LCMS Districts Cite Role of Consecrated Stewards

November 26, 2009 .................... LCMSNews -- No. 101 Districts report positive results with revitalization, 'Stewards' By Joe Isenhower Jr. TAMPA, Fla. -- While the economic downturn continues to challenge ministries synodwide, district presidents report that congregation-revitalization efforts and programs such as "Consecrated Stewards" are helping offset the economy's negative effects as they bolster congregations' vitality and stewardship. At the Nov. 17-19 meeting of the LCMS Council of Presidents here, four district presidents told of such realities, efforts, and outcomes in a presentation dubbed "the economy of ministry." They are Rev. Terry Cripe of the Ohio District; Rev. David Stechholz, English; Rev. James Keurulainen, New England; and Rev. Kenneth Hennings, Texas. Of those four districts, Texas is the one least affected by the economic downturn, as the state's population and work force continue to grow, and the district's budget is less stretched. "God is blessing us tremendously in Texas," Hennings said, "and we hope to use it to be a blessing to many." On the other hand, northern states such as Ohio have particularly seen economic loss. For instance, 20,000 workers in Cleveland lost their jobs on the same day, Cripe reported. Lutheran congregations in the state's urban and rural areas have been especially hard hit, he said. And this year, the district is about $50,000 behind in its budget. But Consecrated Stewards, congregation-revitalization efforts, and a "Connecting the Congregations" PowerPoint presentation the district's Board of Directors uses to communicate with circuit leaders and laity have "picked up the slack" for many congregations, he said. With such help, Ohio congregations are staying healthy, helping each other, and increasing financial support for the district, Cripe added. Through mission bequests from a five-year "Blueprint for Missions" program, the New England District has seen its deficits "reduced significantly," Keurulainen told the COP. "Missions and outreach -- we're doing it." He also said that 35 pastors in the district are in learning communities for congregational revitalization. "It's remarkable what revitalization has done for ministry in New England," he continued. "It's changing the culture for the better for many congregations." "Stewardship just isn't being preached as much as it needs to be," Keurulainen said. "Stewardship needs to begin in the lives of our pastors as they model it in their congregations." But through the revitalization process and the Consecrated Stewards program, New England congregations are "experiencing the joyful aspects of stewardship," he added. And although the economy also has affected congregations in the non-geographic English District, "focusing on the high ground of our motto, 'igniting Christ's church in mission' remains our focus," said Stechholz. He also said that despite deep cuts to its budget, the district has nine new mission starts. Stechholz said that the congregations and schools of the English District, "in worshiping the living God, are serving in their communities, connecting with the unchurched and dechurched, growing in grace and numbers by the power of the Holy Spirit, and reproducing by planting new churches." Stechholz emphasized that the district also continues to promote Consecrated Stewards to enhance congregations' mission and ministry through whole-life stewardship. Consecrated Stewards -- a part of the Lutheran Church Extension Fund's Ministry Services -- provides a spiritual setting for raising up stewardship in congregations. It explores the need of the giver to give, rather than the need of the church to receive. For more information about Consecrated Stewards, call 800-843-5233 or visit http://www.lcef.org/services/consecrated_stewards. After discussion when other presidents shared how their districts and congregations are dealing with the economy, Synod President Dr. Gerald B. Kieschnick thanked the COP program committee for proposing the "economy of ministry" topic and those who addressed it. "I think this is one of the most helpful discussions we've had," Kieschnick said, as he emphasized the importance of district presidents "sharing about what works."

Ministry in a Time of Recession

Here are some ways your congregation might reach out to the unemployed in your congregation and community.

Pink slip care. Assemble practical care packages for the newly laid off—workers’ rights laws for your state; recent help-wanted ads with Post-it notes and a pen; a grocery gift card; a directory of government services, mortgage renegotiation programs and local relief organizations; and a resume checklist, paper, envelopes and stamps. Encourage church members to give the packages to anyone they know who has just lost a job.

Career counsel. Recruit a human resources director or social services worker from your congregation or community, who is willing to spend a few Saturday mornings advising the unemployed on their rights and how to obtain government assistance. Advertise the free seminar in your local newspaper’s want ads and on community bulletin boards. Make sure your church knows about it—the best advertising is word of mouth.

Job pool. At each worship service, ask church members to fill out a card indicating available jobs they know of or jobs they’re seeking. Use your church Web site as well as local information boards at coin-operated laundry facilities, coffee shops and grocery stores to disperse the information to your community. (Tip: Delegate oversight of this ministry to an unemployed church member and compensate him or her—even if only a little—for the time.)

Coffee per diem. Secure permission to offer free, quality coffee and cookies outside state unemployment offices, temp agencies, etc. Take the encouragement a step further by printing a message of hope on napkins you pass out.

Weekly gathering. Reach out to the unemployed in both the church and your community through a weekly gathering at the church, a coffeehouse or other community hangout. Offer a time of sharing and, at the end, give people an opportunity to pray and be prayed for. Ask people to submit written prayer requests and let them know a team of people will be praying for them throughout the week.

Resume tune-ups. Host a free resume workshop at your church. Recruit or compensate local personnel directors, career counselors (and maybe even an English teacher!), etc., to give a brief resume dos and don’ts seminar, followed by some hands-on assistance for attendees.

—From Outreach magazine, March/April 2009

Congregation Life Expectancy Tied to Percentage of Tithers

George Bullard, coach and Consultant with the Columbia Partnership, says...

"Your congregation is more likely to exist ten years from now if at least 20 percent of the active adults tithe their income through your congregation. It is marginal or uncertain to exist ten years from now if less than 20 percent of your active adults are tithers. When only a remnant of active adults are tithers you congregation is less likely to exist with vitality and vibrancy ten years from now."

Interestingly enough, this percentage has dropped in recent years as congregations have sought multiple sources of funding beyond tithes and offerings. Nevertheless, according to Bullard, if the percentage of active tithers goes below 20%, the congregation becomes dependent upon the offerings of a few people or upon special appeals to make up deficits. These same congregations are also in a constant "cut back" mode of missional understanding.

What is the percentage of tithers on your congregation?

CLICK HERE for the full article.

ENERGY STAR for CONGREGATIONS

The Environmental Protection Agency offers a host of resources for congregations that seek to exercise stewardship of their energy use under a program called "Energy Star for Congregations." Most congregations can cut energy costs by up to 30% by investing strategically in efficient equipment, facility upgrades and maintenance. With free, unbiased information and technical support from ENERGY STAR, your congregation can more easily improve stewardship of your budget’s energy dollars, and of the earth by reducing energy waste and energy costs, while protecting the environment.
Materials provided by the EPA are especially helpful for congregations entering a building or remodeling program, but excellent resources are also available to help educate your members in proper stewardship of energy in their own homes. CLICK HERE to be connected to the site.

Five Steps to Energy Conservation

1. Have your Governing Body Make a Public Commitment to Conserve Energy

* When church leaders make a public commitment, they are more likely to change behavior.
* Publicize this commitment. Let your members know about it!

2. Choose an Energy Steward

* Without making energy an individual’s job, conservation slips through the cracks.
* The Steward can model/enforce new energy habits.
* Make a brief monthly report to the Governing Body until conservation is a habit
* The Steward should establish a baseline for energy use, monitor monthly use in relation to the baseline, oversee energy education of leaders, and oversee conservation measures.

3. Establish a Baseline and a Target for your Energy Use

* Without a baseline, you won’t know if you’ve saved energy.
* Gather your past two years’ energy bills.
* Compare the monthly energy usage figures (not cost) to previous periods.
* Set goals for your quarterly and annual energy use, mindful that seasonal variation from year to year is inevitable.
* Aim for a 10% reduction in relation to the baseline during your first year.

4. Identify Energy Conservation Measures

* See www.greenfaith.org for hints.

5. Evaluate Results, Praise and Publicize, take Next Steps

* Have your Energy Steward monitor financial and environmental impact.
* Report results – financial and environmental. Remember – you’re educating about good stewardship and the link between energy, the environment, and financial responsibility.
* Publicize your success; praise your leaders! Write a news release for your newsletter and local paper stating that your church is a leader in energy conservation.
* Show that your church believes care for the earth is a religious value.

For more help on environmental stewardship, see the "Green Faith" web page. CLICK HERE

12 Ways to Increase Giving

Here are twelve ways leaders can increase giving in their congregation:

1. Immediately make sure your personal giving is what it should be.

2. Immediately say "thank you" and find ways to do so regularly all year.

3. Tell people regularly what was accomplished through their giving.

4. Immediately do something concrete to assist those in economic distress.

5. Ask lay professionals to conduct workshops on budgeting and personal finances.

6. Focus on worship and Bible study attendance since participation and spiritual growth provide impetus for joyful giving.

7. Begin teaching stewardship to parents to help them teach their children about giving.

8. Promote at least one new "first fruits" method of giving to encourage regular giving. (offering envelopes, electronic transfer, etc.)

9. Take small steps toward having people discuss how they think about money and giving. (witness stories in newsletter, worship, etc.)

10. Promote alternative visions of the good life to counter media consumerism.

11. Move from a "pay the bills" church to a "live the vision" church.

12. Stay positive in everything related to money.

Adapted from an article by Lovett H. Weems in “Leading Ideas”. CLICK HERE for free subscription.

The Secret of a Healthy, Happy Life

You probably know the story that goes with this picture. A man sees an old lady sitting by the side of the street looking very bright and happy.
“What is the secret of your long and happy life?” he asks
“Well, I smoke ten of these big cigars a day. I drink two pints of good rum, and I always have a boyfriend who is half my age.”
Man: “Wow! That’s amazing. How old are you?”
Woman: “Forty-two.”

A more serious answer to the question of how to live a healthy and happy life is to give to others.
An article in Ode magazine describes the work of Paul Wink of Wellesley College, (Click Here) who did a comprehensive study of what brings health and happiness to the lives of people. He quickly discovered that “generativity” (the ability to give to others) ranked high on the list.

According to Wink, the protective effect of giving on mental and physical health buffers an entire lifetime. Wink found that teens who scored high on generativity in high school were healthier and happier half a century later. “There was a strong correlation with mental health in particular,” he says.

Wink also sees “generativity” as strongly linked to faith. “Religious individuals see giving and altruism as the natural outpouring of their faith.”

A March, 2008, report in Science magazine, “Spending Money on Others Promotes Happiness,” (Click Here) found that, "spending more of one's income on others predicted greater happiness both cross-sectionally (in a nationally representative survey study) and longitudinally (in a field study of windfall spending)."

Of course, giving does not have to be just financial giving. Below are 10 low-cost ways to give from consultant Britt Bravo. What would you add to the list?

• Volunteer in your community, or virtually.
• Listen to someone who needs an ear.
• Visit someone who needs company.
• Give away stuff (i.e. clothes, books, CDs, DVDs, furniture).
• Double a recipe, put half in a tupperware, and share it.
• Share the skills you get usually get paid to use for free.
• Recommend someone on LinkedIn.
• Send a card or letter to someone who would love to hear from you.
• Give a loved one a shoulder or foot rub
• Show appreciation for the people you love.