The buzz of anticipation fills the congregation when new members join a church. They’re excited, we’re excited, and the church heart swells with pride.

Is that the best time to talk to new members about stewardship? About sharing their time, their talents, their financial support? Or is it best to ease into that conversation after a few months or even a year of them belonging to the church and joining the rhythm of Sundays?

Or is that something that might be broached during the typical orientation and information sessions that pastors hold for prospective new members? Along with talking about the order of worship, what makes a Presbyterian and the history of the movement and the local church, why not talk about stewardship in its many forms?

Rev. Corey Nelson, pastor at First Presbyterian Church in Fort Collins, Colorado, shares his experiences.

“My practice has been to be very direct, in an honest and conversational tone, about these realities and what they mean here at First Presbyterian. I share our approach with every new member class and every Fall when we participate in a stewardship season,” Nelson said.

To many people new to joining a church, there may be a general understanding of annual pledges or passing the plate at Sunday services. Typically, that might generate small bills in the offering plate on Sundays when they attend service – versus the larger check they might write or donate online if they thought about giving in a larger, annual perspective.

Perhaps more important for new members is to share with them that stewardship isn’t only about money. Most of us have faced rough times or tight budgets, whether from job situations, health scares or the expenses that go along with having school-aged children.

Knowing that we still can give of our expertise or our volunteer time can ease any “stewardship shame” of not adding to the bottom-line financial tally.

“I recognize that there are reasons why people are suspicious or even put off by the church talking about money. I also believe that generosity, including investing our time, talent and treasure into the ministry and mission of our local church, is intended to be a joyful and faithful practice of discipleship,” Nelson said.

“As Reformed Presbyterians, we believe that God is sovereign – which is a fancy way of saying that everything is of God and from God, which means that everything we have and all that we are is a gift from God, a blessing from God, entrusted to us to steward on God’s behalf,” he said.

“It is an act of heartfelt worship and an expression of profound gratitude that we invest in Christ’s church and its witness to the world – an intention to participate in the answer to our own prayer: thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.”

He brings humor and directness to the pledging process: “Another reason that we ask you to pledge is to provide our church leaders with information that they can use to prayerfully and responsibly propose a balanced budget for next year,” he said.

“We know that God did not come to earth in Jesus Christ to teach and lead us, inspire and feed us and give his life for us in self-sacrificial love so that church would be born and then could balance a budget. That is not our purpose or why we exist.

“However, when we do responsibly create and manage a balanced budget, supported by your faithful and generous gifts, then there is no hand-wringing or hand extending, no long meetings to decide what or who to cut,” Nelson said.

“Instead, we can focus all of our time and energy on the life-changing ministry and mission.”

Be direct, share and explain the reasons and the multiple ways that members can participate in giving, and answer questions honestly. The rest usually takes care of itself.