I’m here to find resources that can help me innovate faithfully and renew Christian communities.
Recently, my wife and I were having dinner with a newly married couple. As happens in my line of work, the topic of finances came up. The newlyweds were astonished that my wife and I discussed money regularly (without fighting), knew off the top of our heads our household budget lines, and generally approached money…
Last week, Pastor Jeni Grangaard, who works in global mission for the ELCA, reminded us of the gift of time and her walks in a beautiful valley in Jerusalem. This week, Jeni’s husband Colin, continues reflecting upon their life working with young adults in Jerusalem and the West Bank. Their ministry is a culmination of…
Folk singer David LaMotte has a song with a chorus, “There’s no time like the present…and there’s no present like time.” In today’s post, Pastor Jeni Grangaard invites us to slow down, take note, and become aware of our gifts beyond money. Our gift of now. It’s a post that, I hope, will cause us…
This week, Alex Benson reviews a helpful stewardship book that works to step back from traditional stewardship frameworks to engage congregational development holistically. In Holy Currencies, Eric Law suggests a sort of program for sustainable mission, and a way to approach broadening that mission. I hope you find the review — and, if it seems…
Sometimes we can get overwhelmed by the wide array of out-there innovative possibilities and miss the potential right in front of us. In today’s post, Chandler Carriker shares the story of how Lutheran World Relief discovered a new way to drive mission by reorganizing work it already supported. In fact, it’s become so essential to…
Our newsletter articles on digital giving are consistently some of our most popular and most referenced pieces. In the past, we’ve written about the benefits of electronic giving, choosing an online giving vendor, iPad giving stations, and challenges in implementing online giving. Today, Alex Benson follows-up her post from a few weeks ago with one…
It’s always fun to describe my job to people who have no connection to the Christian faith. They have heard the word, “stewardship,” of course, but not exactly in the way the church uses it. Sometimes, though, I wonder if their first impressions might be healthier than many impressions of stewardship in the church. Today’s…
In the early 2000s, president George W. Bush used a particularly apt, catchy phrase in an education policy speech: “the soft bigotry of low expectations.” Bush was making an argument for higher educational standards across the board, and not just for white, well-off students in “good” schools. I’m not sure what the stewardship version of…
In my course, “Starting New Missional Ministries” students have an assignment in which they respond to the prompt, “In a world of conflicting values, pluralistic leanings, and abundant choice, why does church matter?” Try it yourself. It’s a tough question, but an essential one for us — both individually and for our churches collectively. In…
This semester I’m teaching a class called, “Starting New Missional Ministries,” a course on new church development and the redevelopment of struggling congregations. We read scripture (Acts particularly) and the latest missional church literature. We also have class visitors who are beginning congregations themselves. And, wouldn’t you know, the topic of money and finances comes…
When you were growing up who invested in you? I can think of many adults — coaches, teachers, neighbors — but, the strongest folks who come to mind had some connection with the church. In today’s article, Nancy Lee Gauche considers what these sorts of investments mean for children and youth. And, given their impact,…
I have no idea how much cash is in my wallet. I spend cash, maybe, once a month. Just today, though, I used my phone to buy coffee and pay for groceries. I also have several automated electronic payments set up to charities. And, finally as of November, my congregation allows me to give via…
Few names are more closely associated with faith-related generosity than that of the Reverend William G. Enright, Founding Karen Lake Buttrey Director Emeritus of the Lake Institute on Faith & Giving and former senior pastor of Second Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis. I was lucky enough to sit at Bill’s feet in one of his final…
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens…even (and especially?) stewardship. Yet, it’s not written in the Bible that stewardship campaigns must take place in the fall. In today’s post, Pastor Cader Howard shares how his congregation used to approach stewardship, as well as the newfound freedom discovered…
I’m pleased to introduce a new member of the CSL team, Catherine Malotky. Well, I’ll actually let her introduce herself in the post below! Catherine comes (back) to Luther Seminary with a wealth of experience tackling the financial challenges of leadership in the church. It’s a pleasure to now work with Catherine on Luther’s efforts…
