For the season of Lent, we’re launching a new series, “Stewardship this Lent,” in which seminary faculty will reflect on the resonances between, well, stewardship and Lent. I’ve invited the writers to consider the Sunday readings from the Revised Common Lectionary. While some might go other directions, several of the upcoming Tuesday Lenten posts will…
One of the recurring congregational stewardship questions concerns the best way to deal with what’s often called “mission giving,” or the part of a congregation’s budget specifically designated for service, mission, and non-profits beyond the congregation’s walls. In a sea of worthy causes, how does a congregation discern where to direct their dollars? What’s the…
Remember that old game called “telephone”? You gather with a group in a big circle and you whisper a message to the person beside you, who quietly passes that same message along to the next person and so on. The fun, though, is that by the time the message has come back to the beginning,…
For a project to be revealed later (how’s that for suspense?), Alex Benson has recently read through hundreds of past stewardship newsletters. I thought that presented a wonderful opportunity, and invited Alex to share her takeaways from her marathon stewardship reading sessions. The top ten list below is a splendid summary of our archive. Where…
I recently came across a stewardship angle totally new to me. That’s a bit strange, though, because it’s in quite an old book. Back in 1954, Jacques Ellul wrote that with our wealth, Christians are called to announce the truth about God. We must use money, Ellul wrote, as a means through which we testify…
At my last place of work, the college administration organized an informal mentorship program for all new faculty. I don’t remember all the details, but I do recall that the Dean promised to pay for coffee or lunch anytime new faculty members met with their faculty mentors. The program wasn’t perfect, but it at least…
One of my favorite leadership principles goes something like this: systems are organized to achieve exactly the type of results they ultimately achieve. In other words, it’s unrealistic to expect results out-of-line with how we’ve organized our systems, even if we’d really prefer a different sort of outcome. When it comes to stewardship, this type…
The church leader looking for books on stewardship faces a rich supply of options. Recent publications tend to emphasize themes of year-round stewardship, embracing the virtue of generosity, and issuing calls to re-examine our relationship with money. With only a few exceptions, though, the field often lacks much sophistical biblical study. Late last year, scholar…
Many things strike me about today’s post by Kyle Meyaard-Schaap of Young Evangelicals for Climate Action. First, I appreciate the urgency and theology. I’m also struck, however, by how his organization supports its mission with practices in line with their teachings. Such consistency should be normal and expected, but alas, all too often our organizations…
Well, we’re three days into 2017. How are your New Year’s Resolutions going? My gym is bustling with new members, but come late February … well, if last year is any guide, it’ll again be much easier to find an open treadmill. In this week’s newsletter, Bailey Walter shares her stewardship resolutions for 2017. As…
How’s your Christmas shopping going? My list is still longer than I’d prefer. Today’s writer tells the story of an unexpected gift in her life, and how it’s shaped her ministry and view of God’s provision. In fact, this season of gift giving is a great time to reflect on the surprising gifts we’ve received…
I don’t know about you, but I rarely venture far without my smartphone. A few weeks back, I stopped to think how much I appreciated the power, capabilities, and battery life of the tiny device. It helps me connect to people, to find new locations, and even donate electronically. All was well, until Apple announced…
What will your Advent consist of this year? Despite what our faith teaches, the season can easily become a time of busyness and over spending. This year, I’m grateful to have Sarah Adam’s post to center me. Her framing of Christ’s call is a helpful reminder in this season so full of other calls. I…
What do pancakes have to do with stewardship? Nothing necessarily, but our writer Timothy Siburg this week explains how pancakes are actually an integral aspect of his family’s financial grounding. I really appreciate how Timothy’s article helps stewardship leaders consider the complexities and location of giving decisions. Financial wellness — and all wellness, for that…
“We don’t even have a budget!” This was the complaint of a recent graduate. She had taken Luther’s Money & Mission of the Church class, and was ready to lead a top-notch stewardship ministry. But, once she arrived in her new congregation, she learned quickly stewardship would take time. The silence and fear around money…
