1. Best Practices in Parish Stewardship Key Elements for Establishing Stewardship As a Way of Life

2. Stewardship as a Way of Life  Mature disciples make a conscious decision to follow Jesus, no matter the cost to themselves;  Christian disciples experience conversion – life-shaping changes of mind and heart – and commit their very selves to the Lord;

3. Stewardship as a Way of Life  Christian stewards respond in a particular way to the call to be a disciple. Stewardship has the power to shape and mold our understanding of our lives in the way in which we live;

4. Stewardship as a Way of Life

5.  Jesus’ disciples and Christian stewards recognize God as the origin of life, giver of freedom, and source of all things. We are grateful for the gifts we have received and are eager to use them to show our love for God and one another. We look to the life and teaching of Jesus for guidance in living as Christian stewards. -- - Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response

6. A Spirituality of Stewardship  A spirituality of stewardship recognizes that:  Everything we are and have comes from God  We learn to respond in gratitude  Such gratitude is nurtured within the community of believers

7. Fostering Stewardship: Seven Steps  Commitment of Leadership  Pastor  Living witness  Commission/Committee  Fostering and sustaining stewardship  Annual plan  Renewal with annual commitment  Pastoral Council  Pastoral Planning

8. Fostering Stewardship: Seven Steps  Hospitality and Evangelization  Hospitality and Welcoming Essential  Community – The Importance of Belonging

9. Fostering Stewardship: Seven Steps  Formation Toward a Spirituality of Stewardship  Living, lifelong relationship with Christ  People with grateful hearts and generous spirits  Vision of faith community as place where disciples are formed

10. Fostering Stewardship: Seven Steps  Reach Out  Living the Gospel in ways large and small  Discern the needs within the parish  Discern the needs in the local community and the world  Discern ways to address the needs through the ministry of parishioners

11. Fostering Stewardship: Seven Steps  Ministry Development and Support  Listen to the ways in which parishioners hope to serve  Ministry Guide and Fair  Ministry Support  Stewardship of Treasure  Parishioners have a need to give

12. Fostering Stewardship: Seven Steps  Planning and Evaluation  Annual Renewal  Timeline

13. Fostering a Spirituality of Stewardship: Seven Steps  Gratitude and Accountability  Recognition of stewardship of parishioners  Recognize commitment  Gratitude for giving  Regular sharing of all that is given  Time  Talent  Treasure  Annual Report

14. Conversion of Mind and Heart  Self-absorption to interconnection  Self-centeredness to God- and Other-centeredness  Self-determination to responsive discipleship  A false sense of security to a life of conversion  A sense of entitlement to a life of gratitude  The need for control to the freedom of generosity

15. Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response  “The Christian vocation is essentially a call to be a disciple of Jesus…  Jesus’ call is urgent. He does not tell people to follow him at some time in the future but here and now – at this moment, in these circumstances. There can be no delay.”