I first met — and was impressed by — the Rev. Karl Travis when he spoke at a stewardship conference, and I’ve been following his stewardship wisdom ever since. In today’s post, Karl calls out several reasons pastors hesitate to address money in our ministry. Not stopping there, however, he then describes how essential it…
Fall brings its own sets of tasks for Minnesotans — raking leaves, storing the lawn mower, getting that trusty snow shovel ready once again. It can also be a time to consider the bounty of the summer. In today’s post, Lee Ann Pomrenke reflects on her recent experience being a part of a CSA. As…
This week’s newsletter wraps up our series on preaching stewardship with a final takeaway. It calls for vulnerability and, well, an approach that might challenge many preachers. Yet, I think it’s high time the church — and its preachers — approached stewardship sermons with a posture of openness. Curious what I mean? Read on. Yours…
Fall is busy time for stewardship leaders, and my guest preaching schedule is quite full. While I love to preach about stewardship topics around the church, I’m also aware when I do so of the danger of passing the buck. Preaching on stewardship is a powerful opportunity for local pastors to share the gospel and…
This is the time of year many preachers prepare sermons that focus, particularly, on stewardship. In today’s post (from our archives), David Lose shares his discoveries as a “convert” to stewardship preaching. Next week, we’ll continue our preaching mini-series with a review of the book, Preaching and Stewardship. Yours truly, Adam Copeland, Center for Stewardship…
Our series on the new book, Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship, wraps up this week, this time with a post by yours truly. My chapter in the book considers the gifts — and challenges — of technology. Since you are all receiving this newsletter by email, you’re already part of how the…
As new readers consider my new book, Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship, many have noted the diversity of new insights into stewardship. Sure, there’s some old topical favorites, but there’s also particularly innovative perspectives like today’s newsletter piece by Mary Hinkle Shore on the stewardship of life at its end. If…
Today we return to the second iteration of the newsletter series on the new book Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship. While it was tempting, for the sake of novelty, to publish an entire book on stewardship without addressing money, there was no real doubt that the book must devote a chapter…
The question of language comes up a lot in stewardship circles. I think the search for the right words suggests our discomfort with the present realities of stewardship in congregations. Words matter, and it’s hard to find the right words that connect us to deep, meaningful realities of money, God, and giving. In today’s post,…
It’s not often I find a truly fresh, inspiring, new angle on stewardship, but today’s post is exactly that. I met Andy Nelson many years ago — when he was in seminary, in fact — and today he abounds in pastoral wisdom (and plenty of experience). I hope you enjoy Andy’s thoughtful stewardship framing as…
As fall stewardship season gets close, many church leaders approach the conversation about money, budgets, and mission with anxiety. This emotion is a reality we must face, certainly, but an unfortunate one. In today’s post, Heather Wood Davis connects this anxiety with broader cultural realities. How can our congregations shift our stewardship ministry so the…
I recently attended a large worship conference hosted by a mainline denomination. The liturgy and music was creative, though also on the “traditional” side of the worship spectrum. On the final night of the conference, we sang the hymn, “How Great Thou Art” with 800+ other worshippers. My seat was in the back, so I…
Our series exploring the new book, Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship continues this week with the stewardship of mind. I don’t know about you, but I don’t usually think of my mind as something to steward. But our writer, Neal Presa, makes a compelling case that for Christians, stewarding our mind…
Just like the word “stewardship,” “vocation” is one of those words we often throw around the church without stopping to consider its implications. Sure, our work can be holy, but what does that mean for those in positions the church mostly ignores? Plus, what if my work doesn’t seem Christian at all? This week, as…
Our newsletter series on my new book, Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship, launches today. First up is writer and pastor, MaryAnn McKibben Dana on the topic, “Stewardship of Time.” In our culture of busyness and endless to-do lists, what does a Christian approach to stewarding time look like? MaryAnn suggests a…
