Generous Space
I’m afraid to say it, but once the aisles brimming with Halloween candy are cleared, they’ll probably be filled with…Christmas items! I&rsquo... Read more.
What Good is Work? (Part III)
Much of the tumult of this election season is, in a roundabout way, all about work. There’s the work of immigrants. There’s the question of steel wo... Read more.
What Good is Work? (Part II)
The week before the seminary started its fall term, I was traveling in Scotland. My grandmother lives there and was in the hospital. I hadn’t seen her, or... Read more.
What Good is Work? (Part I)
When I taught at Concordia College, I often found myself discussing the concept of vocation with students. They usually had great plans to find work after colle... Read more.
Giving Days
Today’s newsletter focuses on a growing area of fundraising and non-profit giving: Giving Days. Henri Nouwen once wrote, “Fundraising is proclaiming what we... Read more.
The Stewardship of White Privilege
In recent months, I’ve repeatedly been drawn to questions that connect race and stewardship. To blindly approach white privilege as a “gift” t... Read more.
Diapers, Glitter Glue, and Unexpected Lessons in Stewardship
I’m happy to introduce Alex Benson this week, a student at Luther Seminary and editorial assistant for this CSL newsletter. Alex’s post is a great example o... Read more.
Unholy Sundays
Do you have a story of a time when a pastor — maybe even you — tried to shock the congregation, but went too far? The challenge for pastors is that ... Read more.
Talking About Money When Not Asking For It
It’s possible to develop bad habits in our church leadership. For some of us, I’m afraid one of these habits is complaining about the giving habits ... Read more.
Transformational Living…and Giving
In one of the final assignments for this summer’s Money and Mission of the Church course, I asked students to make a Top Ten list of stewardship takeaways fro... Read more.
iPad Giving Stations: Increase Your Congregations Engagement in Giving
I was recently reading through a congregation’s annual report (hey, I’m a seminary professor, what else do we do for fun?) and I noted the report broke down... Read more.
Enough
How does your church measure “enough?” Does the yardstick look different depending on who’s using it? The challenge with measures is we can so... Read more.
Why Pastors Need the Finance Committee — and Vice Versa
I sometimes joke with students that “committee meetings” rarely come up in call stories. Further, most of our students at Luther don’t discern... Read more.
Drainage, Debt, and the Rain of God
For some churches, “debt” is a four-letter word. (Well, technically, it’s a four-letter word for all of us, but I hope you take the point.) Ch... Read more.
Generosity For You, Not From You
A lot of stewardship books find their way to my desk and then, if I’m honest, to an ever-growing stack beside it. In this week’s newsletter, I refle... Read more.
How to Give? However You Can
Before our July 4 recess, Rev. Dr. Katie Hays shared why people in her new congregation, Galileo Church, give. This week, Katie explains how they give. I love t... Read more.
Why Give? Because Jesus Gave Us Work To Do
A church that throws parties, enters floats in parades, and shows up at community festivals? These are all aspects of the work Rev. Dr. Katie Hays supports as l... Read more.
Time to Start Planning
In the heat of summer, as much as I’d like to pretend the leaves will never change, my A/C units will never go back to the basement, and my sandals will e... Read more.
Sharing Together
“What language shall I borrow to thank you, dearest Friend…” So begins a verse of the ancient hymn, “O Sacred Head, Now Wounded” attributed to Bernard... Read more.
It’s about Time
In my first call as pastor, I remember when early June came around I was struck by an unwelcome realization: after 20+ years of living by the school calendar an... Read more.
No More Mugs: Seeking Relational Rewards
Last week, I introduced the concept of crowdfunding and considered its potential for congregations and faith-related non-profits. This week, we hear from Abigai... Read more.