Make a big bowl of popcorn and invite your finance/stewardship leaders team to watch this compelling presentation by the author of Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate. If your congregation is like most — spinning its wheels with the same old stewardship approach — this may get you moving again. From the Tennessee Annual Conference, UMC.
Prepare for Those 65 and Older
The number of Americans 65 and older is expected to almost double from 40 million in 2010 to 74 million in 2030. Retirees facing an uncertain future on a fixed income may not be able to give as generously to the church year-by-year, but they will be putting their estate plans and wills in order. Here are some ways your congregation can get ready! (Photo: Garry Knight, Creative Commons)
In Giving, Lead by Example
Hey pastor, does the congregation know what you give? It ought to, and you should be leading by example, according to author and stewardship consultant J. Clif Christopher. “When a pastor and staff are not tithing and being generous in every possible way, it is seldom that I will see a congregation that does.” (Photo: […]
Rich Church/Poor Church
Why do some churches seem to struggle financially year after year, while other congregations of similar size and circumstance have all the resources they need? It could be that the well-resourced congregations understand the primary reasons why people give their time, talent and treasure, and they organize and focus their efforts accordingly. This article from MinistryMatters explains. (Photo by Ignorant Walking, used by Creative Commons license.)
Motivational Quarterly Reports
Giving strictly financial information in quarterly reports is a wasted opportunity, says stewardship author J. Clif Christopher, who suggests ways to give donors some reasons to keep on giving. (Photo by Lenore Edman, used by Creative Commons license)