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.) Church leaders tend to avoid needed maintenance issues for fear of the challenge of raising money, or the possibility of taking on debt. Pastor Bradley Schmeling’s post reveals how one…
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 reflect on one of those books that rose to the top, Contagious Generosity, which serves as a fine example of a particular aspect of stewardship teaching these days….
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 the image of offering baskets filling up with the multi-colored cards described below. “Everybody has something to give,” they say often at Galileo Church. Amen! I’m also…
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 lead evangelist in her new congregation, Galileo Church in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. In today’s post, Hays describes how reading scripture with an eye for Jesus’…
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 ever remain my go-to footwear, I have some sad news to share: fall is coming. For many congregations, fall is the time when they…
“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 of Clairvaux. Much of stewardship theology and practice has do with related questions: what words, what language, what descriptions shall we use? In today’s article, pastor Daniel Vigilante describes…
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 and having summers “off,” I was required to work all summer long! Well, it turned out that summer in the parish did feel a bit different…
Last week, I introduced the concept of crowdfunding and considered its potential for congregations and faith-related non-profits. This week, we hear from Abigail Miller, a crowdfunding leader herself! Like Abigail, I’ve questioned the wisdom of crowdfunding’s reliance on what is often called “perks” or “rewards”, gifts sent to those who donated to campaigns. On the…
What if a new technology existed that completely changed the way congregations raised funds for mission? What if there were a tool to make difficult-to-fund projects overflow with supportive donations? What if, by using a simple website, a congregation could discover hundreds of new giving units without any trouble at all? Well, I suppose if…
Stories matter. They certainly matter because of what they tell us about the past. Stories also matter, though, because by telling them in the present we come to understand a bit about who we are now. “We owe it to each other to tell stories,” author Neil Gaiman once said. In today’s newsletter, Pastor Bonnie…
These days, it’s not unusual for preachers to stand on the level of a congregation and use a music stand for their sermon notes. But in days gone by, before microphones and screens, it was common to place pulpits high above the congregation. Preachers had to walk up separate flights as they climbed up into…
Last week, Ryan Baer shared half of his Top 10 mistakes related to money and ministry. Well, we’ve had a full weeklong “dramatic pause” before delivering the second half. Finally, the completion of his list is below. I’m grateful for Ryan’s wise leadership, and his willingness to share how he’s learned from his mistakes. It’s…
I’m all too aware that seminary professors can become disconnected from the day in, day out, affairs of ministry. While there’s probably something helpful to some notion of an academic “ivory tower,” a place set apart for faculty to think new thoughts, we mustn’t get stuck there. In this week’s newsletter we hear from a…
Many pastors put off preaching on topics related to stewardship until an annual fall stewardship campaign. I hope our series on preaching and stewardship has surfaced several welcome entry points for addressing the topic more regularly. This week, Justin Lind-Ayres completes the series with his wise — and entertaining — reflection on the Working Preaching…
Today, we continue our series on Preaching and Stewardship in partnership with Working Preacher from Luther Seminary. This week’s video is from Yvette Flunder, senior bishop of the City of Refuge United Church of Christ in Oakland, California. Yours truly, Adam Copeland, Director, Center for Stewardship Leaders Yvette Flunder on Preaching Stewardship By Adam Copeland…
