News
Generosity and planned giving go hand-in-hand in many cultures
Every faith has traditions of generosity, says James W. Murphy, and those traditions can serve as a framework for impactful fundraising. Murphy is Managing Program Director at the Episcopal Church Foundation and author of Faithful Giving: The Heart of Planned...
There’s good news about stewardship sermons
Pastors preaching about money tackle both the good news of the Gospel and the brass tacks of money management. There are ways to approach the oft-dreaded stewardship sermon with a little C.I.A. help. No, not that CIA. In “The Gospel...
Honesty is the best financial policy
“Tell the story of Center Church honestly: the good, the bad and the ugly.” This guiding principle framed Rev. Tom Moore’s workshop at Stewardship Kaleidoscope 2022. Rev. Moore told participants the story of Center Presbyterian Church, showing the importance of...
You’re never too young to give
Stewardship isn't an act. It's an attitude. This is how Carson Brown, Director of Christian Education at Cypress Lake Presbyterian Church in Fort Myers, Fla., started his workshop at Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an annual conference focused on stewardship, generosity and finances for...
The Rev. Dr. José Irizarry, the new president of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, discusses how to start well
The Rev. Dr. José Irizarry collects turtles and children’s books and is a salsa dancer when he’s not busy with his new job as president of Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary. [caption id="attachment_13888" align="alignright" width="235"] The Rev. Dr. José Irizarry[/caption] Irizarry,...
‘We’re just a bunch of weirdos all flopping Godward’ she quips during ‘Leading Theologically’
The pandemic taught the Rev. Rachel Penmore to pay closer attention to “the smaller pieces” of campus ministry. [caption id="attachment_13884" align="alignright" width="237"] The Rev. Rachel Penmore[/caption] “What makes me come alive is when people feel known, when I’m interacting with...
Meet people where they are in an increasingly diverse world
There is no one-size-fits-all approach to stewardship or generosity. In a rich conversation about unleashing generosity in culturally-specific ways, Rev. Lucille “CeCee” Mills challenged pastors and church leaders during her workshop at Stewardship Kaleidoscope, an annual conference focused on stewardship, generosity...
Tell your church’s stories to connect people, reinforce reasons for stewardship
Stories motivate stewardship by demonstrating the “markers of hope” each church creates and reminds members that they are part of an organization that makes a positive difference in the world. But rather than rely on canned scripts and web-based stewardship...
Downtown Church is an energy hub with a different approach to stewardship
[caption id="attachment_13853" align="alignright" width="264"] DOWNTOWN CHURCH in Columbia, S.C.[/caption] Things are different at DOWNTOWN CHURCH in- you guessed it, downtown Columbia, S.C. The church us located in a former energy facility for the State Hospital, and it features an open...
Creating a sense of belonging in today’s church
Church leadership in this age is not just about technical changes or making adjustments, says Rev. Dr. Michael Bos. It’s about changing your culture and values, which means there will be dissent, criticism, and debate. Leaders will find themselves sometimes...
