Charles Cloughen Jr.
Charles Cloughen Jr. habla sobre la mayordomía.
Cuestionando la mayordomía
By Miguel Escobar
En su articulo, Miguel Escobar habla sobre prácticas de mayordomía cristiana.
Editor's Letter October 2022
By Charis Bhagianathan
Stewardship can be interpreted in many ways, but most would agree that life-giving stewardship involves a personal journey and an eagerness to do God’s work on earth. In this issue, we hear stories of individuals and communities celebrating stewardship, and we share questions, resources and inspiration for your own stewardship journey.
Editor's Letter September 2022
By Charis Bhagianathan
In a world where humans are becoming increasingly self-serving, Jesus calls us to overflowing, unending generosity. Our issue this month focuses on generosity, and the deep and lasting impact it can have on both the giver and the receiver.
Forming Stewards, Loving the Questions
By Demi Prentiss
What are the big questions to consider around transformational stewardship? In Forming Stewards, Loving the Questions, Demi Prentiss highlights the journey of St. Martin’s Episcopal Church, Charlotte, North Carolina, as they began a discernment process to focus development on “the Four C’s”– commerce, compassion, culture and congregation.
Gratitude + Generosity = Abundance
By Forrest S. Cuch and Michael Carney
On the Ute Reservation in northeast Utah, leaders Forrest S. Cuch and Michael Carney have been learning that every day is a gift from the Creator and our natural response should always be gratitude. In Gratitude + Generosity = Abundance they share their personal journey of thanksgiving for the earth and all God’s gifts.
Meeting New Challenges for Stewardship
By Charles Cloughen Jr.
In Meeting New Challenges for Stewardship, Charles Cloughen Jr. shares insights on creating generous givers, offers practical tools to encourage generosity and points us to valuable online stewardship resources.
New Life for Congregations and Clergy
By Benge Ambrogi
In 2016, the Episcopal Church of New Hampshire received ECF’s Ministerial Excellence Fund (MEF) grant to help address the financial and leadership challenges of congregational ministry. In New Life for Congregations and Clergy, Benge Ambrogi describes the impact of this grant, and how it invigorated and inspired ministry in multiple churches in the diocese.
New World, Ancient Practice: Tithing in the 21st Century
By Mary Vano
Do you remember your first pledge? In New World, Ancient Practice: Tithing in the 21st Century, Mary Vano describes her personal relationship with tithing and encourages us to find our way on God’s path of liberation through generous giving.
Questioning Stewardship
By Miguel Escobar
In Questioning Stewardship, Miguel Escobar shares insights from his new book – The Unjust Steward: Wealth, Poverty, and the Church Today – where he wrestles with the notion of stewardship as a way of describing a faithful relationship to God’s abundance and describes the nuances he uncovers in the parable of the Unjust Steward.
The Goal of One Hundred Percent Giving
By Sandy Webb
How do we extend an invitation to deeper devotion and greater giving? In The Goal of One Hundred Percent Giving, Sandy Webb invites us to consider stewardship beyond tithing and stewardship as pastoral care.