“What is Christian giving? The Bible helps us to answer this question,” begins a 10-page PDF that looks at Scripture to illuminate important aspects of stewardship — Gifts from God, Giving Time, Giving Talent, and Giving Money. A nice primer from the Church of Scotland.
Is American giving on cruise control? While overall giving has mushroomed since the 1970s, it has been driven primarily by growing incomes, not by donors deciding to give a larger share of income. As a share of GDP, charitable giving has rarely strayed far from 2 percent over the past four decades—despite the huge growth in the number of charities and fundraisers and periodic crusades to encourage greater giving. (Photo by margonaut, used by Creative Commons license)
No. 1: “The first place to look for money is in the heart, not the wallet.” This resource explains why, and then goes on to explain SIX more truths! It’s a great, handy resource from the Episcopal Diocese of West Texas. (Photo by Varkle69, used by creative Commons license – Thanks!)
The planet is facing major ecological problems: global warming, loss of species diversity, loss of forests and arable land, disposal of garbage and toxic waste, pollution of air, land, and water, over-population, depletion of non-replaceable natural resources, diminution of food sources, ocean acidification and collapse of fisheries, among others. And the survival of creation as we humans have known it is at stake. Here are five principles for a Christian response. (Photo by NASA)
Here’s a pretty sweet assortment of materials to get a congregation going in a stewardship program – from pledge cards to brochures. The Evangelical Covenant Church has put this together for its congregations, but this starter kit could provide wonderful inspiration and helpful guidance for any church to develop its own program.
Let’s take a deep breath, stewards, especially those of us who are burdened with the financial stewardship of our institutions. For Holy Week let’s put aside our congregational balance sheets, tables of giving and charts of weekly worship attendance. Lent is the penitential time when Christians take stock of our lives of faith and embrace […]
Where I live, it’s easy to remember the cycles of nature and the joyous, bountiful season of harvest. Mile after country mile in Adams County, Pennsylvania, brings you past apple orchards where the fruit, sometimes clustered like grapes, pulls the branches of the trees way down low, so the leaves sweep the ground. The harvest […]
What does your church’s annual budget represent? Is it a proud menu of the hopes, dreams and missionary ministries your congregation wants to accomplish in the year to come? Or is it a life-support prescription for how the congregation expects to pay the staff, keep the lights burning, the sanctuary heated and the grass mowed?
We pray for the family of Roger Smith, retired stewardship specialist for the ELCA and president of the Board of Directors of the Stewardship of Life Institute. Roger died July 2.
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It’s Personal blog Summer is the time when many people take a break from the routine – from work, from school, and, yes, even church. The warmer temperatures and longer days of summer make it more enjoyable to spend time outdoors, and the slower pace gives us time to relax and engage in leisure activities. […]
