Tnumc Stewardship Doc

Table of Contents A Word from Bishop Richard J. Wills........................................................... 3 An Introduction.............................................................................................. 5 Stewardship & Tithing A Statement on Stewardship – Consecrating Our Treasures to God ............. 7 A Statement on Tithing.................................................................................. 9 A Pastor’s Testimony to Tithing....................................................................11 Two Laypersons’ Testimony to Tithing ........................................................13 Stewardship Suggestions for United Methodist Pastors ................................15 Stewardship Is . . . .........................................................................................19 Local Church Practices Best Practices for Year-Round Stewardship..................................................23 Considering the Annual Stewardship Campaign ...........................................25 Types of Annual Stewardship Campaigns.....................................................27 A Listing of Annual Stewardship Campaigns ...............................................29 Fund-Raisers: Pro and Con ...........................................................................33 Coming Up Short in December......................................................................35 Church Giving by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT).......................................39 Tools for Growing Christians Who Tithe ......................................................43 Giving Is an Act of Faith ...............................................................................45 The Church Budget: Questions to Ask .........................................................47 The Church Budget: Restoring Trust............................................................49 The Church Budget: The Narrative Budget ..................................................51 Connectional Giving A Theological Foundation for Connectional Giving .....................................55 Connectional Giving through Apportionments..............................................57 Resources Stewardship Resources on the Web...............................................................59 Why Estate Planning in a Local Church? ......................................................61 Bibliographic Resources ................................................................................63 Scriptural Starters for Stewardship Sermons .................................................65 Teaching Tools Talking About Money – a Small Group Study on Stewardship ....................67 Money Autobiography ...................................................................................75 More Teaching Tools.....................................................................................79 Giving Beyond Ourselves (in pastor’s book only)

1

2

A Word from Bishop Richard J. Wills

Dear Friends, I hope you will take this stewardship resource and make good use of it in your local church. Good stewardship practices are vital to making disciples of Jesus Christ who are faithful to God’s purposes with money and possessions. Where there is a lack of good stewardship practices, churches will fail to provide adequate resources for ministry. Church leaders need a plan for stewardship education. This stewardship resource will help you develop a plan of stewardship education that empowers disciples for faithful giving to the ministry of Christ Jesus. I know God still has a lot of work for all of us to do in order to share Jesus Christ with the world and do His work of transformation. Please make good use of this valuable resource.

In His Love, Dick Wills, Bishop

Jeremiah 29: 11

3

4

An Introduction This Stewardship Resource Book has been produced by the Tennessee Conference Committee on Stewardship as part of a larger plan of stewardship education for local churches entitled Consecrating Our Treasures to God. Our hope is that pastors and laypersons of Tennessee Conference churches will find this Stewardship Resource Book a helpful aid. Purposes of the Stewardship Resource Book are: • • • •

To promote the importance of good stewardship education in our local churches as a necessary part of making disciples of Jesus Christ; To connect the spiritual discipline of tithing with the teaching of good stewardship education principles; To provide stewardship perspectives, strategies, and teaching tools for use in local church stewardship education efforts; and To offer links to other stewardship education resources that can benefit the local church.

Consecrating Our Treasures to God: A Stewardship Education Plan for the Tennessee Conference The heart of the stewardship education plan entitled Consecrating Our Treasures to God is the designation of March 2007 as a target date for all local churches of the Tennessee Conference to emphasize stewardship education, including the discipline of tithing. Knowing that during that same time period, other United Methodist Churches will be addressing an issue of spiritual discipline that some find challenging will give support to those who will meet this challenge. As a preparation to our month of stewardship emphasis, a Conference-wide education event concerning stewardship and the discipline of tithing will be held on Saturday, February 17, 2007. As a part of Consecrating our Treasures to God, the Conference Committee on Stewardship also plans to offer training in a personal budget management course entitled Good Sense, from Willow Creek Ministries. Purposes of Consecrating Our Treasures to God are: • • •

To promote the importance of good stewardship education in our local churches as a necessary part of making disciples of Jesus Christ; To make the spiritual discipline of tithing a common topic of conversation in all United Methodist Churches of our Tennessee Conference; and To change the stewardship climate in all United Methodist churches such that the spiritual discipline of tithing becomes the normal discipline of United Methodists.

5

6

A Statement on Stewardship Consecrating Our Treasures to God by Rev. Jay Archer “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.” Matthew 6: 19-21

Watch Your Heart My heart is to belong to God. Therefore, if my heart follows my treasures, I best take care where I place my treasure. At its surface, stewardship education looks to deal with the placement of our “treasures,” but the target of concern for stewardship is the placement of the heart. Consecrating Our Treasures to God is a title for stewardship education that speaks of the importance of putting our treasures with God (“consecrating” them) so that our heart will rightfully belong to God and we will be God’s faithful people. Unconsecrated Prosperity Someone once said that the great danger facing American Christians is one of “unconsecrated prosperity.” As Americans, we are a prosperous people with much treasure at our disposal, but our attitude toward our “unconsecrated” treasure is likely to reveal three dangerous notions that, being the opposite of sound thinking on stewardship, can destroy faith. 1. I made my treasure. In Deuteronomy 8: 10-20 we are warned that a people, when prosperous, are likely to forget their God and be filled with pride, saying, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” This attitude is then equated with idolatry. People who credit their own power and abilities for that which sustains life soon share the delusion that life can be lived without God. The result is that the true God is forgotten, and the things that are considered to be the source of prosperity (education, initiative, capital resources, etc.) are bowed down to in reverence. 2. My treasure is mine. Psalm 24: 1 states “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” Nothing we have truly belongs to us. People of faith see themselves as “stewards.” We are caretakers of treasure that belongs to God, not the owners of treasure. When we suppose that our treasure belongs to us, we are countering God’s claim of ownership. Why would faithful people ever want to oppose God in this matter? 3. I can use my treasure as I see fit. Because our treasure belongs to God, God has the say on how the treasures under our stewardship are to be used. As stewards, we seek to use God’s treasures as God sees fit. God’s love for us will determine that a portion of God’s treasure will be used for our life and benefit. God’s love for others will determine that a portion of God’s treasure will be used for God’s glory and mission.

7

Consecrated Treasures Consecrating our treasures to God will guide us into good stewardship. In our Biblical tradition, to “consecrate” an item is to set it apart for “sacred use.” In the consecration of an item for the Temple, the item was rightfully declared as God’s, ceremonially cleansed, and then dedicated to serve God’s glory and purpose. As the people of God, our treasures must also be declared as God’s, our attitudes toward our treasures washed clean in thanksgiving for God’s grace, and our treasures dedicated to God’s glory and purpose. What Happens When We Do Not Consecrate Our Treasures? When we do not consecrate our treasures to God, we both damage our own hearts and damage the mission in God’s heart. 1. We damage our own hearts. An entry in John Wesley’s journal of Oct. 12, 1760 states: On the three following days I spoke severally to the members of the Bristol Society. As many of them increase in worldly goods, their grand danger, I apprehend, will be their lapsing into the spirit of the world, and then their religion is but a dream.

When our hearts are placed with treasures that “moth and rust can destroy and thieves can break in and steal” our hearts are soon captured by anxiety and greed. Our hearts are meant to find hope and security in God, not such temporary things. There is no true security in such temporary treasures, and to maintain or accumulate such treasures requires a lot of our attention and effort. We remain worried about the security of our treasures, or driven to increase the amount of worldly treasure we have. This damages the true religious heart whose trust is in God and whose desire is to serve God wholeheartedly. Because our heart is in the wrong place, we have little trust or passion for God and the Wesleyan hope for “heartfelt” religion becomes but a dream. 2. We damage the mission in God’s heart. Hear this description of the Christian people written by Aristides in 135 A.D. “They walk in all humility and kindness and falsehood is not among them. They love one another. They do not refuse to help widows. They rescue the orphan from violence. He who has gives ungrudgingly to him who lacks. If they see a stranger, they take him home and entertain him as a brother. When one of their poor passes from this world, any one of them who sees it provides for his burial according to his ability . . . Truly this is a new people and there is something divine in them.”

Because of the way this ancient church was able to freely, generously, and joyfully give of what they had for the sake of others and in the name of Christ, Aristides concluded that there was a divine presence in the world. When the people of God have no freedom to give generously and joyfully, then there is little evidence offered through the church of the divine presence of our Lord Jesus Christ in the world. If we do not consecrate our treasures to God, and thus find the freedom to love and give extravagantly and in sure confidence and trust in God, then Christ’s own church will damage the mission of Christ. Written by Reverend Jay Archer, Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Stewardship.

8

A Statement on Tithing by Rev. Jay Archer Consecrating Our Treasures to God is a conference plan for stewardship education that includes the discipline of tithing. The Conference Committee on Stewardship considers the discipline of tithing (giving 10 percent of your income to Christ’s church and mission) to be a foundational principle of any sound stewardship education effort. What follows are some observations about the spiritual discipline of tithing that might spur the believer to learn more about the practice of tithing, and come to adopt the practice.

Tithing is a Biblical Principle Scripture reveals God’s expectation that the people of God are to give the tithe. The first Scriptural referent to the tithe is found in Genesis 14 with Abram; then Jacob refers to giving 10 percent of all he has to God in Genesis 28. The tithe is firmly developed as a part of covenant law and as a common practice among the people of God. By the time of Jesus and the birth of the church, tithing is well accepted as the minimal standard of giving among all the people of God. Tithing is a Recognition of God’s Ownership Tithing is not a matter of letting God have 10 percent of your income so that you can consider the rest of your income as your own. When we tithe we are simply being obedient to what God tells us to do with God’s money. The 90 percent that remains after the tithe is given is still God’s money, and God’s people are to ask God what God wants done with that money as well. Tithing is an Act of Worship A part of worship is to honor the Lord by bringing to God our best. The people of God were to offer the best of their crops and animals to God in order to give honor and thanks to the God who loved, formed and saved them. To honor the Lord who has loved, formed and saved us, we must not try to get by “on the cheap.” A tithe represents a worthy portion (or sacrifice) that honors God. Tithing Involves an Issue of Identity Tithing is a mark upon us that we belong to God. According to Scripture, those who belong to God tithe to God. We are God’s people, and God’s people tithe. Tithing is a practice that reinforces our self-understanding as to who and whose we are! Tithing is a Practice that Develops Trust Our trust in God only gets stronger as we practice it. Tithing gives us an opportunity to risk a venture with God. Tithing can be a frightening prospect when we first begin to tithe, but when we trust God in this concrete way (in spite of our fears) we find our ability to trust God has grown. Tithing grows strong, trusting, faithful hearts.

9

Tithing Confirms the Reality of God It is difficult for us to experience God’s comforting and strengthening presence until we truly come to lean on God. Tithing forces us to rely on God rather than our own devices, and there we discover that what we had always suspected to be true ... is really true: God is with us, and God does provide for God’s people. Tithing Brings Spiritual Joy There is a great joy that comes with the spiritual discipline of tithing. Some of that joy comes from knowing that in this one expectation you are being obedient to God. There is also a joy that comes from trusting God, and finding God trustworthy. There is also a joy that comes from knowing you have joined the ranks of millions before you who have practiced the spiritual discipline of tithing. Tithing is an Act that Frees Anxieties and compulsions about money and possessions can take us captive. Tithing provides a way to confront our captors directly. Jesus says we cannot serve God and mammon. The choice before us is clarified through tithing. Either we will choose to surrender to anxieties and compulsions and not give God God’s rightful portion — or we will tithe in the face of our anxieties and compulsions. When the choice to tithe is made, anxieties and compulsions most often fall away. Tithing Has Its Dangers One can tithe for reasons that impoverish one’s faith rather then grow one’s faith. If tithing becomes a source of spiritual pride, the Christian is damaged. If one tithes out of the mistaken belief that tithing is way to get more things (the more you give to God, the more God will give you) the Christian becomes trapped in self-centeredness and greed. If one tithes out of legalism, viewing tithing as that “one more thing” that will ensure righteousness, then the Christian will lose all righteousness when reliance on the grace of Christ’s righteousness is abandoned. Common Questions about Tithing Do I tithe out of my gross income or out of my income after taxes?” Some tithe out of their gross income. Many tithe from their “Adjusted Gross Income,” and many tithe out of the after-tax income. The important thing is to begin to tithe. God can always work on the details later. “Should I give my whole tithe to the church, or can a portion of my tithe go towards other charities and avenues of God work?” Most believe that the greatest portion of your tithe ought to go to your church, for that is the primary avenue for your worship and mission. Many find they like to set aside a small portion of the tithe in readiness for God’s unexpected call to aid a specific cause or situation. “Can I consider giving of my time as a substitute portion of my tithe?” Normally, the giving of time does not serve the same purpose as tithing your income. All are expected to give time to God and God’s purposes. Tithing relates to the proper perception, attitude, and practices we have with money and possessions, and the Scriptural admonitions about tithing are in regard to money and possessions. Written by Reverend Jay Archer, Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Stewardship.

10

A Pastor’s Testimony to Tithing by Rev. Jay Archer

Fresh out of Divinity School, my wife and I were serving our first pastoral appointment. The conference minimum salary was our income source. I can’t remember what we gave to the church, but it was a meager amount. I do remember our rationale for determining the amount — there wasn’t one! We did want to be numbered among those who made giving commitments to the church (after all, my position as the Pastor required it), but the amount we gave was simply what we thought we could afford. We did not consider a tithe, nor did we consider giving a percentage of our income. We began by giving an amount we thought we wouldn’t miss when it came time to balance expenses. In the first year of our appointment, I found myself proposing a small group program entitled “The John Wesley Great Experiment” (also known as “Ten Brave Christians”). The idea was to find at least 10 persons who, in an effort to “Taste and see that the Lord is good!” (Psalm 34: 8) would commit to five classic disciplines of the faith for one month. The thought was that anybody might be willing to do something for one month — but experiencing that one month of discipline would be enough to make some grand discoveries about God and the Christian life. I needed to find out if God was as real, loving and involved in our lives as some folk said God was. I figured that living a disciplined Christian life, even if only for a month, might be a way to find out. The church graciously agreed to try the program with me. One of the sticky points in the program was that one of the disciplines was to tithe for the month. That sticky point became a great blessing that has stuck with my wife and me ever since. I became anxious about the tithing discipline of the Great Experiment. My wife was even more anxious. We were barely scraping by financially; how could we afford to tithe? I remember an important conversation I had about the matter with an older parishioner, Carl Walker. I discovered that he and his wife, Gladys, had tithed their modest income all their married lives. I asked Carl if tithing ever became easy. Carl didn’t give me some fantasy line about how the Lord makes you so rich when you tithe that you never miss the 10 percent you give. Instead, Carl said that tithing has always been hard for them to do in regard to their budget — but they have always done it. This was the answer I needed! I didn’t need to tithe because I thought tithing would make me rich! I didn’t need to tithe because I thought tithing would become effortless, easy, and hardly noticed in the budget. I needed to tithe precisely because God expected it of me and I was afraid to tithe. I needed to tithe precisely because God expected it of me and I thought it would be difficult to accomplish. Tithing was the discipline that I could go ahead and do, even though I was afraid. I felt like Peter, asked by Jesus to leave the safety of the boat and join Him on the water. This was my opportunity to step out of the boat in faith and trust — and, after all, it was only for a month! I wanted to do it. Christine agreed.

11

After tithing that first month, we tithed the second month. From then on we were tithing Christians. We had tasted and we had seen that the Lord was good! God’s goodness was evidenced in some new flavors now present in Christine’s and my walk with God. For one thing, I found a confirming and refreshing sense of the reality of God. My doubt and distrust had been a barrier to my sensing God’s presence. Having confronted my doubts and having exercised my trust, I now experienced a more vivid intimacy with the Lord. In addition, Christine and I found that new and simple joy which often accompanies those who find obedience to God’s expectation of tithing. We also experienced a curious freedom from money anxiety. Before the tithing practice we were often fearful that there would not be enough income to meet expenses. Having trusted God as our provider, we now embraced an article of faith that “God would provide what was needed for the task.” We had confirmed to ourselves that our life task was to give honor and witness to Christ, and God would provide what was needed for our vocation. We had less money to spend while tithing, but far less anxiety about money. We would forever prefer to have less money if it meant less anxiety! This newfound freedom from money anxiety eventually grew to a new ability to be generous to God’s causes beyond our tithe. Christine and I did experience a mystery that is common to those who tithe. The 90 percent of our income we had remaining after the tithe seemed to go further than 100 percent of our income before we tithed. One aspect of this mystery is related to discovering “the secret of being content.” (Philippians 4: 12) With the spiritual discipline of tithing came a shift in what Christine and I hungered for. Christine and I became more content with the “things of God,” rather than with more things. Finally, I enjoyed the experience of “putting my money where my mouth was.” I had always preached an invitation to join the ranks of those who dare to follow Christ. In taking what was a bold step for me (tithing), I felt I was doing some portion of what I had preached about.

Written by Reverend Jay Archer, Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Stewardship.

12

Two Laypersons’ Testimony to Tithing by Rev. Jay Archer

I meet every Wednesday with two other men from our church who have shared their experiences of tithing with me.

Jim said that he had been taught about tithing as a child, but was waiting to tithe “until he could afford it.” Just married, he and his wife attended an adult Sunday school class in which a lesson on tithing was given. Jim and Debra decided that it was the time to tithe, whether they thought they could afford it or not. They began to tithe. Now, many years later, their attitude is “I need to tithe to afford to live.” Committing to the tithe has forced them to make good decisions on spending, and the result has been the severing of some idolatrous connections to material things. Jim also spoke of the emotional reward that comes with more significant giving to Christ’s church and mission. Jim and Debra say that tithing reminds them to whom they belong (Christ, not to their debt or to the bank), and that tithing is a confirmation for them that their choice in life is to be faithful to Christ.

Bart relates that he and his wife, Leslie, are thankful each time they write their tithe check and see how God has provided so well for them. They tithe in trust of God’s provision, and on that occasional month when Bart wonders where the money to meet expenses will come from, he finds that there is enough. Bart compares the experience of seeing God’s provision to Moses seeing a burning bush. It reminds him that God is present and active in this world. Bart was taught to tithe by his father, who urged him to give 10 percent of his allowance to the church. Bart drifted from God during his young adult years, but when he returned to faith, he found it helpful to do the specific things that God asks us to do. He likes to “keep simple things simple,” and he considers tithing to be one of those straightforward expectations that God has of us. Bart gets great pleasure from tithing.

Written by Reverend Jay Archer, Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Stewardship

13

14

Stewardship Suggestions for United Methodist Pastors by Rev. David S. Bell One of the foundational premises of Christian stewardship is that God is the owner of all. All that we have in life is a generous gift from God. Stewardship includes our care of one another, the use of our natural resources, and the management of our personal property and our finances. Thus, stewardship encompasses far more than just money. Yet, we often equate stewardship with the topic of money and not with the joy of giving. Stewardship is often a topic that is avoided by many pastors. However, pastors can greatly influence the understanding of money and stewardship in the life of a congregation. In fact, many experts suggest that a pastor is the primary stewardship leader of the congregation. Like any aspect of one’s spiritual formation, generous giving is a spiritual gift that requires cultivation and growth. As a pastor, you can nurture the spiritual gift of giving within your congregation. Here are some specific suggestions related to the stewardship of money: Make prayerful decisions concerning your own family’s financial management. Practice a lifestyle that is compatible with the teaching of Jesus, not with the values of American consumerism. Model generous giving. Practice tithing or proportionate giving. Complete your own estate planning. These selffocused activities are important tasks for your own stewardship development. Moreover, the completion of these tasks will enable you to lead others more effectively in the joy of generous giving. (Clergy Finance Letter is an informative financial resource. It is published bi-monthly and may be ordered by calling 616956-0087 or by visiting www.clergy-financial.com.) Complete a money autobiography; encourage church leaders to complete money autobiographies. Create a non-threatening small group experience for people to share and to discuss portions of these autobiographies. (Visit www.gbod.org/stewardship or call 877-899-2780 to learn more about money autobiographies.) Promote a vision of ministry that attracts people to be generous givers. Most people are not motivated to give to the “survival needs” of the church, they are motivated to give because of the mission and ministry of the church. Practice year-round stewardship. •

Preach regularly on stewardship topics. (A Stewardship Sermon Starter based on a lectionary text is written eight times per year by David Bell. View it at www.gbod.org/stewardship. You may also sign up to receive it as part of an e-mail newsletter, UMC Giving Notes. Visit www.umcgiving.org to sign up. You may also call 877-899-2780 to receive a copy by mail or fax.)

15

• •

•

•

Be intentional about focusing the offertory prayers on the joy of giving. (Weekly prayers are available at www.gbod.org/stewardship.) Provide a variety of educational and small group experiences that focus on topics such as: personal financial management, family budget planning, debt reduction/consolidation, and estate planning. (Contact the United Methodist Foundation Office, 520 Commerce St., Suite 203, Nashville, TN 37203-3714, 615-259-2008, for potential leadership.) Offer annually Steward: Living as Disciples in Everyday Life, a 12-week Bible study resource for small groups. (You may order this resource directly from Cokesbury, 800-672-1789 or www.cokesbury.com. Call 877899-2780 for a free promotional video.) Encourage the establishment of a planned giving program for the local church. If one already exists, then cultivate persons to designate gifts to the various endowment programs. (Contact the United Methodist Foundation Office, 520 Commerce St., Suite 203, Nashville, TN 372033714, 615-259-2008, for guidance.)

Be an active leader in planning a designated time during the church year when the congregation individually and collectively reflects on its practice of generous giving. Often this focused time will be an appropriate time to conduct an annual stewardship campaign. An annual campaign should be grounded theologically in the celebration of giving. One of the goals of this designated time is to provide people with the opportunity to experience the joy of giving. (A listing of annual campaign resources is available at www.gbod.org/stewardship or by calling 877-899-2780.) Direct the Finance Committee to develop a narrative budget in addition to the detailed line-item budget. The narrative budget should be widely distributed. The narrative budget emphasizes the mission and vision of the church, rather than individual line items. The line-item budget is only needed by those responsible for the management of the church. The vast majority of the congregation is interested exclusively in the ministry and outreach of the church. (A description of a narrative budget is available at www.gbod.org/stewardship or by calling 877-899-2780.) Read a minimum of one stewardship book annually. (A complete stewardship bibliography is available at www.gbod.org/stewardship or by calling 877-8992780. Full descriptions of featured books published by Discipleship Resources are included, as well.) Be highly knowledgeable about the apportionments of the general church, conference, and district. Consistently interpret to the congregation the mission and ministry enabled through the apportionment system. Educate the congregation that apportionments are an extremely vital extension of the ministry and outreach of the local church. (Visit www.umcgiving.org for comprehensive information on apportionments and to order or download several free resources.)

16

Be intentional with the Finance and/or Stewardship Committee(s) to create a variety of giving “entry points” so that all church members and friends can experience the joy of giving through the ministry and mission of the church. Individuals are emotionally drawn to give to different ministries. Increasingly, they are demonstrating a desire to determine how their gifts are used to touch the lives of others. A church that provides several methods and funds for people to offer their financial support will ultimately provide more opportunities for people to experience the joy of giving. In contrast to what one might assume, giving will typically increase if the opportunities to give also increase. • • • •

• •

Promote all of the United Methodist Special Sundays. (Visit www.umcgiving.org/content/sundays/default.asp) Include a giving envelope and ministry stories with quarterly financial statements. Distribute offering envelopes and UM Special Sunday envelopes to all persons (not just those attending a worship service on a given week.) Develop Christian stewards among all age-levels within the congregation. (Stewardship Nuggets are specifically designed stewardship lessons for children. Learn more at www.gbod.org/stewardship.) Establish and promote a variety of designated funds. Baby boomers and younger generations will be drawn to these funds because they allow individuals to become emotionally connected to their giving. Promote The Advance for Christ and His Church. The Advance supports thousands of ministries in more than 100 countries. The Advance is voluntary “second-mile” giving. In The United Methodist Church, the first mile (priority) is for local churches to pay their World Service and other apportioned funds and conference benevolence commitments.

Remember that people want to know that their gifts of time, talent, prayers, and presence are making a difference in the world. Consistently provide them with examples of the impact that their gifts have made on other people. Share these examples through a wide variety of settings, including worship, newsletter articles, church web sites, informal conversations, committee meetings, small group classes, and prayer circles. Regularly visit the General Board of Discipleship stewardship web site (www.gbod.org/stewardship) for innovative stewardship resources.

Written by the Rev. David S. Bell ([email protected]), Director of the Center for Christian Stewardship, the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Copyright © 2003 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Used with permission.

17

18

Stewardship Is . . . 52 definitions of “stewardship” for use in campaigns, bulletins, newsletters, etc. 1. derived from an old English term “stye-ward” – or “keeper of the pigs. ” The concept of the stye-ward, however, is based on an older tradition of the entrusted servant who cared for all of the holdings of his master. What has your Master asked you to take care of? 2. the management of God’s household. It is much more than making a pledge of money, it is also the way we manage our lives, our gifts, our talents, our resources, and our time and energy. Stewardship is our “whole-life” response to God. What are your responses? 3. assessing the values by which we live and love on this earth. What do you value? When was the last time you measured your life against those values? 4. giving yourself to all those you encounter. This week, offer help to those you see that are in need of your love. Give a part of yourself to others. 5. a variety of things – like raising money for the church. But it also means taking care of yourself and others. Stewardship is taking care of the community around you. 6. thanking God for the blessings He gives us, and then giving as lavishly as we can out of that abundance. 7. caring for God’s creation and using it in the service of God and man. Man is not to exploit it, waste it or spoil it. 8. a sharing of your best assets and gifts. If your stewardship actions were like a lunch time meal – are you sharing nutrition, proteins and vitamins, or are you sharing empty calories and unnecessary cholesterol? 9. putting your faith into action. Stewardship is not just putting money in the offering plate. It is not just recycling your soft drink cans. Take time to reflect on how much of your stewardship is just a habit and much is your active choice to put your faith into action. 10. being a “the Keeper of the Flame. ” You are the keepers of the flame. What will you give to keep the light glowing? 11. governing the earth responsibly under God’s sovereignty. Adam was the first steward (Genesis 2: 15). “The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it. ” 12. understanding that the decision to share is your decision. God has given to each of us a portion of time, resources, talents and energy. As God has given to each of us, so are we asked by God to give to others. If we are to be good stewards, we must respond to that call to share. 13. serving others. Each of us has been blessed with one of God’s many wonderful gifts to be used in the service of others. So be good stewards of God’s grace and use your gifts well. 14. using all of our gifts in the best way we can. Almost all of our decisions have an effect on those around us. Wise stewards make sure that the impact they have on others is positive rather than negative.

19

15. using the world’s limited resources to provide for the greatest good for ourselves and others. We each have limited resources and good stewards balance all of the resources at their disposal – time, energy, finances, prayer, gifts, and love. 16. supporting the local church budget. There are many needs in our lives and our world that cannot be addressed unless the church is supported. 17. our response to God as we use our individual, unique talents and gifts. 18. taking good care of ourselves. In order to be good stewards of our families, our friends, our planet, and our finances – we need to be good stewards of ourselves. That means being able to say no to things that seem wrong, and taking time for yourself. 19. taking an inventory of all of the resources God has made available to us and then making conscious decisions about how each can be most effectively utilized. What are your gifts? How are you using them? 20. helping other believers put their faith into action. We share a basic faith in God and there are many ways that faith can be acted out. Are you comfortable with the ways you put your faith into action? Really? 21. managing your own family relationships well, and seeing that your children grow with proper respect. If anyone does not know how to manage his own relationships, how can he/she take care of God’s world? 22. prayerful, wise and Christian use of our personal talents, our time, the earth’s resources, our financial resources, the local church’s resources, and even the regional and global church’s resources. 23. a sharing of gifts. A strong and committed faith might be one of your best gifts. Or perhaps your faith is growing and seeking. Is this a gift that you are sharing with others, both at church and during the rest of your week? 24. “working for the good of all, and especially for those of the family of faith. ” (Galatians 6: 10) Stewards work and serve for the good of all. 25. giving away the “secrets” we know about God, because no one has all the answers as to who God is. We cannot keep our faith to ourselves. 26. NOT ownership – it is guardianship of the ownership. 27. letting your light shine out. God has given you a light. “Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven” (Matthew 5: 16). Stewards do not “hide it under a bushel,” but rather they “let it shine, let it shine, let it shine. ” 28. “is the practice of systematic and proportionate giving of time, talent, and material possessions, based on the conviction that these things are a trust from God to be used in the service and benefit of mankind, in grateful acknowledgement of Christ’s redeeming love. ” (United Stewardship Council, 1945.) 29. “our response to God’s love. ” (Hilbert Berger) 30. giving to God “what’s right” instead of “what’s left. ” 31. understanding that you’ve been given special gifts for God’s special purposes – and discovering, developing and using those gifts is a lifelong responsibility.

20

32. “what I do after I say I believe. ” (Clarence Stoughton) 33. “one’s grateful and obedient response to God’s redeeming love, expressed by the use of all resources for the fulfillment of Christ’s mission in the world. ” (National Council of Churches Commission on Stewardship, 1964) 34. “the name we give to the practiced expressions of our faith. ” (Thomas Rieke) 35. being “an administrator of what has been put into our hands by God’s grace. ” (Edwin Biggs) 36. a very personal responsibility and a very personal decision. Even though the needs and desires of others may influence us, no one but you can decide how you will be a steward of the gifts and resources you have been given. How can you respond better to God’s call to be a good steward? 37. gratitude for the talents God gave us that have helped us accumulate our comfortable possessions. By sharing those possessions and that comfort, we support the cost of spreading His Word in this secular world. 38. “one’s conscious, purposeful attempts to make appropriate responses to what one believes God has done in the past, continues to do in the present, and what one believes God is calling one to be, do and become. ” (Rev. Tom English) 39. being a receiver, manager, user, trustee and distributor. 40. responding to John Wesley’s call to “earn all you can, save all you can and give all you can. ” 41. a year-round focus that involves the entire life of the Christian 42. “an ongoing journey, not a final destination.” (Rev. Don Strait) 43. serving one master faithfully. Many demands are placed on our time, energy and wealth. In the midst of all this, stewards remember who they are, whose they are, and why they were put upon the earth. 44. not only providing for the present, but also helping to build and provide for the future. 45. sharing your time, presence, gifts and services in the manner that fits with God’s image. We have been created in God’s image, and that image is centered on love and generosity. 46. helping our church grow for those that will follow after us. 47. paying attention to and caring for ourselves – physically, emotionally and spiritually. 48. “the management of estates or affairs not his own. ” (Funk & Wagnall) 49. “recognition that we are given the gift of life and are called to be managers of the good gifts that come from God.” (Rev. David Myers) 50. your chance to reflect the image of a loving God. 51. a life of lordship – not hoardship. 52. caring more about giving than about getting.

Reprinted with permission from the Rocky Mountain Conference Council on Finance and Administration.

21

22

Best Practices for Year-Round Stewardship by Rev. David S. Bell

Discipleship • • • • • • •

Provide an opportunity for people to live a lifestyle with values other than consumerism. Promote the faith-based joy of generous giving, starting with the church leaders. Focus on the need of the giver to give, rather than on the church’s need to underwrite an operating budget. Encourage pastors to embrace their role as stewardship leaders. Establish the offering as an integral act of worship. Link the offertory prayer to other aspects of the worship service. Consistently teach children and youth about Christian stewardship through activities and reflective questions. Promote a vision of ministry that attracts people and changes people’s lives. Remember: Most people are not motivated to give out of “survival issues;” rather, they are motivated by mission and ministries.

Cultivation • • •

• • • •

Emphasize percentage giving and tithing at least once a year. Celebrate giving and provide numerous opportunities for people to be able to give. Preach at least eight times a year on stewardship. Remember: Jesus talked about money, things, and possessions more than any other topics in the New Testament. Provide a course in personal budget planning. Talk about and hold seminars on wills, endowments, and bequests. Promote planned giving from people’s assets and estates. Invite a different person or couple to breakfast or lunch once a week for a discussion about faith commitment and money. Offer people the opportunity to discover their spiritual gifts and to find ways to use those gifts in the church and with others.

Conversation •

•

•

Talk about money! Lift the taboo on discussing money in the church. Allow more than one person, including the pastor, to have access to the financial giving records. Be intentional about telling stories of the work, mission, and ministry of the church. Ask, “How is The United Methodist Church changing people’s lives within the congregation, in the community, and around the world?” Prepare a narrative budget for the congregation. Distribute the traditional line-item budget only to the church leaders and others who request a copy.

23

• • • •

Rather than perpetuating a crisis mode, focus on the potential of the church. Inform congregations of their giving patterns. Set goals; provide follow-up information; personalize giving statements. Establish clear policies concerning endowment funds and memorial gifts. Seek grants and the formation of a separate nonprofit corporation. See “Seeking Grants: An Internet Bibliography” for more information.

Written by the Rev. David S. Bell ([email protected]), Director of the Center for Christian Stewardship, the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Copyright © 2004 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Used with permission.

24

Considering the Annual Stewardship Campaign Does every local church need to conduct an annual campaign? Not necessarily; however, every local church needs to emphasize percentage giving and tithing at least once a year. For many churches, the most appropriate way to conduct this is through an annual campaign. This should be a focused time in the life of the church when the congregation, individually and collectively, is encouraged to develop the joy-filled spiritual gift of generous giving. How many years can a local church use the same campaign? Generally, three consecutive years is the maximum lifespan of any annual campaign program. A church will experience diminishing financial results in the fourth year and following years. However, a campaign program may be reintroduced to a congregation in four to six years after at least two other campaign programs have been used. What are the best annual campaign programs? The best program for one congregation may not be the best program for another congregation. Review two or three programs and make a decision based on the match between your local church and the program. If a local church has not conducted an annual campaign in several years or has never conducted a campaign, then the Center for Christian Stewardship recommends The New Consecration Sunday by Herb Miller. Who should run the annual campaign? A group of visionary people who have the spiritual gift of generous giving! Ideally, all members of the Committee on Finance are generous givers (in relation to their financial ability to give). However, they may not be the most visionary people in the church. It is usually most effective for the campaign to be run by members who are not part of the Committee on Finance. It is helpful for a member of the Committee on Finance to be involved with the annual campaign and to provide reports to the Committee on Finance. Most Committee on Finance members have so many other responsibilities and gifts that they may welcome another group of leaders being responsible for the campaign. Seek people who are passionate about their faith, have a dream for the church, often suggest new ministries, and may like to serve on a committee that has a specific task and a specific timeline. Does an annual campaign need to be held in the fall? No. An annual campaign may be conducted at any time; however, fall and spring tend to be the most appropriate times. Annual campaigns held in the fall related traditionally to an agrarian society and the fall harvest. The number of annual campaigns held in the spring has been increasing steadily. The spiritual gift of giving correlates with the themes of Lent and Easter.

25

26

Types of Annual Stewardship Campaigns Proportional Giving/Tithing Offers a “step up” program where persons can increase their giving on a percentage basis, dependent upon their income. Persons are asked to increase their giving annually and to work toward tithing. Consecration Sunday Concentrates on the giver’s “need to give” rather than the church’s “need to receive.” Raises the level of giving on a spiritual basis. A special Sunday is established at which persons receive a pledge card and are asked to complete it on that Sunday and to come forward to consecrate their gifts. Every Member Visitation The design of the every member visitation is to visit every member in the homes. Usually teams of two make the visits. Visitors are informed about the church’s mission and ministry. Visitors are trained to (1) interpret the church’s vision for the future, (2) explain the budget, (3) hear the hurts and hopes of parishioners, and (4) encourage people to participate financially in the church’s mission and ministry. Each team is expected to make about five visits. Recruiting and training of visitors becomes critical. Some campaigns will have visitors receive the pledge card during the visit, whether it is filled in or not, and some will have people return the pledge card at a special service of worship. Phone-A-Thon This model of a finance campaign is similar to the very member visitation except contact is made via telephone instead of a home visit. Callers receive extensive training to guarantee effective phone dialog. The QUILL Fund-Raising Campaign The QUILL Fund-Raising Campaign involves the church’s top givers handwriting personal letters on their own stationery to invite other church members to join the authors in substantially increasing their mutual giving to their church. QUILL is dependent upon the New Testament concept of the need of the giver to give, not upon the need of the church to receive. In most churches the top 10 givers can handle the entire assignment. Personalized stationery is printed for each giver-author. Each author then selects a number of names to whom he or she will handwrite a letter, using one or more of the suggested letter outlines that are provided. There is a simple and effective follow-up for non-responders. Two or three good-givers are invited to witness their giving at worship. A positive byproduct of this campaign is that a stronger sense of community is built among the church members. The QUILL Campaign can be ordered from: Church Fundraising Services, Inc., P.O. Box 19138, Boulder, CO 80308

27

All Church Dinner The All Church Dinner approach aims to have as many persons as possible attend a dinner(s) when the program of the Church will be presented and opportunity given for pledges to be made. This approach is used by some churches as a “Harvest Home” or “Fall Festival,” or a similar thanksgiving or harvest theme. A Loyalty Sunday approach may use an all-church dinner. Harvest Home Harvest Home is held on Thanksgiving Sunday each year. The worship hour has a guest preacher. A dinner and program follow worship. On Sunday morning each family brings their annual gift or pledge to be placed on the altar. The pledges are tallied immediately after worship, and the total announced to the dinner gathering. The total effort is to allow giving to be as joyous and celebrative as possible. Loyalty Sunday Stress attendance at worship on a special Sunday. Interpretative information is distributed prior to the special Sunday. Lay speakers offer their testimonies on giving several Sundays prior to Loyalty Sunday. Circuit Rider or Pony Express These two popular campaign models can be successful when used creatively. The congregation is organized into circuits of 10 to 12 families with a “captain” or “trail boss” of each circuit. The first family calls on the second family and leaves a packet (saddle bag) containing interpretative materials, instructions, and pledge cards. The second family delivers the packet to the third family and so forth until the circuit is completed. The “captain” closely monitors progress of the packet or saddle bag, retrieves it when it has made the circuit and returns it to the church. Family Album Photographs of church events and activities of all types are taken throughout a church year. Copies of these photographs are made to be included in a number of church albums. These albums are then shared with the entire congregation by utilizing routes similar to a Circuit Rider campaign. Faith Promise or ‘Private’ Pledge Stimulates growth in stewardship and faithfulness in giving. A person’s or family’s pledge is known only to that person or family. At the end of the year, the sealed envelope is to be returned to the giver along with a record of giving for the year. Ideas are shared on a regular basis in Sunday worship and in other opportunities in the life of the Church concerning the importance of giving as it relates to spiritual growth. The implication is given that the pledge is a covenant between those involved and God, and that dedication of the covenant is important.

Reprinted with permission from the Rocky Mountain Conference Council on Finance and Administration.

28

A Listing of Annual Stewardship Campaigns Called to Serve by Leo B. Waynick, Jr. LeWay Resources, Inc. 1-800-72-LEWAY • This program invites the congregation to explore stewardship as it relates to vocation. • Members are challenged to consider how they serve Christ in the church, in the community, in the home, in the world, and in the workplace. • The program culminates with volunteers telephoning each household to discuss the church’s ministry and each household’s financial commitments. Celebrate the Faith by Leo B. Waynick, Jr. LeWay Resources, Inc. 1-800-72-LEWAY • Focuses on the actions people can take to develop a strong personal faith. • Invites members to commit themselves to one or more faith disciplines for a five-week period. • Encourages financial commitments being received on Celebrate the Faith Sunday. Celebrate the Gift by Leo B. Waynick, Jr. LeWay Resources, Inc. 1-800-72-LEWAY • Helps a congregation develop a joyous spirit as it celebrates the gift of faith, the gift of fellowship, and the gift of community. • Focuses on a prayer connection that unites members in prayer for one another. • Helps members – through the use of celebration cards – identify positive characteristics about their church, its members, and its mission and ministry. Courage to Care by Leo B. Waynick, Jr. LeWay Resources, Inc. 1-800-72-LEWAY • Members are invited to commit themselves to at least one act of caring through a “Care Connection.” • Visitation teams share with members in their homes aspects of next year’s program • Well-trained visitors discuss with members the ways that God is calling the church to ministry.

29

Cycles of Discipleship by Jack Phillips 614-798-8943 • A new, innovative year-round stewardship program — not a one-time emphasis — based on three annual renewal cycles. Each cycle is designed for a four-month period. • Introduced through four special Sundays — Celebration Sunday, Vision Sunday, A Place for You Sunday, and Discipleship Sunday. • Motivates people to give as a response of their gratitude for God’s grace. • Kit includes nine program guides, a training video, resource materials CDROM, age-graded Discipleship Lessons, and online support with updates and resource materials. Giving: Growing Joyful Stewards in Your Congregation by Ecumenical Stewardship Center 1-800-972-0433 • An annual journal filled with stewardship articles, including a basic annual stewardship campaign • The journal offers a different theme each year. • The journal provides an announcement letter, cover letter with estimate of giving card, financial enlistment timeline, and other theme material (available from Cokesbury). In the Light of Grace by Resource Services, Inc. 1-800-527-6824 • A two-Sunday budget program with mailers that stimulate congregations to examine giving in a new light. • Lessons and seminars further help church members apply stewardship to their daily lives. • All the components build toward a special churchwide experience called Commitment Sunday. • The program is available in two versions: The first presents the Bible’s precepts on tithing; the second emphasizes general stewardship and growth in giving. Living Stewardship Program 1-800-443-2872 • Focuses on a different theme each year. • Provides separate, custom printed material for targeted audiences, such as current contributing members and inactive members. • Enables different approaches to be used in reaching various segments of the congregation. • Bases pricing on church membership.

30

New Beginnings: My Opportunity for Giving by Paul Wilkes 1-800-936-0363 • My Opportunity for Giving has a simple — yet profound — goal: To make stewardship a way of life for congregants. • My Opportunity for Giving creates an “attitude of gratitude” by carefully leading members through a thoughtful consideration of the time, the talent, and the treasure they have been given by God. • “Stewardship — It’s Already in Your Heart” is the bold — but certainly true — statement that underlies the New Beginnings approach. The New Consecration Sunday by Herb Miller 1-800-672-1789 • A self-directed campaign. • Requires an outside leader/speaker. • Requires a meal for church leaders and a catered luncheon for the entire congregation. • Emphasizes the Christian responsibility of the giver to give. • Requires that estimate of giving cards be received on Consecration Sunday. Quill: The Personal Demonstration Stewardship Program by Church Fund-raising Services, Inc. 1-800-826-2048 • Quill focuses on a personalized appeal for each church member. • The manual is lengthy (200 pages), but highly detailed with step-by-step directions. • Handwritten letters on personal stationary in hand-addressed envelopes mailed to self-selected prospects with the personal witness of the author and an invitation to join him/her in increasing giving is the “mechanical secret” of Quill’s success. Unto Us Is Given by Leo B. Waynick, Jr. LeWay Resources, Inc. 1-800-72-LEWAY • Unto Us is Given is rooted in the belief that God gave us the gift of Jesus “special delivery.” • All members are encouraged to focus on receiving God’s gifts and to pass them on in greater abundance. • On Special Delivery Sunday, teams of two people make a special delivery of an Advent booklet to each member’s home. During the visit, the team offers to “special-deliver” the member’s estimate of giving card back to the church.

31

This listing is provided as a resource for church leaders. This listing of firms does not claim to list all companies that produce resources and services in these areas. The list is not to be construed as an endorsement or recommendation for any one firm or program. The listing is provided for informational purposes only. The list is supplied by the Center for Christian Stewardship of The United Methodist Church, The General Board of Discipleship, P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003. For more information, call toll free 1-877-899-2780, ext. 7054; or send an e-mail message to [email protected].

32

Fund-Raisers: Pro and Con by Herb Mather “Should we have a fund-raiser, or should we rely only on the giving of the people?” Has that question been raised in your congregation? It would be wonderful if there were a simple yes or no answer. There isn’t. The vast majority of money a church raises for mission and ministry comes from donations of the congregation. Exceptions are rare. The most common divergence from the pattern are African American congregations that raise significant funds at “Men’s Day,” “Women’s Day,” and other special celebrations. Many congregations use supplemental fund-raising projects. Some congregations have monthly dinners. Other churches have large annual fund-raisers that range from dinners to rummage sales to craft shows. Groups within a congregation (such as the youth organization, a preschool, Sunday School class, and choir) often have fund-raisers. If someone has imagined it, some church has tried it. The question remains: “Should a church have fund-raisers, or should the church depend upon the giving of the members?” We suggest the following guidelines: 1. Does the fund-raiser divert from the church’s mission, or does it focus on the church’s mission? A congregation that has no consensus about its mission often has a de facto mission of meeting a budget. That is not a good reason for raising money. When all the energies go into fund-raisers, it can detract from the mission of the church. 2. Is the fund-raiser a time of good fellowship among the people of the church, or is it drudgery? Some fund-raisers start out as wonderful fellowship opportunities, but gradually become drudgery. If there is not joy in doing it, stop it. 3. Does your fund-raiser involve the same people year after year (or month after month), or is it a way for new people to get acquainted with church members and to have fun in the process? Fund-raisers can be a way to include new people in the active life of the congregation. If fund-raisers continue to involve the same handful of folks doing all the work, they should probably be stopped. 4. Does the fund-raiser acquaint outsiders with the ministry and mission of the congregation? For instance, if there is a church dinner, the congregation could set up booths to acquaint those who come with Bible study opportunities, mission projects, and community ministries of the church. Look upon every activity of the church as an opportunity to invite participation from others in the community.

Should we or shouldn’t we? There is no biblical “rule” that gives a definitive answer. However, the questions above may help your church determine a spiritually healthy answer for your congregation.

Herb Mather is retired from the Center of Stewardship Resourcing of the General Board of Discipleship.

33

34

Coming Up Short in December by Don Joiner “We should make a special appeal to the congregation. Ever since the summer slump, we have been behind; and now December has come. Apportionments are three months behind.” How often has a similar speech been made in your church? How did it feel to the person who gave it? How did it feel to the people who heard it? How effective was it? Many churches come to the end of the year with the realization that a special effort is necessary to ensure that all the bills will be paid. Churches react in different ways to such a situation. Some reactions are healthy; some are not. Let’s examine some commonly used appeals. You decide whether they will help or detract from your church’s mission. Cry-a-Lot This popular system has worked well in many smaller membership churches. Usually, church treasurers are the best at this method because they write the checks. If funds are insufficient, a conscientious treasurer feels inadequate. If you wish to use this method, make it personal. Wring your hands and shed a few tears in front of people who know you and care about you. Such a demonstration may get folks to dig a little deeper to help you. The Harangue Give the people who come to church a good tongue-lashing about their poor giving habits. Point out that there are a lot of deadbeats and lukewarm Christians in the church; otherwise, the money would be sufficient. Quote the per capita giving statistics of the Wesleyans and the Adventists. Make people feel really guilty. The harangue works much better orally than in writing. Some folks may get mad, but they probably were going to leave the church anyway. Although some folks will not give more, the method will often bring in enough funds to meet the present crisis. Lay-It-on-the-Line This method is usually displayed in letters sent around December 10. The writer quotes from the membership vows and reminds folks that when they united with the church they promised to be loyal and to uphold the church through “prayer, presence, GIFTS, and service.” Sometimes this appeal is accompanied by an explanation of how much it costs “just to keep each name on the books.” The method rarely brings in much money, but it makes the finance committee feel good about having done something!

35

Cry Wolf Tell your church people that the doors may be closed if more funds don’t come in by December 31. You can warn them that the district superintendent may put a padlock on the church door. (Hardly anyone will believe you, but this method still carries emotional value.) More believable is the word that the pastor (whom the congregation loves so much) will be punished by the conference if all the apportionments are not paid. This method will work only about once a generation, since people can’t remember any such punishment ever happening before. (In other words, you are not likely to be believed.) However, if you have tried all the other methods, you probably will not lose anything — especially if the people like the pastor. By this time, you must be thinking that there are better ways of making an appeal. There are. All the ones just listed above give people about as much joy as bailing out a sinking ship. Such appeals do not help people to see giving as a spiritual discipline. When people fail to see the church as a ministering body, they are simply keeping the organization afloat. Giving does not feel good when it is used simply for survival. Consider how such appeals would sound to a first-time visitor. It is likely that anyone wandering into the congregation would decide, “This church is in trouble. I surely don’t want to be a part of it.” Financial problems do not wait until December to surface. They have probably been festering for a long time. The end of the year is judgment day. Although it is too late to take corrective action for the past year, you can plan a strategy for the coming year. As a first step, examine the giving pattern of your church over the past three to five years. From the church records, list the amount received each month. Average the total receipts each January and so on through the year. You will see that certain months are consistently high, while others are low. In many churches, the December offerings are three to four times larger than offerings in any other month of the year. If that is your pattern, why not give your “Praise” speech? Praise “This church has a history of giving very generously in December. Last year, our December giving amounted to $____. We anticipate that you will be equally generous this year. In fact, if you give only $____ more than last year, we will have all our bills paid; and we can go into the new year with our heads held high. “Your generosity makes it possible for us to have a pastor who calls on the sick and shut-ins. Through our giving, we are helping teach children, youth, and adults about the faith. We are feeding the hungry and providing medical care to the sick. We are in ministry through our giving.”

36

Some churches may be experiencing a shortfall for the first time. It may be the result of economic conditions in the area or the death of several substantial givers. In situations such as these, you might want to use a “Tell-It-Like-It-Is” speech. Tell It Like It Is “This has been a hard year for many people in our church. I am encouraged by the dedication and generosity of many of you. You remind me of the church in Macedonia that Paul describes: ‘For during a severe ordeal of affliction, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part’ (2 Corinthians 8: 2, NRSV). In spite of the generosity of so many, we are running short this year. “We believe in giving in proportion to what we have. As Paul says, ‘I do not mean that there should be relief for others and pressure on you, but it is a question of a fair balance between your present abundance and their need’ (2 Corinthians 8: 13-14, NRSV). If you are one who has plenty at this time, we ask you to look upon the mission of this church as a primary place to ‘invest’ funds at this year’s end.” Giving is an investment in the gospel of Jesus Christ. For some of you, ‘investing an investment’ may be your best way of giving. Donating appreciated stock or real estate is often a sensible method of giving. We are ready to help you if one of these methods works better for you. Through all our giving, we are sharing the love of Christ here and all around the world.” In all that you do concerning the financial life of the church, emphasize giving rather that paying. Help people experience the joy of giving through the church instead of paying the bills of the church. Now is the time to plan a strategy so that you will not need to make these appeals next year. Not all these ideas will be appropriate for your church. Choose the ones that will be helpful this year: • •

•

Plan a realistic, attainable budget. You want to challenge the people, but this is not the place to project the “impossible dream.” A church that chronically has a big year-end deficit should develop a different kind of budget. A core budget lists all costs that must be paid. Other costs should be listed in order of priority. “If we receive $500 more, we will __________. The next $1,200 will mean that we can __________.” Every item that is met beyond the core budget becomes a victory for the congregation. And congregations need victories! Don’t focus on numbers; tell the story of what the money is doing in the world. Talk about the people who are receiving the gospel. Describe the prayer ministry of your church and the Christian education programs for children and youth. Talk about the ways you help feed the hungry and clothe those who do not have adequate clothing. Tell the stories in little bits, week by week.

37

•

•

•

Set dates for the committee on finance to meet at least once each quarter. At those meetings, evaluate the present year’s giving in relation to the giving in previous years. If you need to take corrective action, do so. Don’t assume that the money will come from “somewhere” before the year’s end. If action is needed, avoid making an appeal to “help the budget.” Instead, decide if one or two items in the budget have special appeal to some people. Building repair or ministry with children or youth are good choices. Highlight those budget items and develop a campaign to raise funds as “over-and-above” giving. Have a year-end giving emphasis that explains how people may give from new sources and — at the same time — receive help in their personal financial management. Brochures for distribution to your congregation are available from the Planned Giving Resource Center, the General Board of Discipleship, P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203-0003.

Don Joiner is the Director of Operations and Fund Development for the General Board of Discipleship, The United Methodist Church, Nashville, Tennessee. Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are from the New Revised Standard Version of the Bible, Copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Copyright © 2005 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Used with permission.

38

Church Giving by Electronic Fund Transfer (EFT) by Rev. David S. Bell

Electronic fund transfer (EFT) is one of the fastest growing services provided by American financial institutions. Industry leaders suggest that this growth trend will continue for the foreseeable future. Recently, church members are following this same trend by choosing to have their contributions automatically withdrawn from their personal checking account or savings account. Indeed, most mainline denominational finance offices have established relationships with companies specializing in EFT services. These relationships enable local churches to implement electronic giving programs with relative ease. The EFT process is remarkably simple for the customer to initiate. Churches with only a few participants can enlist in an EFT program. Moreover, the typical cost to a church is limited to a reasonable fee for enrollment authorizations and transactions. Although some churches have decided to accept credit card contributions, this method may support the dangerous practice of credit card overspending. Many Americans face seemingly insurmountable consumer debt as a result of credit card overspending. Encouraging parishioners to support the church through credit card contributions could add compounding burdens for these already overextended individuals and families. Churches are best to avoid credit card contributions as a means of financially supporting the church. One of the key benefits to an electronic giving program for both the church and the contributor is convenience. In fact, the convenience factor is the primary reason cited by individuals who have elected to pay recurring bills by EFT. The same rationale is true for parishioners electing to support their church by an EFT contribution. “You are giving members something they want. You are providing a convenient method for members to give,” explained Lynette von Schilling, a church account manager with an EFT company. However, convenience is just one among many benefits. “Some processors have claimed that churches can increase their [contributions] by 10 to 30 percent while steadying cash flow and freeing up dozens if not hundreds of volunteer hours,” according to Matt Whitaker, president of a third party administrator. Statistics have shown that people who contribute regularly to the church give more to the church than people who give sporadically. An electronic giving program will cultivate more regular givers and, thus, increase the church’s income. Not all church leaders are supportive of electronic giving programs for the church. Some leaders believe that electronic giving programs disregard the offering as an act of worship. Critics of electronic giving claim that an electronic giving

39

program equates church giving to paying personal bills. Some of the most outspoken critics of electronic giving suggest that it may even be a compromise of the tithing principles, may enhance the cultural view that money belongs to individuals, and may further distance the biblical imperative of generous giving. Although church members and leaders alike have raised some level of concern about electronic giving, most mainline denominational leaders consider the benefits of electronic giving to far surpass the potential concerns. In response to the concern that electronic giving inhibits parishioners from participating in the offering, churches have developed special offering cards for electronic giving participants. These cards, similar in size to an offering envelope, state that the church member has given through an EFT. Parishioners are able to be active worship participants in the offering by placing this card in the offering plate. A growing number of churches are finding electronic giving programs to be one more means of providing parishioners with an opportunity to be Christian stewards and to be generous givers in their local church. As one church member stated, “Thanks to the EFT program at my church, I am able to consistently support the mission and ministry of our church. Before the EFT program, I would contribute just a few dollars whenever I attended worship. Sadly, I spent more money buying coffee in one day than I gave to the church each week! Now, I feel like a full participant in the ministry of the church. The EFT program has helped me develop my financial discipleship. It’s amazing! I am far more involved and interested in the church since I have made a financial investment in the ministry!” While the church can provide numerous financial tools to accommodate the busy lives and to encourage the consistent giving of its members, none of these services will replace the need to call people to be Christian stewards. We are called to recognize that God is the owner of all that we possess. Our response to God through Jesus Christ, regardless of our method of giving, should be the same — a spiritual discipline of joyful, generous giving. A Brief Look at the Benefits to Electronic Giving Programs ƒ Increased Contributions ƒ Timely Contributions ƒ Forecast Future Contributions ƒ No Checks to Process ƒ Less Work for Volunteers and/or Office Staff ƒ Contributors Appreciate Greater Convenience ƒ Parishioners Are Helped to Fulfill Their Stewardship Commitments ƒ Bill Payments Are Simplified

Adapted from Vanco Services, LLC. Used with permission.

40

Frequently Asked Questions about Electronic Giving Why would people want to give to the church electronically? Many people who give regularly find that giving by electronic transfer is a convenient option. Convenience is especially important during times when people cannot attend worship. Electronic giving also helps the church predict its income so that the mission and ministry of the church can be planned adequately. When would this automatic contribution be withdrawn from a personal account? Most automatic contributions are withdrawn on a biweekly or monthly basis. The contributor is informed of the specific numerical date of withdrawal when the EFT is established. Most third party administrators withdraw funds around the 5th or 20th of each month, although the numerical date is selected by the local church. What does a parishioner need to do to set up an EFT with a church that has an established electronic giving program? In most instances, a parishioner simply completes an enrollment form, attaches a voided check, and submits them to the church office. After approximately three weeks, contributions will start being deducted on a regular basis. Is there a minimum amount that a parishioner needs to give in order to establish an EFT transaction? Most churches do not have a minimum contribution requirement. Is an EFT transaction risky? No. Actually, an EFT transaction is considered to be safer than writing a check or giving cash. An EFT is governed by strict regulations and guidelines. Nearly 10 billion EFT transactions are processed annually in the United States and Canada. How can one keep a record of one’s contributions? Each bank statement will include an itemized list of automatic withdrawals from the account. The EFT contribution to the church will be included in this list. Most churches will continue to send members a year-end giving statement. What if the church member changes banks, closes/opens accounts, or desires to make a change in the contribution amount? A church member can change accounts or the amount contributed by contacting the church office or volunteer in charge of EFT transactions. The change will be effective with the next withdrawal. In the event that notification is not received with enough advance notice, an adjustment will be made within a few business days. Will church members face any bank charges for EFT transactions? No. In fact, the church member will actually save money since no check is written to the church.

41

Can parishioners give to the church by making a credit card contribution? Although some churches do accept credit card transactions as contributions, serious concerns may arise from a church accepting credit cards. These concerns include the high service fee assessed to the church in processing credit card contributions and the potential impact that credit card acceptance may have on the escalating consumer debt. Extreme caution should be exercised for both the church and the parishioner before completing credit card transactions.

Written by the Rev. David S. Bell ([email protected]), Director of the Center for Christian Stewardship, the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Copyright © 2005 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Used with permission.

42

Tools for Growing Christians Who Tithe by Rev. Jay Archer

Tithing is a spiritual discipline and it has its curiosities. Some people feel they cannot tithe until they love Christ more. The truth is that many can never love Christ more until they tithe. The spiritual discipline of tithing breaks down many barriers in our relationship with God. When one begins to tithe, one takes a significant step down the path of a genuine, heartfelt love for Christ. There is a wide assortment of strategies and tools that serve to grow Christians who tithe. Prayerfully consider the people of your church, the experience of your church, and your own convictions on tithing. Do research to gain additional ideas for growing tithing, and then choose the tools and strategies that you feel will be most helpful to your setting. Include the Discipline of Tithing in Preaching Tithing is not a fund-raising matter; it is a spiritual and discipleship growth matter. Responsible preaching in this age of materialism and consumerism must address tithing if people are to be free to serve Christ faithfully. Have the Pastor Give Personal Witness to Tithing People will not go where a pastor is afraid to lead. Pastors must tithe in order to witness honestly to tithing. It is helpful for a pastor to witness to how the decision to tithe was made, any personal struggles with tithing, and the effects of tithing on the pastor’s life. Have Laypersons Witness to Tithing Some laypersons may think that it is expected for a pastor to tithe, but they may be surprised to find that another layperson like themselves also has the faith and dedication to tithe. Promote Percentage Giving Use the Annual Campaign to focus on giving by percentage of one’s income. Percentage giving creates a new paradigm for intentional and disciplined giving among those who give according to how they feel, or give what they think they can afford, or give according to what they have given for years. Percentage giving stresses a person’s giving in relation to one’s own income, not in relation to the amounts of money others may give. Once percentage giving is used as a beginning place for determining what is to be given, raising that percentage to a tithe can become a goal that makes sense. Use a ‘Step-up’ Approach Some may feel that to immediately advance one’s giving to a tithe is more than one’s faith can allow. A challenge to which some can more readily respond is the goal of increasing the percentage of income one gives by a point or two. This step of progress serves to encourage the giver as the giver grows toward a tithe.

43

Issue a Challenge to Tithe as an Act of Faith Some persons relate best to a bold, clear, and simple challenge to act immediately on faith and begin to tithe. The spiritual effects that come with making one great decision to tithe, rather than slowly growing toward a tithe, can be much more dramatic; thus causing profound changes in faith and discipleship that can be recalled and celebrated for a lifetime. Challenge Persons to Commit to Tithing for One Month Spiritual growth programs such us the The John Wesley Great Experiment ask the participant to commit to tithing for one month only. The advantage of this approach is that it makes tithing imaginable (anyone figures they can bear tithing for just a month) and yet gives the participant an actual experience of trusting God with tithing. One month of trusting God by saying “yes” to the tithe can be enough to break poor stewardship patterns while giving the participant a taste of the disciplined faith life of one who tithes. Suggest that Persons Give Their Income Increase to Grow to a Tithe Another model that some use to grow to a tithe is to dedicate all future wage increases to the church. The participants trust that they can adjust to living on their current salary. Increases are added to the present level of giving until a tithe is reached. Help Persons with Financial Discipline and Management Because many Christians “spend money on what is not bread and your labor on what does not satisfy” (Isaiah 55: 2), many Christians find themselves financially overextended. These Christians may hold a desire to tithe, but feel that obligations to those to whom they are in debt prevent them from doing so. If these Christians are ever to experience the joy and freedom that comes with tithing, then their church must help them. Every church has the responsibility to help its members grow the sound money management, budgeting, and spending practices that mark a family whose god is the Lord. There are several personal money management courses available that a church can use to help its members. One course that many have found exceedingly helpful is entitled “Good Sense.” This course has been designed for Christian small group study by Willow Creek Ministries. More information about this course can be found at www.goodsenseministry.com.

Written by Reverend Jay Archer, Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Stewardship

44

Giving Is an Act of Faith Use this helpful chart to help you increase your giving. Step One: Figure your income for the past month. Step Two: Find the intersection of your monthly income and your percentage of giving to discover your monthly contribution. Step Three: Divide the amount by four if you will be making your gift weekly (i.e. $4,000 monthly income, 7% gift, $280 monthly gift, $70 weekly contribution) If you make a decision to increase your giving by 1 percent next year, take the following steps: • Locate your monthly income in the left column. • Move to the right in that row until you come to the amount you give per month. • Move one more box to the right. • The amount noted in that box includes a 1 percent increase over what you are now giving. Monthly Income 3%

4%

5%

6%

7%

8%

9%

10%

11%

12%

13%

15%

$1,000

$30

$40

$50

$60

$70

$80

$90

$100

$110

$120

$130

$150

$1,500

$45

$60

$75

$90

$105

$120

$135

$150

$165

$180

$195

$225

$2,000

$60

$80

$100

$120

$140

$160

$180

$200

$220

$240

$260

$300

$2,500

$75

$100 $125

$150

$175

$200

$225

$250

$275

$300

$325

$375

$3,000

$90

$120 $150

$180

$210

$240

$270

$300

$330

$360

$390

$450

$3,500

$105 $140 $175

$210

$245

$280

$315

$350

$385

$420

$455

$525

$4,000

$120 $160 $200

$240

$280

$320

$360

$400

$440

$480

$520

$600

$4,500

$135 $180 $225

$270

$315

$360

$405

$450

$495

$540

$585

$675

$5,000

$150 $200 $250

$300

$350

$400

$450

$500

$550

$600

$650

$750

$5,500

$165 $220 $275

$330

$385

$440

$495

$550

$605

$660

$715

$825

$6,000

$180 $240 $300

$360

$420

$480

$540

$600

$660

$720

$780

$900

$6,500

$195 $260 $325

$390

$455

$520

$585

$650

$715

$780

$845

$975

$7,000

$210 $280 $350

$420

$490

$560

$630

$700

$770

$840

$910

$1,050

$7,500

$225 300$ 375

$450

$525

$600

$675

$750

$825

$900

$975

$1,125

$8,000

$240 $320 $400

$480

$560

$640

$720

$800

$880

$960

$1,040 $1,200

$8,500

$255 $340 $425

$510

$595

$680

$765

$850

$935

$1,020 $1,105 $1,275

$9,000

$270 $360 $450

$540

$630

$720

$810

$900

$990

$1,080 $1,170 $1,350

$9,500

$285 $380 $475

$570

$665

$760

$855

$950

$1,045 $1,140 $1,235 $1,425

$10,000

$300 $400 $500

$600

$700

$800

$900

$1,000 $1,100 $1,200 $1,300 $1,500

$12,000

$360 480

$600

$720

$840

$960

$1,080 $1,200 $1,320 $1,440 $1,560 $1,800

$15,000

$450 $600 $750

$900

$1,050 $1,200 $1,350 $1,500 $1,650 $1,800 $1,950 $2,250

$20,000

$600 $800 $1,000 $1,200 $1,400 $1,600 $1,800 $2,000 $2,200 $2,400 $2,600 $3,000

45

46

The Church Budget: Questions to Ask by Rev. David S. Bell

What is the relationship between the annual operating budget and the annual campaign? The development of the budget and the implementation of an annual campaign should be distinct and separate from each other. The purpose of the annual campaign is NOT to underwrite the budget and to pay for expenses. Its purpose is to provide a focused time in the life of the congregation when individuals are encouraged to develop the spiritual discipline of financial giving. What is a narrative budget? Is it different from a line-item budget? The narrative budget is one way to give people — especially those in leadership positions — an opportunity to experience the mission and ministry that are achieved through the various line items. It focuses less on the financial numbers and more on what the income accomplishes. It is a one- to two-page presentation that explains: (1) what the church hopes to accomplish and (2) why the funding is needed to reach and exceed its goals. What percentage of a church’s total budget should be allocated for staff salaries and benefits? The percentage of budget allocated for staff salaries and benefits will vary widely depending on the size, program, mission, and ministry of a particular church. Even with similar size congregations, this percentage has a tremendous range. For instance, one church dedicates more than 50 percent of its budget to staff salaries and benefits, while another church of similar size expenses less than 30 percent of its budget on staff salaries and benefits. One generalization can be observed: As with any organization, personnel costs in the local church are typically one of the greatest line-item expenses. Rather than focusing on personnel costs, church leaders should be examining staffing as it relates to fulfilling the church’s mission. Thus, church leaders might raise this question: “Is the church adequately staffed to fulfill its mission and ministry?” How much money should a church keep in a reserve fund? A reserve fund is different from an endowment fund or any other ongoing designated fund. The purpose of a reserve fund is to meet expenses in the event that income does not equal or surpass expenses in a given time period (i.e., month, quarter, or year). Most churches need to maintain at least a small reserve fund because of the variability of expenses and income throughout the fiscal year. Some experts suggest a reserve fund should range between 3 percent and 10 percent of the annual budget. To determine a specific reserve fund level, consider the following steps:

47

• •

Chart the church’s normal income and expenses by month. Determine the times of year when the church experiences its greatest income and its greatest expenses.

Once you have determined an appropriate reserve fund level, establish a clear policy for remaining reserve funds at year end. The goal of maintaining a reserve fund is not to hoard money, but to establish a safe cushion in the event of expenses exceeding the income.

Written by the Rev. David S. Bell ([email protected]), Director of the Center for Christian Stewardship, the General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Copyright © 2005 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Used with permission.

48

The Church Budget: Restoring Trust by David L. Horne When a congregation is undergoing major transitions, certain predictable financial behaviors occur. The most notable is the increased desire to retrench, hunker down, and wait. The trained transitional minister or consultant will realize that an assessment of the congregation’s financial capabilities is in order. Often it will show that the cure is already in the community: the resources are already in the hands of the congregation and denomination, but they are reluctant to give them. Low trust levels may function as a barrier to healthy stewardship. Insufficient trust may limit a sacrificial major stewardship campaign and regular giving. No one wants to “fund a failure.” Trust will not regenerate until people have accepted a sound plan for renewal. Reaching that level of trust takes time. What can be done between now and then? Quickly repairing, strengthening, or altering current practices can help rebuild a foundation of trust. Here are questions that can help direct that effort: Are pledge commitments and giving records kept confidential? Few things are more annoying than the voice of a disembodied stranger phoning about the status of your pledge. In today’s world, people in many congregations withhold their giving as a form of protest. Pledge-status conversations should be the province of very few and very senior leaders. Have church accounts been regularly and independently audited? Often church policy requires an audit. In the United States, with the implementation of the federal Sarbanes-Oxley legislation, state accounting organizations have established their own peer review committees. It should be possible to obtain a letter that describes the professional status of the church auditor without interrupting current service. If there has been no recent audit, of course, one should be undertaken. Are the financial budgets of the church voted on and followed? A financial oversight committee of the governing body should verify internally that the money was spent as allocated and issue a quarterly report. Are mission or program budgets available? A program budget gives a “narrative” of the congregation’s core values. If a budget does not exist, creating a program budget should be considered. Are designated donations segregated and their purposes protected? It is of vital importance to donors and their families that their generosity not be taken for granted nor their funds “borrowed” or just used for other things. And it’s equally disturbing when funds are allowed to accumulate without being spent for the designated purpose.

49

Are denominational funds properly calculated and promptly paid? Particularly in times of transition, the denominational office can be of great help. In some cases, distressed congregations may be eligible for bridge loans at favorable terms. That help, of course, may be withheld in periods of direct conflict. This area is one of the most critical, and policy decisions are paramount. In the absence of serious conflict, these obligations must be brought current. Do members receive regular giving statements? Periodic (monthly or quarterly plus December) mailing of giving statements keeps givers up to date and verifies the recordkeeping. The stewardship mailing is most effective when it includes mission or program information and a “how are we doing” financial summary. Do members receive proper records for taking charitable tax deductions? An internal volunteer committee with the required expertise can quickly design fill-in forms that take care of givers’ requirements. Are special gifts acknowledged? A thank-you for special gifts that is appropriate to the congregation’s culture is important. Are there unanswered questions concerning fiscal integrity? If there are, it is essential that they be addressed and resolved. It may be necessary for a qualified independent third party to examine the issue and recommend action. Has the congregation been subjected to “guilt motivation” giving campaigns? Guilt campaigns are notorious for producing the opposite effect of what was intended. Creating further and deeper resentment is not helpful in the long or intermediate run, even if some short-term increase of funds is produced. Has the congregation recently held study sessions on sacrificial giving? It is axiomatic that regular prayer, lessons, and study be a part of the time when financial problems are being addressed. Outside, impartial presenters may make a valuable contribution because they are not directly affected by the local situation. Has the mission outreach story been shown to the congregation? The motto is “a face and a story.” Every outreach program that the congregation wants to support should regularly present the detailed story of its unique service to the community. When possible, someone who has been helped should speak, as well as the program director or an experienced staff member. One of the great issues of transition is the high level of anxiety in the congregation. Sound financial practices go a long way toward producing what is needed the most – a well-grounded sense of stability.

David L. Horne is a Presbyterian minister and president of Interim Ministry Network. Reprinted with permission of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center, 2006.

50

The Church Budget: The Narrative Budget adapted by Rev. David S. Bell from work by Dan R. Dick Budgets are tools that help financial leaders do their work in the church. They provide vital information for planning in the church. Budgets can enable congregational leaders to be faithful in their stewardship of the church’s resources. What budgets cannot do, however, is motivate the majority of people to give. A surprisingly small percentage of the American population can read and understand a line-item budget. Too many churches distribute copies of the annual budget, believing that they have communicated important information. Upon closer examination, it becomes clear that very little communication has occurred. People do not give to budgets. They give less from the head than from the heart. People give to other people, to needs, to causes — to things that make them feel good and happy. Budgets miss these key targets. Most of what is contained in a line-item budget is of little interest to the majority of people who attend our churches. Most people who are going to give to the church will give a certain amount to support the facilities. People realize that there are costs to maintain the building, pay the insurance and utilities, and to support the pastor. However, they primarily will give to the mission and ministry of the church. Moreover, many church leaders find line-item budgets confusing to interpret and to understand. The narrative budget is one way to give people — especially those in leadership positions — an opportunity to experience the mission and ministry that are achieved through the various line items. It focuses less on the financial numbers and more on what the income accomplishes. It is a one- to two-page presentation that explains: (1) what the church hopes to accomplish and (2) why the funding is needed to reach and exceed its goals. The following is an example of a narrative budget.

Wesley United Methodist Church Ministry Plan and Narrative Budget Missions The ministry group on missions has done an excellent job providing leadership for our congregation. Our mission involvement has increased greatly in the past three years. We support H.E.L.P., a local community-based ministry offering emergency food and clothing assistance to needy families. We are beginning a second year with our thrift shop and soup kitchen. The Growing Needs Mission Center receives monthly offerings from our church. Through our Church World Service, Africa University, and Black College Fund apportionments, we give $7,500 in support; and we contribute approximately $3,200 to the six designated

51

United Methodist Special Sunday offerings annually. We can continue this work next year with $12,000 in support. Our hope is that we can exceed that goal by another $2,000 in order to send a representative from our church on the mission trip in July. Future plans include reaching out to our community through literacy programs for children and adults and participation in the Women’s Shelter Project. For an additional $2,000, we will be able to train crisis counselors to work with the shelter and to build a library to teach men, women, and children how to read. Your faithful support of these ministries through your financial contributions helps our church grow strong in missions and outreach. Program The church council has reviewed our program ministries for the past year and hopes to continue providing high quality opportunities for spiritual growth, learning, and worship in the year to come. In education, we fund our curriculum and resources with $1,500 each year. The additional $1,500 we received this year allowed us to purchase new Bibles and learning center materials. We hope to do the same in the coming year, funding the church school needs and adding to our resource library. We need a television and DVD player for the church school, and we hope to purchase the Disciple Bible Study materials for a new group. We can accomplish these two things for an additional $2,500. We plan to purchase new whiteboards and bulletin boards for each classroom. We have received two donations toward our whiteboards, totaling $550. With an additional $1,000, we will be able to purchase these and the bulletin boards. The worship ministry group would like to continue to count on $500 for the coming year for worship supplies. The $900 memorial gift allowed us to purchase new paraments for Lent, Easter, Christmas, and Advent. We hope to purchase Pentecost and Kingdomtide paraments this year for an additional $450. We also plan to replace 50 hymnals. We have $200 designated for hymnals, but we need another $400. The membership ministry group is still working on developing the Stephen’s Ministries program, and we are thankful for the training we received this year. We hope that we can use $900 for training and resources in the church. For 25 percent more, the membership ministry group will purchase devotional booklets for distribution to homebound and hospitalized members and friends. We are still developing visitor packets and would like to purchase commemorative mugs to give to visitors to our church. These will cost about $350, and we will get them if the funding is available. Pastoral Support We have been very faithfully served and are grateful for the fine leadership of our pastor. The staff-parish relations committee has recommended a 3 percent increase in salary for the coming year that we joyously support. With increases in hospitalization coverage, pension, continuing education, and travel expenses, the pastoral support for the coming year will be $76,975.

52

Other Staff and Salary Youth pastor

$32,500

Secretary

$28,000

Music Ministries Director/Organist $31,500 Custodian

$25,350

Building and Grounds We estimate needs of $126,750 for the coming year. Insurance on the church and on the parsonage will be $11,175.

This is just a sample of what a narrative budget might contain and the way it might be presented. Dollar figures are round and easy to comprehend. No totals, and no bottom-line figures are provided. Instead, there are estimates of costs and dreams for what more might be done if money is available. Narrative budgets do a better job of speaking a language that the majority of people can understand. Notice three things about the narrative budget. First, it lists the programs and missions of the church first. Often, pastoral support, building maintenance, insurance, apportioned funds, and salaries are listed first in a line-item budget. Apportionments have been incorporated into the mission and ministry of the church, since they are an extension of the local church’s ministry throughout the world. Mission and program budgets fund the work of the church. It is important to highlight these needs first. These programs and ministries are what most people care about deeply. We do ourselves a great favor when we list these things first. Second, a variety of dollar amounts are listed in some areas: a low, a medium, and a high goal. The low figure is the minimum needed to do the work that must be done. The middle figure is a dream figure that would allow us to do more than the minimum. The high figure is also a dream figure that allows us to provide a vision for what we could do if actual income was greater than the projected income. Many people who read a narrative budget are so inspired by the medium and high goals that they will “go the second mile” to make the dreams a reality. Third, certain budget amounts receive no description. These are fixed costs, such as insurance, utilities, and maintenance that do little to motivate increased giving. Few people plan to give more than is needed to cover the fixed costs of running the facilities.

53

These three things increase the appeal and effectiveness of the narrative budget over the traditional line-item budget.

Adapted by David S. Bell, Director of the Center for Christian Stewardship of The United Methodist Church from Revolutionizing Christian Stewardship for the 21st Century by Dan Dick. © 1997 Discipleship Resources. All rights reserved. Used by permission. Copyright © 2004 The General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. Used with permission.

54

A Theological Foundation for Connectional Giving by Rev. L. Jonathan Holston

As United Methodists, we accept and affirm that the primary task of our church is to make disciples of Jesus Christ; to proclaim the gospel, the good news; and to seek and to welcome and gather people of faith into the body of Christ. When one joins the United Methodist congregation, one becomes a member of the total United Methodist connection. We define that connection as a network of interdependent and interrelated relationships among persons in groups at the local and regional, national and international levels. As members, we promise God and our congregation that we will uphold the church with our prayers, our presence, our gifts, and our service. And that church is the local church, or the district, or the annual conference or even the general church. Our promise to God and the church opens up to us the vast ministry that awaits those who seek the fields ripe for harvest. I Corinthians, the 12th chapter, the 12th verse, states that “the body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all of its parts are many, they form one body. Likewise, though we are many members, we are one body.” Even though United Methodists have more than 8 million lay members, we are one body. We have 43,000 clergy members, but we are still one body. Among our members are consecrated diaconal ministers and preparatory members – we are still one body. We are organized in local churches and pastoral charges, districts, annual conferences, and Episcopal areas, but we are one body. We are located all over the world through central conferences and over 1 million lay persons around the world, but we are one body. We are the body of Christ called United Methodists, people who send missionaries, and ourselves, into the world, to live as servants for Christ. We are the Body of Christ who minister in more than 100 United Methodist colleges and universities, as well as support 13 theological schools to educate our pastors. We are the Body of Christ that bears each others’ burdens through reaching out in times of need and disaster. We are the Body of Christ connected together. We do more than express a concern for the worker, the sick, and the poor. We do more than express a concern for the aging, the impaired, and the oppressed. We, the Body of Christ, participate together. We struggle together to help those in need. This is important to our faith. Therefore, as people gather together as congregations, we are connected together. We do more than any single individual, church, district, annual conference could ever do by itself. We are indeed the connection. We are together.

55

United Methodists identify with the need to be in mission. As United Methodists we desire to be in mission together, and as United Methodists the mandate is to be in mission together everywhere. “A Charge to Keep I Have, Our Calling to Fulfill.” The United Methodist Church continues to fulfill John Wesley’s adage to “Do all the good you can, in all the places you can, to all the people you can.” Funding is mission, an expression of our stewardship, and an expression of our connectedness. Apportionments provide for us avenues for giving in order that we not only can be strong local churches and annual conferences, but that we can be connected together, seeking to be in mission together, seeking to be God’s people at home and around the world.

Reprinted with permission from “Why We Apportion” by the General Council on Finance and Administration.

56

Connectional Giving through Apportionments What are apportionments? A local United Methodist church apportionment represents a fair share of the cost of the connectional ministry of the United Methodist Church. Using apportionments to support annual conference and denominational benevolences is a distinctive feature of United Methodism. Apportionment giving underwrites United Methodist ministry and mission beyond the local church. How are apportionments determined in the Tennessee Conference? The Tennessee Annual Conference’s formula on how apportionments are assessed among its 615 churches is based on the average of the previous three years’ local church expenditures (not including benevolence, capital improvements or debt retirement) divided by the average total expenses for all Tennessee Conference churches. Membership figures aren’t considered, nor are budgets or collections, only expenses. The resulting decimal is multiplied by each item in the Conference budget to get each apportioned line item amount for that local church. The District Administration Fund apportionment for each local church is added to the Conference apportionments to get the total apportionments for the year. How is apportionment money spent? The connectional budget of the Tennessee Annual Conference (approved by vote of the 2005 Annual Conference) totals $12,505,881. The budget is distributed over five general areas: Ministerial Support – $6,803,256 (Pays clergy pensions and health plan, district superintendents, active and retired bishops and supports pastors whose churches can’t meet minimum pay standards set by the Annual Conference.) General Church – $617,739 (National and World Council of Churches, 13 UM seminaries, 11 historically black UM colleges (including Meharry Medical College), ministerial scholarships, Black College Fund, Africa University Fund.) World Service and Conference Benevolences – $2,029,598 (Global outreach.) Administration – $777,328 (General & Jurisdictional Conferences, Lake Junaluska, Annual Conference administrative expenses.) Annual Conference Ministries – $2,277,960 (Love & Justice, Miriam’s Promise, campus ministries, McKendree Village, new church and congregation revitalization, Board of Ordained Ministry, archives and history, Igniting Ministry, Martin Methodist, Status and Role of Women, Religion and Race.)

Compiled from Why We Apportion, a publication of the General Council on Finance and Administration of the United Methodist Church, and from Apportionments: What they are for and how they are determined from the Tennessee Annual Conference Board of Laity and Tennessee Annual Conference Lay Speaking Ministries.

57

58

Stewardship Resources on the Web If you haven’t already, be sure to bookmark

www.stewardshipcenter.org Among the resources available at this well-organized site, home to the Center for Christian Stewardship of The United Methodist Church, are: Weekly, Lectionary-Based Offertory Prayers Stewardship Nuggets for Children and Families Sermon Starters UMC Giving Notes Celebrate Stewardship E-Newsletter Those five are available by e-mail just by signing up.

Other offerings include stewardship articles, book reviews, links to other resources, even a discussion room where you can ask questions and share ideas that worked for you. Here’s more of what you’ll find: Frequently Asked Financial Discipleship Questions and Reponses Best Practices for Year-Round Financial Discipleship in the Local Church Stewardship Education Workshop and Seminar Descriptions Listing of Capital Campaign Consultants Annual Campaign References If you prefer to call the Center, the toll-free number is 1-877-899-2780, ext. 7077.

59

60

Why Estate Planning in a Local Church? Since 68 percent to 72 percent of Americans do not have a Will (though the state has one for them), it is imperative the church consider “Estate Planning and Planned Giving” a Christian stewardship priority. We also have allowed many other deserving charities to tap the financial resources of our church members while we, as a church, have been very delinquent in asking our church family to remember their church in their Will. It is a given fact when local churches intentionally plan for a “Wills and Legacy” Sunday, Christians hear and take advantage of the opportunity to express their love for the Lord and His mission through planned giving, and churches do receive significant sums of money that greatly enhance the ministry and mission aims of the church. As a part of stewardship education, every church should offer information on estate planning and planned giving to all adult Sunday School classes at least once a year. In nearly every community, there are persons who are qualified to lead such a Christian Stewardship Seminar. By encouraging estate planning and by explaining how individuals or couples can remember the church during their life or at death, persons of faith are allowed the opportunity to honor their Lord and strengthen their church both in the present and the future. There are major topics that should be brought to the attention of every adult in the pew. They are: • Living Will • Will • Durable Power of Attorney • Durable Power of Health Attorney • Long-term Health Care Insurance Every person is going to need these important documents. It is our responsibility, as pastors and laity, to alert our people to become better prepared, thereby becoming better Christian stewards of all that God has blessed us with.

For more information on Estate Planning and Planned Giving as well as information on a “Wills and Legacy” Sunday, you may contact the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation at (615) 259-2009. Dr. Vin Walkup is director of the Nashville Area United Methodist Foundation.

61

62

Bibliographic Resources The Center for Christian Stewardship recommends pastors read at least one stewardship book a year. It’s easy to do with the great variety of material available. Books are reviewed and summarized at the Bibliography entry on the Center’s website, www.gbod.org/stewardship. Resources are available to help understand accounting, budgeting, finances, stewardship, charitable giving, capital campaigns and to target young people, seniors, Hispanic or African American congregations. Most are available through Cokesbury, Upper Room, Amazon.com or can be ordered at any bookstore. Here is a sampling from the list: •

The three-volume Abingdon Guide to Funding Ministry: An Innovative Sourcebook for Christian Leaders by Donald W. Joiner (Editor) and Norma Wimberly (Editor), (Abingdon Press, 1995, 1996, 1997). Practical and “how-to” advice to facilitate effective stewardship, maximize income and minimize wasteful expenses. Vol. 2 includes reproducible workbook.

•

At Ease: Discussing Money and Values in Small Groups by John and Sylvia Ronsvalle with U. Kaufmann (Alban Institute, Inc., 1998). Authors present a method to make people comfortable exploring their financial fears and discussing the difficult issues of linking money with values.

•

Basic Accounting for Churches: A Turnkey Manual by Jack A. Henry (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1994) and Basic Budgeting for Churches by Jack A. Henry (Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1995). A true everything-you-need-to-know guide to church money management and budgeting, with step-by-step instruction and sample forms.

•

Creating a Climate for Giving by Donald W. Joiner (Discipleship Resources, 2001). Joiner brings a fresh viewpoint to ways to refine “fundraising” to “fund-ministry.” A financial campaign for developing Christian philanthropists is included.

•

Don’t Shoot the Horse (’Til You Know How to Drive the Tractor): Moving from Annual Fund Raising to a Life of Giving by Herb Mather (Discipleship Resources, 1994). Mather looks to the future and sees a congregation where giving is a natural but non-intrusive, year-round endeavor, part of a process of spiritual formation for growing Christians.

•

Faith and Money: Understanding Annual Giving in Church by Michael D. Reeves and Jennifer Tyler (Discipleship Resources, December 2003). This gospel-grounded work identifies the challenges, develops a consistent theological foundation for fund development and guides congregations in building worthy expectations and attitudes on how to fund ministry.

63

•

Full Disclosure: Everything the Bible Says About Financial Giving by Herb Miller (Discipleship Resources, December 2003). Twenty financial stewardship themes that recur and evolve in the Old and New Testaments, their historical importance and contemporary applications.

•

Growing Givers’ Hearts: Treating Fundraising as a Ministry by Thomas H. Jeavons (Jossey-Bass Publishers, 2000). Based on a three-year, nationwide study of Christian organizations whose efforts are successful both in raising needed resources and in encouraging the spiritual development of their donors. How Christians act on their confidence.

•

Holy Smoke! Whatever Happened to Tithing? by J. Clif Christopher and Herb Mather (Discipleship Resources, 2000). Tithing, the authors say, needs to be presented not as a legal obligation but as a benchmark in a generous and giving spiritual relationship.

•

How to Increase Giving in Your Church by George Barna (Gospel Light Publications, 1997). Professional research and insights make this a must for everyone who desires to be the best possible steward of God’s assets.

•

The New Context for Ministry: Competing for the Charitable Dollar by Lyle E. Schaller (Abingdon Press, 2002). Schaller helps the reader navigate through the difficulties and opportunities for churches in this new age of charitable giving.

•

One-Minute Stewardship Sermons by Charles Cloughen, Jr. (Morehouse Publishing, 1997). This book strongly endorses the importance of the pastor discussing stewardship frequently and in many different ways.

•

Speaking about Money: Reducing the Tension by Mark L. Vincent (Herald Press, 1998). This book is enormously helpful for laypeople, clergy, and congregations. The way to joyful Christian freedom is by openly sharing about money as Jesus did.

•

That’s What My Mother Taught Me — And Other Ways Generous Givers Develop by Herb Mather (Discipleship Resources, 2001). Interviews with more than 100 generous givers resulted in a wealth of giving stories which, woven together, describe how giving patterns develop in real congregations

Condensed from the Bibliography resources of the Center for Christian Stewardship, General Board of Discipleship of The United Methodist Church. This listing is provided for information purposes only, and is not intended as specific endorsements.

64

Scriptural Starters for Stewardship Sermons Luke 12: 13-21 The truth is, many do confuse life with possessions. We are being foolish. Matthew 6: 24 If you bend your life toward mammon (money), then you have a rival god. This is idolatry, and money is a cruel master to have. 11 Samuel 24: 24 Are we glad that we can honor God with our gifts, or do we hope to give an offering that “cost us nothing?” Genesis 14: 20 For some reason, it makes sense to Abraham to tithe. What are the reasons behind Abraham’s strange inclination to tithe? Do you have similar inclinations? 1 Chronicles 29: 9 It is encouraging to all the people when spiritual leaders give freely and wholeheartedly to the Lord. Is your attitude toward giving one that encourages and inspires others? Malachi 1: 7-8 What does it say about your attitude when you offer to God what you don’t value or what you don’t think you will need, rather than offer God your best? Malachi 3: 8 If all we have is God’s and we are but God’s stewards, then to use God’s money as we see fit, holding back on the tithe ... is robbing God. Philippians 4: 16-18 The gift the church of Philippi sent to aid Paul and his ministry was “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” What makes for such an acceptable sacrifice? Have you experienced the joy of making an acceptable sacrifice to God? Philippians 4: 19 We need never fear that our sacrificial giving will make us poor. When we give as God directs, we can have confidence that God will supply what is needed. Hebrews 13: 15 Three sacrifices are mentioned. How does my life reflect a sacrifice of praise? How does my life reflect a sacrifice of doing good? How does my life reflect a sacrifice of sharing? Romans 8: 32 God gives with loving abandon. When we are tempted to “hold back” in our giving of our possessions and ourselves to God, perhaps we should consider whether God “held back” in God’s giving to us. 1 Corinthians 15: 58 Will my giving to the work of the Lord do any good? We must give of ourselves fully to the work of the Lord, even if we cannot see the results.

65

2 Corinthians 8: 10-12 We must do more than intend to give; we must give. We all have differing amounts of resources and what is called for is not equal gifts, but equal sacrifice. Ephesians 5: 1-2 Loving as we have been loved involves living a life marked with sacrificial giving. 2 Corinthians 9: 6 God’s grace moves powerfully through those who dare to love and give with great generosity. 2 Corinthians 9: 7 If you are going to give, you might as well give because you choose to, not because you feel pressured, embarrassed, or guilty. Go ahead and give cheerfully what you decide to give. How can you become a cheerful giver? 2 Corinthians 9: 8-11 Once you begin giving generously, God will increase your spiritual and material ability to give ever more generously. The purpose of our having riches is to give them away, with thanksgiving, to honor God and serve God’s mission. 2 Timothy 1: 7 It takes special help from God to shape us so that we can give in a manner worthy of being God’s steward. God will give us the power, love, and self-discipline to do so. 1 Timothy 6: 7-11 We may not realize how dangerous money can be. Money must be treated very carefully, and in obedience to God. Money, through greed or anxiety, can quickly gain power over us, separating us from our God and the life of faith. Deuteronomy 8: 10-20 Does this scripture describe a common attitude we have about money and possessions? What is the lie involved? What are the tragic results of such attitudes? Do we see the results today? 1 Peter 4: 10 All that we have is a gift from God. As stewards we are to faithfully administer what we have been given by God’s grace, using it to serve others. We are not “giving up” what is ours, but rather “giving forth” what is God’s to serve others. 2 Corinthians 8: 1-9 The Macedonian churches provided a model of faithful giving. What accounted for their remarkable giving? How does the sincerity of your love for God compare to theirs? 2 Corinthians 8: 13-15 Living according to your need, not your greed, makes everybody happy. Philippians 4: 10-13 Worldly attitudes of fear and greed cannot bring contentment, no matter how much money is involved. Contentment is the greater prize, and there is one way to it.

66

Talking About Money A Small Group Study on Stewardship by Rev. Jay Archer

Offered here is a brief outline of a small group course on stewardship. There are many other stewardship courses available, each employing different approaches to help Christians grow in faithful stewardship. We encourage you to explore other resources as well, and find one you think will work for you and your situation. Good use of this short course would require your supplementing and shaping it to your satisfaction, including thinning the course to fit your time frame. Consider the suggestions made here as simply that: suggestions. Other resources are also given in this Teaching Tools section. The four sections of this small group course are: 1. Measuring Our Attitudes about Money 2. Scripture Lessons on Money and Possessions 3. Becoming a Generous Giver 4. The Discipline of Giving NOTE: As you trim the course to fit your situation, be sure that you save time to engage with the practice of tithing. In this outline, the practice of tithing is not specifically addressed until the last segment. SESSION ONE: MEASURING OUR ATTITUDES ABOUT MONEY Luke 18: 18-25 (NIV) A certain ruler asked him, “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” “Why do you call me good?” Jesus answered. “No one is good – except God alone. You know the commandments: ‘Do not commit adultery, do not murder, do not steal, do not give false testimony, honor your father and mother.’” “All these I have kept since I was a boy,” he said. When Jesus heard this, he said to him, “You still lack one thing. Sell everything you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.” When he heard this, he became very sad, because he was a man of great wealth. Jesus looked at him and said, “How hard it is for the rich to enter the kingdom of God! Indeed, it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter the kingdom of God.”

This passage of scripture can disturb us and have us wondering about our attitude toward money and possessions. It is a good place to begin our talk about money. Whatever lessons one can draw from this encounter of a ruler and Jesus, one hardhitting fact remains. The ruler was very close to becoming one of Christ’s disciples, but his attitude toward money had him turn away from becoming a companion and faithful follower of Jesus. Perhaps we need to honestly, humbly, and courageously access whether our attitudes toward money hinder our companionship and faithful following of our Lord. We want to access and then measure our attitude about money.

67

Now let us consider sources that shape our attitude toward money. 1. Let’s talk about some of the thoughts, fears, hopes, and practices concerning money and possessions that each of us may have picked up from our families of origin. [Ask persons to share any memories about money or possessions from their childhood, such as: comments made about money / practices of giving, saving and spending / the attitude towards money and possessions of various family members / dreams, hopes, disappointments or fears that were expressed or felt about money, and lessons they were taught concerning money and possessions. 2. It is possible that each of us have also picked up some thoughts, fears, hopes and practices concerning money and possessions from television. [Ask persons to consider the programming and advertisements they see on television, and then ask the group to list lessons or attitudes that can be learned from television about money and possessions. You could ask a further question: if there were just one overall lesson about money or possessions that people pick up from television, what would you suppose it is?] 3. Those of us who have spent time in a work environment outside the home may have noticed different attitudes about money, or different “climates” concerning money at different work sites. [Ask persons to share different attitudes or financial climates that each has experienced in the work setting.] 4. Having listed several influences concerning money and possessions picked up from families of origin, television and home, now go back and host a general discussion of how these lessons and attitudes about money we are exposed to affect people. 5. Ask persons to speak of how any of these lessons and attitudes affect them personally. Then ask: which of these lessons or attitudes do you struggle with now? 6. Finally, ask persons to discuss the lessons and attitudes about money and possessions that one can pick up from your local church. What is the primary lesson or attitude about money that you see evidenced in this local church? *note for next week: We will explore what lessons and attitudes about money can be picked up from Scripture.

68

SESSION TWO: SCRIPTURAL LESSONS ON MONEY AND POSSESSIONS Out of many lessons and attitudes concerning money and possessions that can be found in Scripture, in this session we want to explore three. The three may run counter to how many persons think about money and possessions. 1. Whose Is It? 1 Chronicles 29:10-11 David praised the Lord in the presence of the whole assembly, saying, “Praise be to you, O Lord, God of our father Israel, from everlasting to everlasting. Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power and the glory and the majesty and the splendor, for everything in heaven and earth is yours. Yours, O Lord, is the kingdom; you are exalted as head over all.

Psalm 24: 1 The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it;

We tend to think of what we have as our possessions. Scripture maintains everything belongs to God. God has a rightful claim on everything we consider ours. Our role is to be stewards (caretakers of the owner’s property). If you were truly convinced that everything you presently claim as your own really belonged to God … How might that make you feel more anxious? How might that make you feel comforted and relieved? How might it change the way you decide how to spend money? How might it change your thoughts about giving? 2. How Did I Get It? 1 Chronicles 29: 14 (NIV) “But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand.

Deuteronomy 8: 10-19 (NIV) When you have eaten and are satisfied, praise the Lord your God for the good land he has given you. Be careful that you do not forget the Lord your God, failing to observe his commands, his laws and his decrees that I am giving you this day. Otherwise, when you eat and are satisfied, when you build fine houses and settle down, and when your herds and flocks grow large and your silver and gold increase and all you have is multiplied, then your heart will become proud and you will forget the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery. He led you through the vast and dreadful desert, that thirsty and waterless land, with its venomous snakes and scorpions. He brought you water out of hard rock. He gave you manna to eat in the desert, something

69

your fathers had never known, to humble and to test you so that in the end it might go well with you. You may say to yourself, “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me.” But remember the Lord your God, for it is he who gives you the ability to produce wealth, and so confirms his covenant, which he swore to your forefathers, as it is today. If you ever forget the Lord your God and follow other gods and worship and bow down to them, I testify against you today that you will surely be destroyed.

We often think that the source of our money and possessions is our own hard work, or our education, or our talents, or our cleverness. Scripture says there is something not right about such thinking. God is to be thanked because God’s grace is the source of what we have. What is your practice in regard to giving thanks at meals (table grace)? Why might it make sense to always have a table grace? Why might it make sense to have table grace after you eat, as Deuteronomy 8: 10 suggests? In your opinion, why can it be so damaging to one’s soul to think “My power and the strength of my hands have produced this wealth for me”? 3. How Should I Use It? Ezekiel 16: 17-19 (NIV) You also took the fine jewelry I gave you, the jewelry made of my gold and silver, and you made for yourself male idols and engaged in prostitution with them. And you took your embroidered clothes to put on them, and you offered my oil and incense before them. Also the food I provided for you – the fine flour, olive oil and honey I gave you to eat – you offered as fragrant incense before them. That is what happened, declares the Sovereign Lord.

James 5: 1-5 (NIV) Now listen, you rich people, weep and wail because of the misery that is coming upon you. Your wealth has rotted, and moths have eaten your clothes. Your gold and silver are corroded. Their corrosion will testify against you and eat your flesh like fire. You have hoarded wealth in the last days. Look! The wages you failed to pay the workmen who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries of the harvesters have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty. You have lived on earth in luxury and selfindulgence. You have fattened yourselves in the day of slaughter.

If we think we made our wealth, we will think our wealth is ours. If we think our wealth is ours, we think we have the right to use it as we see fit. But if all we have comes from God and belongs to God, then God has the say so about how we use wealth. These scriptures point out two dangers. One danger is using the wealth God has given us to pursue idols. The other danger is hoarding — gathering more than our proper share for our own self-indulgence. What are we often tempted to spend too much money on — because we think, like God, it will bring happiness or great Life? Out of your understanding of what God cares about, what might God like for us to do more of with our money? 70

Describe any struggles you might have or have had with self-indulgence. Rather than trying to identify luxury and self-indulgence in order to fight against it, some people find it more helpful to focus on “living simply.” What do you imagine “living more simply” could look like for your life? SESSION THREE: BECOMING A GENEROUS GIVER In 135 A.D, a man named Aristides sent a letter to the Roman Emperor, Hadrian. In that letter Aristides had this to say about Christians: They walk in all humility and kindness, and falsehood is not among them. They love one another. They do not refuse to help widows. They rescue the orphan from violence. He who has gives ungrudgingly to him who lacks. If they see a stranger, they take him home and entertain him as a brother. When one of their poor passes from this world, any one of them who sees it provides for his burial according to his ability … Truly this is a new people and there is something divine in them.” Can you imagine the witness the church would be for Christ if we could become, once again, the kind of generous givers that Aristides saw? Why do people sometimes have great difficulty in being generous? List every hindrance to generous giving that you can think of? Of the hindrances to generous giving that have been listed, which ones do you struggle the most with? As a group, list every possible reason you can think of as to why being a Christian can help us become generous givers. [Note to teacher: give some thought to this in advance, so you can help raise a few examples to move thinking along. Consider some of the scriptures used in the “Scriptural Starters for Stewardship Sermons” article in this resource book. Consider our example in Christ Jesus, our various freedoms from worldly mindsets, the empowering work of the Holy Spirit, our trust in God’s provision, our joyful obedience to God’s command, our growing hearts like God’s for those who are hungry, naked, or in prison, and our confidence that God can use what we give mightily — the list can go on and on.] Of the reasons why being a Christian can help us become generous givers, name some reasons from our faith in which you feel you need to grow. Some Christians have difficulty becoming generous givers because they are overextended financially. Before these Christians can experience the great joy of having money to give, work must be done to help these Christians find God’s order in matters of finance management, spending habits and budgeting. Discuss whether such help is something persons of your church need and discuss ways to help each other. Would a Good Sense course (see Tools for Growing Christians Who Tithe in this book) be something your church should offer? 71

SESSION FOUR: THE DISCIPLINE OF GIVING 2 Corinthians 9: 7 (NIV) Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.

Some people give according to their feelings. If they are feeling generous, or compassionate, or excited by a project, or perhaps embarrassed not to give — then they will give. Scripture and Christian experience has shown that giving according to feelings is not the best way faithful disciples give. Feelings can come and go, whereas the Christian gives as an intentional choice, in response to the new life and new perspectives that come with being a follower and believer in Christ Jesus. For the Christian, giving is a spiritual discipline. However, the remarkable thing about employing the spiritual discipline of giving is that God works through the Christian’s choice to give grow the generous feelings of a giver. Through the spiritual discipline of giving, God transforms us and frees us to have more compassion, more desire to see God’s work done, and more joy of giving. For the Christian giving is a spiritual discipline, because it grows the giver toward more love for Christ and the world for which God gave His only begotten Son. Giving as a spiritual discipline changes our hearts! As best as you can understand it, what kind of givers were your parents/guardian? What was the motivation for their giving? What pattern of giving was modeled for you as a child? We will now turn to scripture and pick up a few insights about a spiritual discipline of giving. 2 Corinthians 8: 1-5 (NIV) And now, brothers, we want you to know about the grace that God has given the Macedonian churches. Out of the most severe trial, their overflowing joy and their extreme poverty welled up in rich generosity. For I testify that they gave as much as they were able, and even beyond their ability. Entirely on their own, they urgently pleaded with us for the privilege of sharing in this service to the saints. And they did not do as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then to us in keeping with God’s will.

Insight One: Our giving should be considered an act of worship. Worship involves giving honor and thanksgiving to God. The people of the Macedonian churches “gave themselves first to the Lord” and then gave their money to aid the church in Jerusalem. When we “decide in [our] heart what to give” we are to think or the rightful honor owed to God, and consider all that God has done out of love for us, giving thanks. In your opinion, what witness does the giving level of many Christians communicate about their respect and honor for God? In your mind, consider everything you ought to be thankful to God for and share what you think of with the group. [Teacher, make a list of responses]

72

What effects does this list have, if any, on your heart as you “determine in [your] heart what to give”? 1 Corinthians 16: 1-3 (NIV) Now about the collection for God’s people: Do what I told the Galatian churches to do. On the first day of every week, each one of you should set aside a sum of money in keeping with his income, saving it up, so that when I come no collections will have to be made. Then, when I arrive, I will give letters of introduction to the men you approve and send them with your gift to Jerusalem.

Insight Two: Paul instructed the people to give consistently and regularly. Insight Three: Paul instructed the people to give according to their income. A tried and true way of doing this is to set a percentage of your income that you give consistently. Share your experience (testimony or struggles) with committing to give regularly. Share your experience (testimony or struggles) with giving by percentage.

And now we move to the matter of tithing . . . Leviticus 27: 30 (NIV) A tithe of everything from the land, whether grain from the soil or fruit from the trees, belongs to the Lord; it is holy to the Lord.

Malachi 3: 8-10 (NIV) “Will a man rob God? Yet you rob me. “But you ask, ‘How do we rob you?’ “In tithes and offerings. You are under a curse – the whole nation of you – because you are robbing me. Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the Lord Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.

Insight Four: Since the creation of God’s people, God has expected the people to tithe. To tithe is to dedicate a tenth of your income to God. The amount of 10 percent is first mentioned in scripture with Abraham in Genesis 14: 20. Throughout Christian experience, a tenth has proven itself to be a worthy portion, a significant level of giving that honors God and gives proper thanks. Tithing is a part of the covenant God has with God’s people. It is a standard that marks our covenant relationship with God, and all who are obedient to the tithe will find their faith and their love for God grows with the practice of tithing. Tithing is a vivid reminder to us that we are God’s people, and God is our God.

73

What experiences have you had with either hearing about the practice of tithing or actually practicing tithing? If you do not yet tithe, what changes would need to take place in your attitude that would help you be able to tithe? What changes in your financial situation and financial management could help you tithe? What changes can tithing foster in: The spiritual life of a Christian The spending habits of a Christian The witness and ministry of a Christian

Written by Reverend Jay Archer, Chairperson of the Conference Committee on Stewardship.

74

Money Autobiography by Dan R. Dick Why Should I Write a Money Autobiography? What Is a Money Autobiography? How Do I Write a Money Autobiography? Money Autobiography Questions: Week 1: Formative Questions Week 2: Values Questions Week 3: Management Questions Week 4: Lifestyle Questions How Do I Use a Money Autobiography? Why Should I Write a Money Autobiography? Writing a money autobiography is a challenging and illuminating process that can be crucial to our ability to grow as Christian disciples and live faithfully as Christian stewards. Although Christian stewardship always involves much more than money, our relationship to money and material possessions helps to define who we are, what we value, what we believe, and how we live. For much of our society, it is impossible to imagine a world without money. All people of faith live in relationship to money and material wealth. As an issue of faith, Jesus speaks more about money than any other topic, save the kingdom of God. More than prayer, more than sin, more than salvation, more than forgiveness or love, Jesus teaches and preaches about our relationship with money. This emphasis indicates that a healthy understanding about our relationship to money and possessions is essential if we are to realize our full potential as children of God. Trustworthiness in our relationship to money is a first step toward faithfulness in all things. What is a Money Autobiography? A money autobiography is a reflection process on the role and influence of money and material possessions in our lives. It challenges us to explore the past to see how our attitudes, assumptions, and values concerning money and wealth were formed. The money autobiography provides a lens through which we examine how we manage money and how money manages us. It allows us the opportunity to wrestle with our needs, wants, and desires and helps us understand the lifestyle choices we make. It can even help us set some priorities and goals for the future. What we pursue says a lot about who we are, and the way we order our priorities says a lot about what we believe. A money autobiography can be any length. It may grow as the years progress. The questions provided here are intended to stimulate your thinking and provoke deep response. Feelings are as important as thoughts. Don’t try to analyze your thinking; instead, capture the thoughts and feelings as they emerge. You will have time to reflect on your answers in more depth later. As you encounter the

75

questions, pay attention to your first reactions and the feelings that emerge. Allow yourself to “re-experience” some of the significant money events of your past and present life. How Do I Write a Money Autobiography? The format of this money autobiography is designed for a month of reflection — four weeks each with a unique theme and daily questions for reflection. However, you may choose to reflect on these questions in a more condensed format. In either case, it is highly recommended that you create a money autobiography in which to record your thoughts, reflections, feelings, and observations. Many people return to their money autobiography months and years after the initial experience. Money Autobiography Questions Week 1: Formative Questions Day 1: What is your earliest memory of money? Day 2: What is your happiest memory in connection with money? Day 3: What is your unhappiest money memory? Day 4: What attitudes did your parents and other family members have about money? Day 5: Did you feel rich, poor, or neither growing up? Did you worry about money when you were a child? a teenager? Day 6: Where did your money come from? (Did you work for it, receive an allowance, have your parents buy you things?) Day 7: Who governed how you related to money; that is, how you spent money, saved money, gave money to charity or church? Week 2: Values Questions Day 1: In what ways are you a spender? a saver? In what ways are you generous? stingy? Day 2: Although money can’t buy happiness, what are some of the things money can buy that bring happiness? Day 3: What do you like best about money? What do you like least about money? Day 4: What things in life are worth more than money? In what ways does your lifestyle reflect the relative importance of these things to money? Day 5: How has your gender influenced your thinking about money? What differences do you observe in the way men and women relate to money? Day 6: Which of the following words best communicate your attitudes and feelings about money? Why? Money is . . . power security hope love pleasure prestige dirty value anxiety identity a tool freedom protection evil comfort fun Day 7: Reflect on times when you have given to meet the needs of another. How did you feel? Reflect on times when you were on the receiving end of a gift. How did you feel?

76

Week 3: Management Questions Day 1: In what ways are you a good manager of money? In what ways are you a poor manager of money? Day 2: How do you feel about talking about your finances with other people? Why do you feel this way? Day 3: Do you use credit cards? Do you pay the monthly balances in full? How does buying on credit make you feel? Why? Day 4: How much money do you wish you had in the bank/invested? How did you arrive at this figure? How close is this amount to what you actually have? Day 5: How much money do you give to church and charity? Do you tithe? How do you decide how much to give? How do you decide where to give? Day 6: Do you have a personal budget? Why? How do you make decisions about what to spend, what to save, and what to give? Day 7: What are your greatest financial concerns? How have you made decisions concerning retirement, insurance, drafting a will, and so on? If you have not made these decisions, why not? Week 4: Lifestyle Questions Day 1: Does the fact that two-thirds of the earth’s population lives below the U.S. poverty line affect your attitude toward money? If so, how? If not, why not? Day 2: How do you feel when people approach you for money on the street? How do you feel when you receive phone solicitations for charitable contributions? Day 3: Which of the following words best describe you and why? affluent comfortable average poor struggling wealthy balanced working class impoverished Day 4: What kind of legacy would you like to leave when you die? Of your worldly possessions, what would you leave to whom and why? Day 5: One strong theme of both Jewish and Christian faith is that wealth is given for the common good of the whole community. What does this mean to you? Does anyone other than you have a legitimate claim to your money and possessions? Day 6: In what ways does your relationship with money affect your faith? In what ways does your faith affect your relationship with money? Day 7: In what ways do you feel your relationship with money is a spiritual issue? What does it mean to you to be a good steward? How do I Use a Money Autobiography? Answering these questions for reflection is just one way to begin to reflect deeply on the place of money and material possessions in your life. The money autobiography is a tool for your benefit. No one else needs to see what you have written; however, many people have found that sharing the autobiography with a close friend, counselor, pastor, or teacher is particularly beneficial. Many of these questions are ideal for small-group discussions, Sunday school class discussions,

77

or covenant group conversations. An objective set of eyes may see what we do not. Often, the next, deeper level of exploration comes through the incisive and insightful questions of another person. Your decision to share this information is left to your discretion. Dan R. Dick ([email protected]) is the Research Manager for the New Solutions Team at the General Board of Discipleship. Copyright © 2003 The United Methodist General Board of Discipleship. All rights reserved. Reprinted with permission.

78

More Teaching Tools Three Simple Rules (a study course) Theo A. Boers is an entrepreneur and a businessman who set up a Financial Counseling Ministry at his church in the early 1990s. After counseling hundreds of families and training many counselors he decided to summarize what he had learned in a book, called Three Simple Rules Guaranteed to Improve your Finances! He wrote it especially for young people and young couples, in the hope that by reading this book they would avoid financial difficulties. At the web site www.threerules.org, you can register and download one free copy of the 96-page book. More can be ordered at good prices ($5 each for 1 to 24 books, $4 each for 25 to 99 books or $3 each for 100 or more, shipping and taxes included) from: Three Simple Rules 2600 Five Mile Road NE Grand Rapids, MI 49525 Here’s a preview. The three rules are: 1. Spend less than you earn. 2. Save now! Buy later. 3. Know debt (so you can manage it).

Tithing on PowerPoint Another economical resource is a 26-slide PowerPoint presentation on tithing (with a full script) is available for your adaptation and use. J. Clif Christopher and Herb Mather, the authors of Holy Smoke! Whatever Happened to Tithing, have prepared a PowerPoint presentation on tithing that may be used in local churches, districts, and in other settings. The CD-ROM contains the presentation and the script. You may order this CD-ROM from the Center for Christian Stewardship, the General Board of Discipleship, P.O. Box 340003, Nashville, TN 37203. Enclose a check for $9 made out to the General Board of Discipleship. Send the check to the attention of Robbie Jones. For more information, contact Robbie Jones by e-mail at [email protected] or telephone (toll-free) at 1-877-899-2780, extension 7054.

79