I’m here to find resources that can help me innovate faithfully and renew Christian communities.
In today’s post, pastor Larry Strenge considers stewardship leadership and rural ministry settings. His wise words, though, are relevant to all of us, urban, suburban, and rural Christians alike. I particularly appreciate how Larry’s story starts with an early memory around money and giving. What are your early memories around finances? How do they still…
I’ve always been a huge fan of church leadership conferences. Well, last summer Luther Seminary continued our tradition of hosting a Rethinking Stewardship conference. If you couldn’t make it, we’ve got you covered with today’s post which includes links to ten video presentations from Rethinking Stewardship. We know it’s not always possible to attend in…
In many churches about this time of year, stewardship teams kick into high gear composing stewardship communications. Pastors also start to search the internet for stewardship sermon ideas and illustrations. Well, I hope today’s post might help inform both those activities. In it, the Reverend Lisa Cressman suggests that avoiding money-talk hurts more than our…
In the stewardship course I teach, one assignment invites students to “design from scratch” stewardship practices for a new congregation. In other words, students try to step back from the inherited practices of the church, and for a moment, at least, imagine new ones. Of course, the assignment is a bit dangerous — tradition and…
For many of us, the tradition of collecting the offering in baskets is deeply etched in our early worship memories. In fact, I share a particular experience with Martha Moore-Keish, this week’s writer. We both came to the faith in the old pews of First Presbyterian Church in Tallahassee, Florida. Martha is one of those…
Last week, Becca Ehrlich introduced the concept of minimalism, noting its connection to Christian values. In this week’s post, Becca takes the story deeper — reflecting on Jesus’ message, and where that message took her and her relationship with things (and shopping). I’m grateful for Becca’s testimony, even as it pushes me to realign my…
Summer is often a time for moving. I remember my first moving truck — it was the smallest the company offered, and we didn’t get close to filling it. Now, after buying a home and filling it up, I’m not even sure we could fit all our things in a single U-Haul. In today’s post…
Sometimes I like to play a word association game with church groups. It all goes fine until I get to the word, “stewardship.” Let’s just say…the church has work to do to reclaim the deep potential, and holy tradition, of the word. Today’s post by pastor Byron Wade takes up the challenge. By considering the…
Learning by doing. It’s a simple concept, yet so much of our approach to faith life gets caught up in the theoretical. Or, for stewardship leaders, the spreadsheets and budget projections. In today’s post, Pastor Elizabeth Lovell Milford reminds us of the joy of giving. Particularly, how can we teach — and learn from —…
“Compound interest,” the old quote goes, “is the eighth wonder of the world.” Or, humanities’ “greatest invention.” But why? Well, it may be because humans don’t usually think in day-by-day, slow-and-steady terms. We yearn for moon shots, not tiny gains that add up over time. In today’s piece, Pastor Ross Reddick explores the concept of…
In his “The Importance of Gift Policies” post last week, The Importance of Gifts Policies – Part One: Receiving and Refusing Gifts, Bruce Barkhauer describes what Gift Policies are and why they matter. This week in part two of the series, Bruce tackles a topic that might be controversial for your congregation: what to do…
Let’s be honest, the word “policy” probably doesn’t bring to mind creative, innovating, life-changing ministry. Yet, wise leaders know policies are integral to directing, protecting, and leading organizations. This week we launch the first of a two week series on Gifts Policies. In today’s article, Bruce Barkhauer introduces Gifts Policies and their benefits. Next week,…
Like many of you, I can’t remember my own baptism. Yet, I’m reminded of it often in the act of public worship, and in the invitation to touch the water of the font. In today’s post, pastor Taryn Montgomery shares a powerful story of how these baptismal practices connect beyond our minds and souls, to…
Last week in Growing Generosity (Part 1) Catherine Malotky introduced the concept “high net worth” donors using a measure that may have surprised you. This week in Part 2, Catherine describes three methods these households may employ to make charitable gifts. Is your congregation ready and able to put these gifts to work in your…
I recently saw a tweet linking to a dozen charts depicting twelve wildly differing definitions of what it means to be “middle class” in the U.S. Unfortunately, I can’t find the tweet anymore. But nevertheless, here’s the takeaway: perceptions of personal wealth differ dramatically and many of those in the upper class by one definition…
