Economic Crisis Provides Challenges and Opportunities

While many Chinese linguists now challenge the old saying that the Chinese character for “crisis” (weijei) can mean both danger and opportunity, the truth remains that crisis times can bring both challenges and opportunities for those who know how to “redeem the time.” Two items came across my screen today that point out how the economic crisis can be both a challenge and a missional opportunity for congregations. ... CLICK HERE TO READ THE REST OF THE POST.

Generational Giving Patterns

Do you send out one letter of appeal to all of the people in your organization addressed, “Dear Member”? That may work for those over 60, but not for those under 40. Effective appeals include an understanding of generational patterns of giving and participation. J. Clif Christopher has written a short, stimulating article on the subject called “Don’t Mail to the Masses: Generational Differences in Giving” in the latest issue of the Circuit Rider. (CLICK HERE to download the article.)
For more on the subject, see our previous post “How Different Generations Approach Finances". (CLICK HERE)

Essentials of Effective Stewardship

The title of the book caught my eye: All for God’s Glory: Redeeming Church Scutwork (Louis B. Weeks, Alban Institute, 2008). By “Scutwork” Weeks means the day-to-day administrative and planning tasks that so many pastors and church workers consider boring and burdensome. Weeks, of course, sees those tasks as part of a ministry of administration (So do I.) and gives practical guidance and examples of how they might become a fruitful and enjoyable part of ministry.

One of the chapters in the book deals with planning and effective stewardship ministry in the congregation. Some principles – similar to those at the heart of Consecrated Stewards – are these:

• Stewardship is connected to mission, not budget.
• Stewardship attitudes are built through year-round consciousness.
• An annual “Commitment Time” provides time for growth and review.
• The sharing of “faith stories” or stewardship witness talks
• Sharing the story in person or in gatherings (worship settings, small groups, Bible studies) is far more effective than letters and printed material.
• Frank and Scriptural talk about stewardship promotes growth in discipleship.

Eat That Frog: Stewardship of Time

There’s an old saying that says...“If the first thing you do when you wake up in the morning is eat a live frog, then nothing worse can happen for the rest of the day!” Brian Tracy has written a little book called “Eat That Frog” (Simple Truths, 2008) in which he says that your “frog” should be the most difficult item on your things to do list, the one where you’re most likely to procrastinate; because, if you eat that first, it’ll give you energy and momentum for the rest of the day. But, if you don’t...and let him sit there on the plate and stare at you while you do a hundred unimportant things, it can drain your energy and you won’t even know it.

CLICK HERE for a short video of tips on time stewardship.
CLICK HERE for a "virtual book" preview of "Eat That Frog".

Stewardship as a Model for Congregational Ministry

Rolf Jacobson, Asst. Prof. of Old Testament at Luther Seminary, St. Paul, wrote an excellent article entitled “Stewards of God’s Mysteries: Stewarding as a Model for Congregational Ministry” in Word & World 26, No. 3 (Summer, 2006)

The key question Jacobson asks is this: “Are we MEMBERS of OUR congregation or STEWARDS of GOD’S mysteries? Our model for ministry makes all the difference.”

Many congregations today operate with a “membership” or “ownership” model of congregational ministry. “In today’s culture, the membership model leads people to construe the congregation as similar to a club that people join of their own free will for the purpose of having their needs met.” The focus of ministry to such a congregation is on the membership, meeting its needs, avoiding conflict, keeping people happy. The ownership model often speaks of “my congregation,” “my church,” “my ministry”. That focus is often exclusive rather than inclusive.

In place of the ownership model, Jacobson proposes the stewardship model based on I Corinthians 4:1-2 – “ Let a man so account of us, as of the ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful.”

“According to St. Paul, a congregation – its building and grounds, its finances and assets, its people and program, its mission and ministry—does not belong to us. Rather, each Christian congregation belongs to God.”

This moves from a cultural framework (membership by voluntary association—to which we pay dues and volunteer time) to a biblical framework (communal stewardship of God’s mission and ministry—in which we are called to be stewards of the gifts God has given us.)

Some ramifications of the stewardship model:

• God’s mission and the means to sustain that mission belong to God and not to humans. Neither the mission, the people, nor the resources are ours as owners.
• God calls the people of God to be stewards of God’s mission.
• A congregation—both its clergy and lay members—is a group who together act as stewards of God’s mission. The members of a congregation, corporately, are not members of an organization, but fellow stewards of God’s mission in a particular place and time. The church is a called community, not a volunteer organization.
• To join a congregation is to respond to God’s call—God’s call!—to join in God’s mission as a steward. The question is not do you want to join our church, but is God calling you to be a fellow steward of God’s mission in this place?
• God requires of stewards that they act and live in a trustworthy manner. Fidelity is not just about believing the right way. It is also about acting faithfully on those beliefs.
• God will hold stewards accountable. God’s stewards labor now trusting the one who will later hold us accountable, for he who judges is also our savior, and he judges by his standard, not earthly standards.

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For reference to Jacobson’s article and copies, click here. Full text is not available online.