I’m here to learn how to step into Christian leadership in my congregation and/or community.
Today marks the official release date of a new stewardship book edited by yours truly! Titled, Beyond the Offering Plate: A Holistic Approach to Stewardship, in ten approachable chapters written by seminary professors, engaged pastors, and church leaders, the book aims to expand our notion of—and approaches to—holistic stewardship. For the next several weeks, this…
Stewardship, like much of ministry, quickly pushes congregations back to mission and vision. It causes us to ask questions like: What is the Spirit up to in this place? Where are hearts committed? What must we stop to make room to start a new ministry? And then, once a mission is discerned, how is that…
It’s a true pleasure to welcome back Charles “Chick” Lane to this blog. I commend Chick’s wise words on a seldom-addressed topic. Speaking of unusual topics, I’d also share the good news that Luther Seminary is hosting a stewardship conference this summer, August 23, titled Beyond Abundance: Faithful Stewardship Language to Fit Our Realities. As…
As the old saying goes, “change is the only constant.” In today’s post, Angela Denker considers what change has to do with stewardship. On one hand, stewardship always implies change—of giving, of accomplishing mission, of work together. On the other hand, though, stewardship is about constants, the grace of Jesus Christ and his call upon…
Ding. Beep. Chirp. Flash. These days, it’s hard to find time to pay attention to what matters when so many competing gadgets are alerting us to their priorities. But, when we do make space for what matters, what, well, does matter? Today’s post begins a three-week series on Stewarding Attention by Jason Misselt. I hope…
The phrase, “more than enough,” has begun to take root in church stewardship circles. Perhaps it’s a helpful reframing of “abundance” language. Additionally, it’s the title of a new book by Lee Hull Moses reviewed this week by the Center for Stewardship Leaders’ own Alex Benson. I commend it to the church. Yours truly, Adam…
In preparation for Thanksgiving Day last November, there were dozens of articles and interviews concerning the challenges of sharing a meal—a cordial meal—with relatives and friends holding wildly differing political views. We are now in the season of Easter, but that challenge remains. I’ve been wondering what it might have to do with stewardship and…
This week, I reflect on a topic I’ve noticed is fairly rampant in stewardship circles: individualism. But, how might we combat it? I suggest three ways congregations and their leaders might chart another course towards community, connection, and relationships. Yours truly, Adam Copeland, Center for Stewardship Leaders Making Stewardship Corporate Adam J. Copeland American culture…
We conclude our Stewardship this Lent series today with a post from Rolf Jacobson, professor of Old Testament at Luther Seminary. His post reminds me of a phrase from the education world. The “null curriculum” is sort of the shadow curriculum for teachers (or preachers!). If the regular curriculum is what we teach, the null…
Our “Stewardship this Lent” series continues this week with Dr. Benjamin Stewart, a worship professor at The Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago. Perhaps you’re like me and have heard many sermons on Ezekiel’s vision of the valley of dry bones over the years. I think it’s a passage that’s particularly difficult to preach in…
I don’t know about you, but Lent often calls me to assess where I’ve been. Not where in a geographical sense, but where in terms of my relationship with God, my care for neighbors, and my spiritual practices. Today’s post by Columbia Theological Seminary’s Israel Galindo draws upon the beloved Psalm 23. Galindo considers a…
Week two of our Stewardship this Lent series takes us to Exodus 17, the story of the Water from the Rock. Cameron Howard, assistant professor of Old Testament, guides us from the grumblings of the Israelites to the longings of our church today. Longing for water, longing for conservation, longing for life. Lent, she argues,…
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…
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…
