Using Appreciative Inquiry Tools for Stewardship

Outline Chalice Lighting The Power of Language Appreciative Language Talking about Money Why People Give Using Appreciative Inquiry in Stewardship Visits Why Bother with Visits A Different Way to Ask Important Questions. Practice – That’s How We Learn! What Do We Do With This Stuff?

Burning Questions What questions do you want to have answered by the end of this workshop?

Why Use Appreciative Language In every organization, some things work well. We need to know and draw on all of our positive strengths to build for the future. The language we use helps create our reality. It shapes attitudes and focuses energy. If you focus on mission, then you know you can change lives. If you focus on what you don’t have, then you won’t be able to do what you can do.

Why Use Appreciative Language Our focus becomes our reality. In anxious times, we need to build a vision of a positive future, not rehash failures of the past. Asking questions influences the way we think about things. Organizations are heliotropic (They follow the energy.). Valuing differences can lead to new thinking and positive change.

Talking about Money “Please share with me your checkbook, your credit cards and your tax forms, then I’ll understand your faith and your view of stewardship. But money is rarely discussed in the church and (is rarely) related to faith.” Peter Steinke

Discussion Why do we have difficulty talking about money? How does this difficulty translate into the ways we support our congregations? How does this impact our approach to stewardship work?

Why People Give Belief in the mission – people give because they want to change lives. People give to people – they have regard for staff leaders and congregational leaders who ask Evidence of fiscal accountability – where does the money go and how does it help change lives (not buy light bulbs!)

People Give to Change Lives “People want to make the world a better place to live. They want to believe that they can truly make a difference for the better. There is embedded in us, it seems, a desire to finish out our work on this earth with a sense that we amounted to something. To sum it up, people want to be a part of something that changes lives.” Clif Christopher

People Give to People “It is the people leading that church and those programs that make the difference. When they have confidence in those people to perform, gifts follow.…. People know that programs are just words on paper until others take them and put those words into action. Only then do lives get changed. So, though I may like a certain program or idea, I do not give to it without having supreme confidence in the people who are going to be in charge of carrying it out.” Clif Christopher

Accountability “Nonprofits and churches only have one thing to sell- changed lives. When they do it well, they are supported, but when they do not do it well, they go out of business…..Please hear me when I say that you are not in business to balance budgets or manage money. You are in business to change lives” Clif Christopher

More Reasons Why People Give Because someone asks! Because we believe in the organization’s mission and want to be a real part of it. Out of a sense of gratitude for all that we have in life. To add meaning to our lives. Because we like to help people. In response to people we trust. Feelings of obligation (older generation) Other reasons?????

Myths About Giving If people understand the dire financial straits of the congregation, they will feel guilty and give more. People in low-income households don’t give money. Low-income people give time instead. During economic downturns, people don’t give to their congregations. People suffer information overload and don’t care to know how their money is being used.

Shifts in Language Steward – a conversation partner, an ambassador of the congregation and Unitarian Universalism Annual Stewardship Drive – an opportunity to support what we love. A chance to change lives. A chance to express commitment to the congregation on many levels, including financial.

Shifts in Language Stewardship Visits – a vehicle for in-depth conversations with fellow congregants, including opportunities for relationship building, questions, answers and feedback Feedback – positive recommendations and dreams for the future of the congregation that is taken to the board and leadership

Shifts in Language Pledge – This is not asking for money. This is asking for a commitment to support the mission and vision of the congregation. It is an invitation to support something people love and care for. Put your money where you heart lies. This goes for new members, too. They care enough to join and WANT to be asked to participate fully – including pledging.

Why We Do Visits Personal nature of Appreciative Inquiry requires a face-to-face meeting. Deepens personal relationships and networks within the congregation! (It’s ALL about relationships!) Sharing of hopes and visions and dreams – the REAL stuff. Allows opportunity for questions, answers and feedback. Creates an informal, confidential setting for frank and transformative dialogue

Why We Do Visits Produces a high level of commitment. People give to people – not pledge mailings! Asks every one to take their own level of responsibility for the church’s well being and support It’s quick and easy. Helps clean up the membership database Cost effective Helps congregations to realistically discuss future plans, mission, generosity, money and giving

Appreciative Inquiry Questions Memories Looking back at your Involvement in First Unitarian Universalist – Columbus, when did you feel alive, engaged, and committed to the congregation? When were you proud to be a member? When have you seen the congregation really alive, engaged and committed? Values What do you think is our core as a congregation, our life giving center from which our best thinking, work and energy emerge? What do we do really well?

Appreciative Inquiry Questions Wishes The Strategic Planning Committee was recently reactivated at First UU. Looking at the future, where would you wish to see church energies and resources (people, focus, money, talent, growth, physical plant) put and to what purpose or end? What three big (bold/courageous) wishes do you have for the church and its purpose? Potential What are our greatest possibilities as a church for making a difference in the world, in terms of spiritual difference, relational difference and/or social difference?

Practice! Time to practice asking questions of each other.

What Do We Do With This Stuff? Now that we know, how can we help?

Appreciative Stewardship Visit There are 4 Parts to the Stewardship Visit 1. Preliminaries – do your homework and learn about the congregation and about the people you will visit. 2. Scheduling the visit – personal or small group or dessert meeting or….etc. 3. The Visit – where Appreciative Inquiry is used. 4. Follow Up

Appreciative Stewardship Visit I. THE PRELIMINARIES 1.Know the mission and what the church is doing! That’s why we do this work! 2. Please make your own generous pledge before making stewardship visits. Stewards should be able to say: a. I’m giving X%, or b. I’ve increased X%, or c. I’m meeting the UUA guidelines

Appreciative Stewardship Visit Become familiar with your materials: Contact list with names, info Suggested Fair Share Giving Guide Annual Campaign Brochure Summaries of congregational programs and ministries if not included in brochure Appreciative Inquiry Forms for feedback Financial Commitment Forms Envelopes for Financial Commitment Forms Thank You Notes and Envelopes

Appreciative Stewardship Visit II. SCHEDULING THE VISIT 1. Introduce yourself if needed 2. Ask if this is a good time to talk 3. Briefly explain the purpose of your call – stewardship visit and feedback for church planning 4. Schedule the visit 5. Make sure relevant parties will be there

Appreciative Steward Visit III - MAKING THE VISIT 1. Your story (always important). Why you support the congregation. 2. Their stories, hopes and dreams (the appreciative inquiry questions) 3. Give them a chance to share (giving guides and forms) 4. Thanks, gratitude shared

Practice!

More Detail - Steward Visit 1.Tell your story. Share passion for the congregation’s mission and how it changes lives. (your life?) Tell a story about something you love about this congregation. Use the stewardship documents or the brochure as a visual guide.

More Detail - Steward Visit 2. Their story Ask them the Inquiry Questions and listen to their story; this is the invitation to Conversations from the Heart Are there any other questions they need answered? Acknowledge their comments and concerns. Take notes and let them know you will share the information with Board and church leadership

More Detail - Steward Visit 3. People give to people - Ask for their financial pledge this coming year to support what they love. The Giving Guide is helpful If they have given in the past, ask if they are willing to take one step up from last year Give the pledge form and wait patiently (and quietly) and give them a chance to respond. Leave the room for a bit if needed. Make sure they feel good about giving at their comfort level..

More Detail – The Questions Feedback from questions goes to the Board and leadership. It contains valuable information for planning and budgeting and stewardship celebration. Questions can be asked with different wording We are asking folk to tell us what they really, really, really care about in the congregation and dream for its future. Put your money where your heart lies. And we are very grateful that they care.

More Detail – After the Visit IV. THE FOLLOW-UP Write a short, simple thank-you note If the member(s) had questions that you promised to research, find the answers and get back to them asap. Submit the inquiry sheets with the completed pledge forms. Return each completed pledge form as soon as possible. All pledge forms must be returned by a set date.

And If You are Asked to Testify Mission, Mission, Mission—the church changes lives. Share your own enthusiasm about what the church is doing. Practice openness about your own support and be willing to speak on Sunday morning.

Resources – Web Based Visit the UUA website: and Google search “Giving and Generosity” and “Congregational Stewardship Services.” Put Your Money Where your Heart Is: New Ideas in Stewardship: videos and a study guide

Resources - Stewardship Beyond Fundraising: A Complete Guide to Congregational Stewardship, by Wayne B. Clark, The “Forward Through the Ages” (FORTH) program of year-round congregational stewardship. Not Your Parents Offering Plate. by Clif Christopher, New strategies for financial stewardship. Whose Offering Plate Is It? by Clif Christopher, 2010.

Resources- Appreciative Inquiry Memories, Hopes, and Conversations: Appreciative Inquiry and Congregational Change by Mark Lau Branson Appreciative Inquiry tools for long range planning. The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A Practical Guide to Positive Change by Amanda Trosten-Bloom and Diana Whitney Appreciative Inquiry and organizational change.

Closing By Dorothy Day: People say, what is the sense of our small effort? They cannot see that we must lay one brick at a time, take one step at a time. A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that spread in all directions. Each one of our thoughts, words and deeds (and dollars) is like that. No one has the right to sit down and feel hopeless. There’s too much work to do.

Thank You For Coming!!!!!!