Enjoying Stewardship in the MediumLarge Congregation

1
Enjoying Stewardship in the Medium/Large
Congregation

• Bob Sheldon
• Mission Development Director
• Synod of the Rocky Mountains

2
Money is more than dollars and sensestewardship
is pastoral

• Money has special status in our culture
• Holy, Holy, Holy
• A ministry just like any other in the church
• Enhances relationships
• Person and church
• Person and staff
• Person and God
• Church and leadership

3
Rich people deserve special treatment.

• Each person deserves special treatment
• Resources mean choices others dont have to worry
  about
• Most feel uncomfortable talking about them at
  church
• How will they learn and grow?

4
Stewardship is more than moneybut a good place
to start.

• where your treasure is, so will be your heart.
  (Matthew 619)
• Try to talk about stewardship without talking
  about money
• Time, talents and treasure
• Theyre not multiple choice
• All of the above!

5
Stewardship is a spiritual issuemore than budgets

• Underlying foundation of being a disciple
• Rarely presented this way in church
• Most people distrust usand should!
• Say Stewardship and prayerfully consider only
  when were funding budgets
• Whats more importantfunding budgets or helping
  members be disciples?
• Now is the time for honesty in church!

6
Think in terms of percentages rather than dollar
amounts.

• Tithe is ten percentworked in OT
• Proportional givingthe more you have, the more
  you get to give
• Puts God firstno more leftovers!
• Percentage will vary widely
• Creative ways to include hidden
  incomeinterest, stock gains, etc.

7
Get off your assets!

• Usually talk about income
• Miss opportunities to talk about assets
• Annual gifts
• Campaign gifts
• Special gifts
• Enduring gifts
• Tithing assets before and after we die?

8
Look into your communitywho gives what?

• Giving patterns
• 10 give 50
• 10 give 30
• 30 give 10
• 50 give 10
• Where should you spend your time/energy?
• Leaders need to know who gives what!

9
Two types of communicationformal and informal

• Both at work in all churches
• Both need to be used
• Larger the church, the more professional approach
  to formal outlets
• Larger the church, the more intentional approach
  to informal outlets
• High techHigh touch

10
Be consistent talk and walk all year!

• Year-round emphasis
• Spoken, written, and lived
• Essential part of discipleship
• Natural part of membership
• Leaders
• Teachers
• New Members
• Children
• Everyone!

11
Sermons are vital sources of information and
inspiration

• Most preachers feel uneasy talking about
  money--should take their cue from Jesus
• Scripture filled with examples
• Life has even more!
• Illustrations
• Stories
• Pastors need encouragement
• Pastors need active supporters

12
Leaders must lead.

• First people to address issueand apply it
• Cant ask others to do what you wont
• Church goes the directionand distance of its
  leaders
• Expectations clearly stated prior to nomination
• Ongoing reminders throughout year
• Mutual support and encouragement

13
Annual Mission Investment Celebration

• New way to look at annual campaign
• Celebrates previous accomplishments
• Opportunity to say Thank You
• Reminds people why they give
• Previews potential of new year
• Celebration of pastcommitment to future

14
Dont show them a budgetlast years will do!

• Emphasizes past accomplishment rather than
  begging for future needs
• People dont give to the church because it has
  needsbut because it meets needs.
• Include mission givingbetter be generous!

15
Two questionshow much to God and how much to the
church?

• Most people give to more than one charity
• Acknowledges and encourages it
• Big question comes first and oftenhow much to
  God?
• Second question comes every fallwhat difference
  does the church make?

16
Thanks a lotthe first step to follow-up

• Church is not good at saying thank you
• Creative ways to thank the faithful
• Formal and Informal
• Notesonly 4 are handwritten
• Phone calls
• Visits
• Thankathons

17
Enjoy your ministry!

• Fun to help people
• Lives are being changed
• Peopleand moneyare making a difference
• Learn a lot about self and how to be better
  disciple

18
Were all in this together!

• You are not alone
• We all struggle with money and its draw
• Church is not exemptand shouldnt be
• Call someone
• General Assembly
• Synod
• Presbytery
• Rod Sewell
• When all else failscall me!