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.

Introducing Stewardship to Children

The Diocese of Providence, RI, has developed a brief guide for introducing stewardship of time, talent and treasure to children. It is filled with practical ideas and samples that can easily be adapted to a Lutheran congregation.

The main thesis of the Guide is that lifelong habits take shape if stewardship principles and practices are instilled at an early age. Some ideas to help this happen:

1. Integrate stewardship education into the religious education curriculum. Consecrated Stewards now provides Sunday School materials for all of our programs and other resources are available through the LCMS web site for introducing stewardship to children.
2. Ask children and youth “What does stewardship mean to me?” Have them prepare posters or short essays that may be shared with the congregation.
3. Be sure the Stewardship Committee has children on the agenda.
4. Encourage parents to talk about stewardship with children. Letters with suggestions may be sent to parents. Prayer tents or folders for use at meal time may be provided.
5. Develop a children’s “Time and Talent” list. Discover opportunities for children to serve alone or with their families. Provide a commitment card. (Sample provided.)
6. Provide Sunday School offering envelopes. A wonderful way to teach regular giving from an early age.
7. Enroll in the K.I.D.S. savings stamp program through Lutheran Church Extension Fund. (See list of links t the right.) Encourage savings while support new mission starts.
8. Reserve a children’s section in the congregation’s newsletter. Highlight ministry opportunities and stewardship stories for children and youth.

To download the full article, CLICK HERE.

How Different Generations Approach Finances

Traditionalists, Boomers, Xers and Millennials. Chances are you have heard a lot about these generational groups and know which one you belong to. But when it comes to financial matters and preparing for retirement, what are your generation's strengths and weaknesses? What can you learn from the generations preceding and following yours? Thrivent Financial for Lutherans has recently published an article about generational approaches to finances and retirement. CLICK HERE for this interesting article and check your own generation against those around you. This will also enable you to download a generational timeline,

How to Order Herb Miller Materials

We continue to get questions from time to time about how to order Herb Miller "New Consecration Sunday" materials. There are a number of suppliers. Click on the link to the right labeled "Herb Miller materials" in the list of stewardship links to order from Augsburg Fortress.

For information on what to order and how to use it, see our earlier post on how to use Herb Miller materials. (CLICK HERE)

Convert Your Car to Run on Trash

This car actually does run on trash through a process called “gasification”. If you want instructions on how to build it and a video showing it in actual operation, click here.

But the point is to get you thinking about stewardship of the environment. We often talk about the three “T’s” of Time, Talent, and Treasure, but there is also the stewardship of Trash.

Think of some projects your congregation could adopt to promote stewardship of the environment…

• “Adopt a Highway” clean up project
• Conduct an energy audit of your church building
• Begin a recycling program
• Plant a church garden
• Conduct an audit of hazardous materials
• Host a speaker from local government or 4H
• Plant a tree
• Convert the pastor’s car to run on trash ???

Can you think of others? Make this part of your year round stewardship planning.

"Coming to Our Senses" in a Time of Recession

Dr. Dale Meyer, President of Concordia Seminary, St. Louis, and former speaker of The Lutheran Hour, offered the following thought in his "Meyer Minute" for January 7:

Monday most automakers reported 30% drops in sales during December, with Hyundai off 48% and Chrysler 51%. Oil is going back up and a gallon of gas may soon be back at $2. We’re poorer than we used to be.

It’s easy to overlook the obvious. When Jesus said, “Blessed are you who are poor,” He was speaking to His disciples, not to the general population (Luke 6:20). Yes, God loves all people but Jesus doesn’t say “Blessed” to all Americans in this recession but only to His followers. How’s that?

Because His followers are reminded what we’ve professed all along, that ultimately we have zilch, nada, nichts, nothing. America is like the prodigal son, broke after a spending spree, wallowing in recession. But the prodigal “came to his senses” and said, “I will set out and go back to my father” (Luke 15:17-18). A Christian identifies with that. Getting poorer is reminding us that we have nothing of our own, no hidden accounts that permit us not to need God. That means that wondering when the economy will come back is off the mark, at least faith-wise. “Deliver us from the pursuit of passing things that we may seek the kingdom of Your Son and trust in His righteousness and so find blessedness….” (Lutheran Service Book, p. 311)

To read these daily "Meyer Minutes" or subscribe to them by email Click Here.

January Discount on "Consecrated Stewards"

Early Spring is a good time to conduct a Consecrated Stewards emphasis since it usually separates the stewardship process from the budget process.
As an encouragement, Lutheran Church Extension Fund is offering a discount coupon during January for use with Consecrated Stewards.
Click on the "LCEF -- Consecrated Stewards" link in the Links section to the right.