1. Almighty God, whose blessed Son warned us of the perils of mammon: Spare thy faithful servants from the assaults and indignations of the annual stewardship appeal, strengthen those who through no fault of their own must beseech others for pledges, and finally, most merciful God, through some heavenly miracle make next year’s budget whole; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.

2. Maximizing Your Stewardship Ministry April 25, 2015 May 2, 2016 Trinity, Tulsa Diocesan Center

3. What to expect … Theological, conceptual, and practical information Theological, conceptual, and practical information Some immediate solutions Some immediate solutions Tools for the long run Tools for the long run Lots of additional resources Lots of additional resources More ideas than any one church can implement—this isn’t “one size fits all” More ideas than any one church can implement—this isn’t “one size fits all”

4. Goals for the session Understand why people give to the church and what motivates them Understand why people give to the church and what motivates them Discover practices that encourage people to increase their pledges Discover practices that encourage people to increase their pledges Learn the pros and cons of different stewardship programs Learn the pros and cons of different stewardship programs Get ready-to-use materials that can be adapted for any parish Get ready-to-use materials that can be adapted for any parish

5. Why most stewardship programs don’t work and what you can do about it.

6. Problems with the word “stewardship” –Protestant, North American, 19th Century –Ambiguous language and euphemisms –Limited biblical justification –Doesn’t acknowledge other reasons that people give time and money

7. 2. Theological confusion Luther—giving is an act of thanks for God's unmerited grace. Luther—giving is an act of thanks for God's unmerited grace. Calvin—act of stewardship over something that is not ultimately of human ownership. Calvin—act of stewardship over something that is not ultimately of human ownership. Arminian/Wesleyan—giving is a volitional responses to divine activity Arminian/Wesleyan—giving is a volitional responses to divine activity Catholic concept of social mortgage—the whole community makes wealth possible Catholic concept of social mortgage—the whole community makes wealth possible Generosity is fundamental to our nature Generosity is fundamental to our nature

8. 3.Stewardship gets treated like an evil step-child Uninspired and untrained leadership Uninspired and untrained leadership Last-minute, poorly-planned appeals Last-minute, poorly-planned appeals People don’t know what their giving accomplishes People don’t know what their giving accomplishes Disappointing results Disappointing results

9. 4.Programs often driven by negative messages Everyone hates doing this, but …. Everyone hates doing this, but …. We may have to cut staff if …. We may have to cut staff if …. I give my time, so I don ’ t have to give money. I give my time, so I don ’ t have to give money. All the church ever talks about is money. All the church ever talks about is money.

10. 5. People give for different reasons To pay the church bills To pay the church bills Sense of responsibility or obligation Sense of responsibility or obligation Love for God Love for God To obey the Bible or God To obey the Bible or God Thankfulness Thankfulness Mission or needs of others Mission or needs of others Give back what is already God’s Give back what is already God’s God will bless me God will bless me

11. Why don’t people give generously to the church? Lack of motivation - the church has failed to provide a compelling vision for how the money will make a difference in the world. Lack of motivation - the church has failed to provide a compelling vision for how the money will make a difference in the world. Withhold money because they do not see a sufficient return on their investment. Withhold money because they do not see a sufficient return on their investment. An inadequate job of asking, so people remain oblivious to the church’s expectations and potential. An inadequate job of asking, so people remain oblivious to the church’s expectations and potential. Some people are just selfish. Their priorities revolve around their personal needs and desires. Some people are just selfish. Their priorities revolve around their personal needs and desires. George Barna, The Barna Group, "Why People Do Not Give More," 2005 update

12. Other reasons people don’t give generously Feel they can’t afford it Feel they can’t afford it Were not raised in traditions that encourage generosity Were not raised in traditions that encourage generosity Don’t understand the relationship between giving and spiritual growth Don’t understand the relationship between giving and spiritual growth

13. People who give lovingly or thankfully tend to be more generous than those who regard giving as an obligation.

14. What can we do to help parishioners change their attitudes about giving generously to the church?

15. 1.Change the way we talk about money and giving Clarify our language Clarify our language Think ministry and mission Think ministry and mission Avoid negative messages Avoid negative messages Acknowledge economic realities Acknowledge economic realities Focus on ministry accomplishments and benefit Focus on ministry accomplishments and benefit Thank individuals for their generosity Thank individuals for their generosity

16. 2.Treat stewardship as a ministry Support year-round ministry awareness Support year-round ministry awareness Connect gifts of time and money with the ministries they support Connect gifts of time and money with the ministries they support Lead by example with generous giving Lead by example with generous giving Clergy and vestry actively participate in stewardship activities Clergy and vestry actively participate in stewardship activities

17. 3.Be more intentional in how we generate funds for ministry Involve the congregation in ministry planning Involve the congregation in ministry planning Develop long-range plans for ministry Develop long-range plans for ministry Plan your sources of funding Plan your sources of funding Recruit gifted leaders and volunteers Recruit gifted leaders and volunteers

18. Why plan? People want to know: Where the church is going Where the church is going How it plans to get there How it plans to get there What will be accomplished What will be accomplished How will that be measured How will that be measured

19. But more important … The money your congregation needs should depend on what it does or wants to do, not what people decide to pledge.