Nurturing Diocesan Stewardship Ministries The Rev. Laurel Johnston Program Officer for Stewardship Episcopal Church Center

The Purpose of a Stewardship Ministry is to help people to grow in their relationship with Jesus through the use of the gifts God has entrusted to them

Stewardship is not a program… it is a process of conversion Time Money Creation Vocation

What is a Steward? A Steward is a manager of trust

Oikos (Greek) Household Oikonomia Management of the Household

Stewardship is Responding to God’s call To use God’s gifts To carry out God’s Purpose

When did God first call us to be Stewards? On the sixth day…. God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them male and female he created them. God blessed them and God said to them be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth and subdue it and have dominion over the fish of the sea and over the birds of the air and over every living thing that moves upon the earth. Genesis 1:27-28

Made in God’s Image Bound to our Creator Humbly take right place within the whole Affirm our life as gift Affirm God as source of life, giver of freedom, Agents of God’s blessing Called to be life-giving Partners in carrying out God’s Purpose

God’s Purpose of Peace The biblical vision of Shalom speaks to the conditions that allow all living things to reach their potential of wholeness.

Attributes of a Faithful Steward A Steward knows the deepest intentions and greatest hopes of the owner. A Steward is entrusted to run the day to day affairs of the household or estate, especially when owner is away. A Steward is accountable to the owner

Jesus is the Bearer of God’s Vision of Shalom….

and is the Faithful Steward… Par Excellence I came that they may have life and have it abundantly. John 10:10

Jesus, Money & Values Jesus challenged the disciples, scribes and the crowds about relationship to money and their possessions. The Gospel references: Prayer500 times Faith>500 times Money 2,000 times

What must I do to inherit eternal life? You shall love your God with all your heart with all your soul all your strength and all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself. Luke 10: 25-27

God’s Purpose of Praise The practice of the tithe was an outward acceptance of Yahweh’s authority in the covenant partnership.

Tithing and The Covenant Community 1)A faith statement acknowledging God’s ultimate ownership—that all comes from God and belongs to God. 2)Provides support for the religious institutions central to the life of the community. 3) Re-distributed resources with concern for peace and justice

Loving God with all your strength…..Offering/Tithing Outward sign of faithfulness to covenantal relationship Expression of love in gratitude Offering the substance of your life Affirms God’s ultimate ownership Affirms ultimate trust and security

Eucharistic Offering “And we offer our sacrifice of praise and thanksgiving” Eucharistic Prayer B Gifts of the baptized and forgiven people of God

Offering of Money When we give money we are offering part of ourselves. We offer ourselves individually and corporately to be the body of Christ in the world. We acknowledge that what we offer to God is in a sense not ours, but his all along, given to us in trust as stewards of God’s creation.

Practicing Shalom Five Holy Habits Worship Weekly Daily Prayer Scripture Study Proportional Giving/Tithing Keeping Sabbath

Stewardship as a way of life…. Grace Gratitude Generosity of Spirit Giving God’s Glory

Shaping a Culture of Stewardship Questions to Consider

What is the expectation of what it means to be a member?

Do clergy and lay leaders share about their own giving? Set the Pace Preach & Teach about stewardship year round Make their commitment public

How do you teach biblical principles of stewardship?

How do you help people integrate their faith & finances? /free_to_be_faithful

Core Competencies of Steward Leaders 1.Understand and internalize the biblical and theological principles of stewardship. 2. Teach and preach about stewardship from a holistic orientation (time, money, creation and vocation). 3. Share publically about one’s own personal history, struggles and joys with money and giving.

Core Competencies of Steward Leaders 4. Create an environment that supports others as they deal with the power of money in their lives. 5. Practice and or works towards the tithe. 6. Teach and encourage vestry members to examine and define stewardship belief and practices. 7. Comprehend the basics of congregational finance and budgeting.

Diocesan Stewardship Ministry Best Practices Meet Regularly Begin each meeting with Scripture Study Engage in a stewardship book study Create a Diocesan Stewardship Statement Host /Attend Stewardship Workshops Develop a Network of Stewardship Mentors Create a Resource Library Consistent Communication

What word or images speak to you? How do you hear God’s promise? What barrier prevent me from responding? What would my life be like without these barriers ? Stewardship Scripture Study

Stewardship Book Study

Stewardship Workshops The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF) Consortium of Endowed Episcopal Parishes (CEEP) Ecumenical Stewardship Center

Create a Diocesan Stewardship Vision Statement We are created by God to be stewards of this world. We have no option…we are Stewards. Our option is the kind of stewards we are. What God intends for us is joy and a feeling of abundant life. The more we live into the image of God, the more joyful we will be. God gives to us lavishly, sacrificially, and without reserve. As we strive to give the way God gives, we grow into a deeper relationship with God. When we truly feel grateful to God, we can begin to feel the abundance He provides. We are called to love others as Christ loved us; to be caretakers of others, of our world, of our time, of our emotions, of our relationships…all of life! Episcopal Diocese of Oklahoma

Develop a Network of Stewardship Mentors Personal Budget: Money & Faith Annual Giving Will Preparation/Planned Giving Endowment Retreat Leaders Event Speakers & Preachers Spiritual Gifts Inventory Stewardship of Time Stewardship of Creation

Clear, Consistent Communications

Stewardship as a way of life…. Grace Gratitude Generosity of Spirit Giving God’s Glory