Stewardship is not Made in October
Just learned about Soul Cafe tonight--we're working on joining you from the SW WA Synod. Peace! This post comes from my own blog "your average pastor" http://tinyurl.com/4xzbo6o
I don't need to look at a calendar, or even the weather to know the time of year.
Direct mail campaigns from public broadcasting, food ministries, charities and congregations let me know that I might miss my opportunity for a tax deductible donation unless I place a check or my debit card number on an envelope and mail it to that given organization (even easier to do online, and the organization would be glad to set up automatic payments). Often included with the envelope are statistics, facts or photos to remind me of the worthiness of investment.
I feel a little slimier each year during a congregational stewardship campaign. Why?
- Not because I fear speaking about money like a preacher might be afraid to utter a four-letter word from a pulpit.
- Not because I am afraid that people will be cantankerous about frequently asking for "their" money.
- Not because it feels strange asking people on fixed incomes to increase their giving so I can have my annual raise.
Sometimes I have felt compelled to speak if only to drown out the misguided messages that could be shared by a variety of people in the congregation:
- It takes $______________________ to keep the heat on during the winter.
- If each household gave $______________________ more per month, we'd be able to meet our goal.
- The congregation is failing, and people aren't giving enough.
- Look at this congregational box score, our giving is bad.
- The church needs the money.
Too often, pastors will speak about money because it appeases council/board members who are worried about the budget (for good reason) and it presses leaders toward knee jerk reactions in October.
Stewardship is not made in October.
October and stewardship have strong links in my tradition. I remember early on in my ordained life that I appreciated talking about stewardship in congregational life (I still do), not only because I have received good mentoring and teaching on the subject, but also because I have received so much from God and God's people. I want to live my life as a thankful person, and October seems an especially good time to say it. Programs are gearing up, there is a renewed energy toward learning, people are returning from their summer outings and appreciate the reconnection with friends. We have images from our history (and in rural communities, real and present) about the autumnal harvest time that inspire us about resource gathering.
Emphasizing relationships is a popular trend in this day and age of the church. One doesn't have to go far in my tradition before someone says, "it's all about relationships." Stewardship is also a reflection on the relative quality of relationships. A fall campaign for pledges doesn't mean much without relationships with God and others throughout the year. I say relative, because my late grandmother used to give money to television ministries. Why? They were with her in her home when she was home bound. At the time I couldn't understand why she would give a portion of her fixed income to TV preachers, but it makes sense. They were the presence of God to her. Their request matched their relationship. That relationship didn't seem like high quality to me, but to her, that ministry meant much.
It takes prayerful and faithful attention to strengthen relationships. There is no "Relationship In A Box" program with October crescendo that will spiritually produce a 7% budget increase. Without strengthening relationships with God and others, an October stewardship appeal doesn't mean much. People will invest their resources on what they value. Invest in relationships with God. Invest in relationships with others.
What is it in your community of faith that prevents that investment in relationships from happening? Share your comments, and these roadblocks will be covered in future posts.
- A Joe Smith's blog
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About boxed set Stewardship programs
A. Joe -- I agree with what you say. The only push back I'd have is that it's not an either/or -- either stewardship in a box or year round -- but both/and.
Good stewardship leaders in congregations (starting with my father) have taught this Pastor that lay AND Pastor AND year round AND mission-centered stewardship drives equal healthy understandings by the believers about this area of life in Christ.
When I was in a parish I found good stewardship in a box resources quite useful. The good ones were prepared by people who did it as their job and as their spiritual gift. While I have something of a spiritual gift in the area I certainly didn't have the creative time as a parish pastor.
Having said that, thanks for your thoughtful blog.
John S.
On Stewardship in a Box
Yes, there are good stewardship resources for purchase available to congregations and pastors. I think like any other packaged ministry resources (or diet resources for that matter) the expectation of magic bullet is problematic, especially when underlying leadership issues have not been addressed. Point taken, intentional efforts in stewardship are good and faithful actions, but a year-round approach is imperative.
Not your Parent's offering plate
I have to say if I were in the parish today I would do stewardship WAY differently tha I used to! We're afraid to ask for money and give people the opportunity to give as hey might wish to.
A super book on at least some of this is 'Not your Parent's offering plate.' I highly recommend it for a read on at least the financial part of congregational stewardship. It's about "fund raising" which is at least a part of wholistic stewardship.
Stewardship in process
I appreciate this conversation on stewardship, especially when we can admit we are all in the process of learning. I'm the first to admit that I have a ways to grow in this area of pastoral leadership, but we're making a few discoveries. Just a few thoughts here, and I'm interested in continuing the conversation.
What got us going at First Immanuel was when some members gifted us with a stewardship consultant for last fall's campaign. The consultant's theology was more evangelical/fundamentalist than ours, but he was skilled at fundraising and his heart was in the right place. He helped us organize a very detailed campaign (lots of moving parts!) and his individual coaching with Aaron and me (co-pastors) was so valuable in clarifying our beliefs (teaching principles) around stewardship and helping us be more intentional about preaching and teaching about money. We had a very good year of giving, which for us means we had to take only $2000 from reserves at year's end. A veritable triumph!
A big hurdle for me has been getting over my squeamishness about money talk. There are so many reasons to be nervous, not least because our own paychecks are on the line when stewardship season comes around. (We may think our reputation as pastor is on the line too. Anxiety can silence us.) Money is such a huge taboo, just saying the word in a sermon was hard for me -- it's amusing to look back and see how I said "material possessions" when I really meant money.
I've appreciated David Lose's "Dear Working Preacher" articles about preaching on money (archives at workingpreacher.org). Other books I like are Craig Satterlee's Preaching and Stewardship and Mark Allan Powell's Giving to God. What I find is that the more boldly you do talk about money, the more comfortable you become. Money is a very important part of our people's lives, and when I bring money issues into a sermon (whether in stewardship season or not) people are grateful.
Also I've been growing in the understanding that good stewardship is an important part of spiritual maturity for our members. When we challenge people to grow in giving, we are challenging them to grow in their relationship to God. Why would we neglect this? Being generous is just as important as being patient, loving, or just.
I might add that I am helped by members of our stewardship committee who are not at all shy about asking for money. Thank God for partnerships, and for all the different gifts and abilities God gives!
A few things that have been valuable for our congregation:
"Testimony sermons" where members tell their faith stories and incorporate the topic of giving (yesterday we had a fantastic one with three members speaking about how their faith sets them free, including a story of being between jobs but continuing to write those pledge checks as a statement of trust toward God)
Intentional focus on helping people plan their giving, for example providing a percentage chart and some guiding questions to pray over. Talking about what a pledge card is and why it's important (some younger members have never been clearly instructed in this). Giving out pledge cards in worship one week with the expectation families will discuss the matter and bring completed cards to dedicate the next Sunday. This is really simple and basic, but one leader said it opened up some conversations that she and her spouse had never had before.
Focusing on giving as an act of worship, an act of devotion toward God. Mark Allan Powell is great on this theme. For people who have thought of giving as a practical matter in the past (getting the church bills paid) this has been a powerful "aha."
What stewardship ideas have been working for you?
Overcoming Squemishness
How much of our hesitancy to talk about money is our own anxiety about it. Why do we let the few who gripe about any mention of money run the agenda? It is my experience that those who complain the loudest are the poorest givers -- their griping is a cover for their own lack of commitments.
There's some pertinant questions:
Is what we are doing of value and worth?
Are we (Pastors) doing our job -- Word and Witness?
Is there mission in our congregation to serve God and God's people?
If the answers are "YES" then finding ways to fund mission is part of mission.
I thought Bob Armstrong's line was a good one -- Stewardship is everything I do after I say, 'I believe.'"
Betty Carlson taught me a good lesson in my first parish. I was hand-wringing over how much it would cost families to send kids to a regional event. Betty said [sic], "Oh, for gosh sakes, John. We don't think twice about paying more than that to send them to a 1 week football camp, knowing they'll never play past High School. Don't you think growing their faith is worth at least that much?"
Now THAT'S the question, isn't it? How much is growing faith worth? How important is the work and mission we do in our congregation(s)? Isn't giving money part of ministry? If we (and our lay leadership) don't think our mission is important enough to support and to seek the support of others then . . . well, shame on us! Perhaps we should get another job.
I don't mean to sound harsh, because my bet is that, if you're reading this, mission and minstry IS important to you.
I am a shy Lutheran (really.) But sometimes the power of the Gospel leads me to declare with St. Paul, "For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is God’s power for the salvation of everyone who believes . . . " If that is so, then why would be ashamed of asking/tellling/showing people how giving supports the work of the Gospel?
Not Your Parents' Offering Plate
I read this book last night. The 120 pages go fairly quickly but the implementation phase definately won't get done in one night. What are the top three reasons people give to an organization? Okay, I'll tell you what the author says: 1) They believe in the mission of the organization; 2) They have regard for those who lead the organization; and 3) They give because they think the organization is fiscally stable. "People do not give to sinking ships. They give to ships that are sailing strong and give every indication of reaching their destination. ... The church is the only nonprofit I know of that seems to believe that the more you cry that you are sinking the more people will give to you. The exact opposite is true." The author provides great suggestions on how to ask for money. He also talks about the different pools of money that people have. We sometimes ask for gifts from one of them but not the other two. You'll have to read the book to find out what the pools are.
What do you think about the reasons of why people give? I think he is spot on!
Stewardship steps
I'm glad that pastors are in conversation about stewardship and leadership. It takes away some of the taboo power of the subject matter. I have found that being honest about some of my reservations might also remove some of the negative anxiety on the subject. I resonate with Melinda that it's hard to get over the connection between making a pitch for stewardship and my own salary. Last year, I spoke to my dissonance on that subject. I don't know the consequence of my statements, but I do know that whatever we can do to dismantle fear regarding stewardship and money will be helpful in the long run. Secrets are corrosive to congregational life--and sometimes there's a fine line between confidentiality and a secret. Faithful and strong leadership involves addressing our fears head on. Easier said than done. Lord, have mercy.
Faithful living is a team effort.
Please bear with me. I want to not use the word "stewardship' in this post to try thinking outside the buzz word box. What else to call it, though? . . . lived commitment? ... giving? . . . faithful living? I think I'll use "faithful living." Perhaps those of you who follow this thread have other, better suggestions.
A Lutheran caveat: Yes, we are saved by grace. Our faithful living does not merit us special grace. Rather, faithful living is a response to special grace that saved us. I would defer to the great model that St Paul uses in Ephesians -- Chapters 1-3 "What God has done for us." Chapters 4-6 "Therefore, how shall we live?" Talking about faithful living always has to be the "therefore."
It's been my experience that a healthy approach to faithful living is a team effort of clergy and laity. I think this is so in all areas of lived faith and commitment to mission. It is certainly so when we talk about giving money as part of mission.
There are things that clergy can say and do. I think this is an area where we become living examples. You do encourage tithing, right? Whether it's encouraged as a goal or a reality it is a standard by which people can measure themselves that has a strong biblical basis. I think it is essential that clergy have examined their own giving and have at least! begun working toward tithing, if not have become tithers and beyond. I think it is essential in talking about giving as a facet of faithful living that we stand up and are transparent. "We tithe because we . . ." In my family's case the rest of the sentences were, ". . . because God has always been faithful to us. We want to follow Jesus and fully believe in the mission of this church."
Clergy also have the call to preach and teach. It is there that we are able to faithfully expound Scripture -- what God has done, what God calls us to do, how our answer changes lives -- our own and the lives of others for the sake of God's realm.
There are things that laity can say and do that clergy can't. "I'm a volunteer. I see my life and actions in this church as my own freely given response. I've seen God at work through what we do. I want to have a Pastor (and staff) that is available, capable, and fully part of the mission of this church and I am aware that to have that I . . . and we have to provide them (him/her) the means by which they can do that." "I want my church to be fully a part of this community as a witness to God's grace. I'm committed to giving to make that happen and urge you to join me."
I have to say I was as jumpy as water on hot oil the first time I publically talked about how much our family gave and what percentage of income it was. I'll repeat that I am a shy Lutheran about personal faith. My family was even surer that it was a bad idea, except it wasn't. It was the leader of the congregation leading by example. "This is what God calls us to do and to be. As for me and my house, we will serve the Lord. I call on you this day to decide who you will serve."
Such witness has effect. There will be a few who complain that "this church is always talking about money." But let's be clear that such is not true (or shouldn't be if it is) and remember that the few who cry the loudest are usually giving the least and feel the lowest commitment to mission -- in their own lives and for the church. Do we really want that tail to wag the dog?
All Saints and transparency about our giving
I'm grateful to my internship supervisor Bob Karli for teaching me (long ago) to be direct about sharing what we give, as pastors. He talked openly about how he and his wife had gradually moved toward tithing, and that set a pattern for my own lifelong giving. We need these examples -- all the saints showing us the way forward in Christian life-- and it's powerful when we and our people can be such examples. Tithing has become a very important discipline for our family and we feel grateful we can give in this way. It gives me real joy to be generous. The congregation knows this about me/us because we have told them in a matter of fact way (preaching, leadership discussions, new members) without harping on it.
An idea to encourage stewardship example sharing:
This Sunday (All Saints) one of our members will be giving a temple talk on how her mother taught her to be generous-- for example, sharing food or work with those who "rode the rails" and hopped off the trains across the street from their house. They were not well-off but always managed to share. She was grateful for the opportunity to publicly remember her mother on All Saints. (We first heard this story in Council devotions last month when we invited each person to tell about someone who helped them learn to give. )
Good Stuff, Melinda
Oh boy, stories are SO formative for me. So stories of faith, especially of the saints who formed us, are really powerful. And for laity to tell them is when that part of the team can have real impact.
Speaking Up
Thanks, Becky. Good stuff.
This is not new stuff. In the 70's or 80's Schaller said much the same in a book called . . . darn I forget.
I like what Pastor Leah Doerfler says, "Do we approach ministry from a theology of want or a theology of plenty?"
I think we are wise to speak from the power God gives.
Isn't it really answering the basic question, "Are we Jesus people or not?" If so, follow, act. If not, drink coffee until the gas company turns off the meter.