STEWARDSHIP: THE PASTOR’S ROLE
The success of a parish stewardship program is largely determined by the pastor’s ability to lead, communicate and manage for the long-term. Stewardship is not a short-term project or a fund raising drive. It must be an integral part of the parish way of life. As the leader of the parish, the pastor must spend time reading and studying about stewardship. (See the Appendix for scripture references to stewardship.) Of course, the pastor must also pray that the parishioners will heed the call to stewardship.
The pastor must take the lead in committing the congregation to stewardship as a way of life. That is, ten percent of the church’s annual receipts should be tithed to other worthwhile causes such as the missions.
The pastor must convey the stewardship message throughout the year. The pulpit is the pastor’s principal means of communicating to the faith community about the reasons for, and the blessing derived from, tithing their time, talent and treasure. Throughout the year – when relevant to the Sunday readings – the pastor should deliver homilies on stewardship that contain concrete examples of how the parish’s stewardship is changing lives.
In the homilies, stewardship should be described as a way of life. To inspire and motivate lay people to share their many blessings, the homilies should contain Biblical references to tithing.
But preaching alone is not enough. The pastor must also make stewardship an integral part of the parish life and its organization.
The pastor should form a Stewardship Committee. Depending on the size of the parish, the committee should consist of 6 to 10 lay people who regularly attend church services, actively participate in one or more parish ministries and contribute generously to the financial support of the faith community. Committee members must be role models. The pastor should attend as many committee meetings as possible.
The focus of the Stewardship Committee should be on communication. This can be done in the weekly bulletin, the parish web page, in narthex displays and in letters, e-letters and postcards. The bulletin should contain regular reports about stewardship initiatives. There should also be an Annual Stewardship Report to parishioners.
Newcomers should receive a welcoming packet that explains that they are joining a stewardship parish. The packet should include information on all the volunteer ministries and a commitment card.
Once a year, the parish should renew its commitment to stewardship. The Stewardship Committee should stage a Ministry Fairs to inform the parish about its ministries and to attract people to service in the church. The focus of the fair should be on the tithing of time and talent. (An increase in the tithing of time and talent tends to lead to an increase in the financial support needed to fund each ministry.) The pastor’s support for and participation in the ministry fair is critical. The committee should:
APPENDIX E - Stewardship Scripture Messages and Parables
Scripture Messages on Stewardship
“But who am I, and what is my people, that we should be able to offer so willingly after this sort? for all things come of thee, and of thine own have we given thee.” (1 Chronicles 29: 14)
“Honor Jehovah with thy substance, And with the first-fruits of all thine increase:” (Proverbs 3:9)
“For according to their power, I bear witness, yea and beyond their power, they gave of their own accord, “ (2 Corinthians 8:3)
“So therefore whosoever he be of you that renounceth not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple.” (Luke 14:33)
“For the Son of man also came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.” (Mark 10:45)
“In all things I gave you an example, that so laboring ye ought to help the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, that he himself said, It is more blessed to give than to receive.” (Acts 20:35)
“And having gifts differing according to the grace that was given to us, whether prophecy, let us prophesy according to the proportion of our faith; 12:7 or ministry, let us give ourselves to our ministry; or he that teacheth, to his teaching; 12:8 or he that exhorteth, to his exhorting: he that giveth, let him do it with liberality; he that ruleth, with diligence; he that showeth mercy, with cheerfulness.” ( Romans 12:6-8)
“Let a man so account of us, as of ministers of Christ, and stewards of the mysteries of God. 4:2 Here, moreover, it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful. “ (I Corinthians 4: 1-2)
“Charge them that are rich in this present world, that they be not highminded, nor have their hope set on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy; 6:18 that they do good, that they be rich in good works, that they be ready to distribute, willing to communicate; 6:19 laying up in store for themselves a good foundation against the time to come, that they may lay hold on the life which is life indeed. (I Timothy 6: 17-19)
“According as each hath received a gift, ministering it among yourselves, as good stewards of the manifold grace of God; (I Peter 4:10)
Stewardship Parables
* Matthew 25: 14-30 Parable of the Silver Pieces
* Luke 10: 25-37 Parable of the Good Samaritan
* Luke 11: 5-8 Parable of the Friend at Midnight
FUNDRAISING IN A STEWARDSHIP PARISH
The Biblical injunction to tithe the first fruits of our labors is clear in principle but difficult to fulfill in practice. Thrift, sound money management and generosity are prerequisites for stewardship. Parishioners can’t give what they don’t have. So the church must help them become good stewards of their money.
From time to time, the parish should sponsor free seminars on a variety of financial planning topics. Members of the congregation, who are accountants, lawyers, bankers or financial planners, should be invited to offer their expertise for free in a series of low-key presentations on personal finances, estate planning, life insurance and charitable bequests.
Once a year, the parish should make an appeal to the congregation for an annual pledge by each household. The appeal should be made from the pulpit, in the weekly bulletin and by mail. The communications materials should include the projected budget for the year and information about the state of the physical plant and equipment, the staffing needs of the church and the plans for each ministry.
A special, personal appeal should be made by the pastor to major donors.
Throughout the year, the parish might also conduct special fund-raising events. These could include a bake sale, garage sale, car wash, pancake breakfast, recipe book sale, Easter candies and Christmas poinsettias,
Links:
Fund Raiser Insights
Fund Raising
Stewardship Resources
Stewardship Inserts