Stewardship

[Wendy Johnson]

Yep, I hate the word. I also hate the words philanthropy, charity, etc. -- you know the words. But the conversation is all-encompassing in the Diocese of MN. Money is tight, Episcopalians are few (especially motivated ones), and anxieties are high.

I like language around gifts, mission, ministries. But I see these topics come around again and again with very little, if anything, that's new.

Any help on how you "talk" about these things where you are? Getting the language down might help.

[Greg Rickel]

Wendy, good questions and a topic I have great passion about. Just a few thoughts. Many want to ditch the word stewardship since it does come loaded now with lots of negatives, but I would hope we would put the work into reclaiming it. My point is we should talk about it more not less, and we should be clear about what we are talking about. We have used and abused stewardship and also lessened it by associating it only with money. Stewardship is the tent, money is one of the issues in it. I think we have to be clear about money, clear about asking, clear about the need, not to have money, which is where we always go, but the need to give which flows from our spirituality. I guess I don't hate the word at all, but it is loaded. Would love to continue this conversation! Thanks for starting it!

[Wendy Johnson]

I suppose the word "hate" is a bit strong. But I do find that it brings up pretty strong feelings in me. I have to wonder that if we focus our energy on becoming a church that is clearly in mission whether money will follow more naturally -- the whole money follows mission idea. And that if we are perceived as being in mission, people will feel moved to give, rather than obligated to give.

[Greg Rickel]

Well, yes, to a degree this is right, and we should be about mission anyway, but it does not replace what I am talking about, being honest about money. My point, is, that the approach you are spelling out is still a way to avoid honoring money as a true spiritual issue. Money is mission! I guess that would be my point! People moved to give is the point, but the best motivation in my experience is when people realize it is not give because of what they get out of it, versus their need to give as part of their very being!

[Wendy Johnson]

I do believe that giving is an absolutely essential part of our being -- and a beautiful and natural reaction to our own realization of our blessedness. I wonder, though, if churches and church leadership don't trust this. If churches focus on helping each individual realize and own their blessings, then would giving increase? If churches focus on helping individuals and community discern God's purpose for our lives and the ways in which we play a part in bringing God's kingdom to earth, would giving increase?

I agree with you that churches absolutely need to be honest about money -- both from the giving and receiving end. Not only honest and direct in asking for money, but honest in asking the hard questions how they're spending it. Is the budget truly "of God"?

I happen to be a part of a community that is having intense and honest conversations about how we manage our resources. The dialogue not only encompasses what we have, but also what we have the opportunity to create and are called to do. Our actual $ is down by about 1/3 but the community sees itself as being called into new and creative mission, rather than being shrunk or scratching around for more. I think leadership is key in creating this environment. And the funny thing is, it actually inspires people to give more b/c of the strong sense of mission.

[Rick Lord]

Wendy & Greg,

Your discussion caught my eye. I've been thinking a lot lately about giving as spiritual practice and how our parish community can utilize the liturgical year to help facilitate some experience and growth in this area and take it out of the appeal for money that typically takes place in the last quarter of the year.

For example, in late Pentecost through Epiphany, we would teach and witness about the practice of giving as one way to engage God's mission. In Lent we would focus on the harder truth of our mortality and what legacy giving is all about. On Ascension Sunday we plan to host an all out "ministry fair" which will be preceded by several weeks of formation events around spiritual gifts and motivated abilities. During the summer months of "Ordinary Time" we plan to focus on the stewardship of creation. All of this we see as an attempt to broaden our practice of stewardship in the future.

I'd be interested to know if anyone else on this forum is utilizing the liturgical year as a stewardship outline.

[Wendy Johnson]

Personally, I like this approach b/c it takes it out of a one-season event and makes giving a lifestyle, which it obviously should be. It would also, I think, take away some of the sense of pressure and desperation that can come with "stewardship campaigns" -- especially if they aren't hitting their goals. No one likes to participate in these.

[Greg Rickel]

To Wendy's response, it is great that you are having the honest discussion. This is the greatest step I think we can make as communities. My point about honesty is even individually and especially as leaders talking, in clear numbers terms what we give. As a Rector I did this every year, tell the congregation by letter, in writing what I make and give. This first year as Bishop I have done the same and will each year.

To Rick and Wendy, right on with the seasons!, while in the parish I used the seasons this way, and stewardship was year round, not the October-beg-a-thon. Money can still fall then but we also need to take up stewardship of our relationships, the earth, our vocations, etc. We did something every month. This is where we have failed the church in responding only to the "Fire" that erupts each fall.

Thanks for sharing your thoughts, I hope you will go with it Rick and let us know how it goes!

Greg

[Warren Hicks]

Rick, I've noodled on this a great deal lately. It seems to me that doing our 'Stewardship Campaigns' when we usually do can work at cross purposes to how the program year (and I'm not fond of that phrase) works. We're in the midst of trying to have a holistic conversation about Stewardship. We've done the Ministry Fair in the Fall at the beginning of the year and that seems to get folks thinking about what goes on and how they might respond. It also allows all of us a 'new eyes' perspective. I mean that we get to see how God is guiding folks who parishioners may not see every Sunday or know they're involved in certain ministries.

I think the liturgical year is a great model for living into the rhythm of preparation, gift, reflection, examination, letting go, resurrection and co-missioning (as a Pentecost theme) new things coming up for the Fall. Having said all of this, I haven't seen it pulled off yet and don't know how best to navigate the shift from one model to another. It's a conversation I'm up for in depth however! Let's know some ideas around.

Peace,

Warren

[Jimmy Buccini]

Two Thoughts:

First, I'm new to the Episcopal Church, and it's kinda of interesting because stewardship is a new word for me. To me, it means so much more than just giving money. It means literally supporting something that I believe in. For me, stewardship is incredibly positive because it means I get to take an active role in the ministry of the Church. And that's pretty cool.

Second, If the work of the Church is truly focused on working toward the Kingdom of God, than our offering is not just about donating money. It's about taking the fruit of our week's labor, our earnings, our "bread and wine", and turning them into the Body and Blood of Christ - our ministry for and with others.

[Greg Rickel]

Warren and Jimmy,

Thanks for replying, and I am enjoying the conversation. Yes, I think you are both right on. I like to say we have the bread, wine, and sweat on the altar. And I do think it should be on the altar. A lot of churches take the offering away and put it somewhere else, as if it defiles the altar. Even though we don't say it, that is what our action says. Our money is the one tangible thing left that we bring, an offering of our time, our lives. It used to be that the bread and wine was brought from homes as well but not so much any more.

Stewardship is really all we are doing. We have to try to make the connections more. When people tell me I need to preach a stewardship sermon, I tell them they are all stewardship sermons! Let's keep talking!

Greg

[Wendy Johnson]

I ran across this in updating our diocesan prayer blog. I like the challenge the degrees present. My question -- as a church are we compelled to call ourself to the higher degree of giving?

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Thoughts on Giving
-- Marian Wright Edelman, Guide My Feet

I keep the Eight Degrees of Tsedakah on my refrigerator to remind me and my family to share what we have with others -- joyfully and without a lot of fanfare -- and to think about what and how to give effectively.

According to Jewish law, reaching out to the needy and doing so in a manner that prevents the needy person's requiring charity -- by helping them help themselves through jobs or interest-free loans -- is encouraged. I believe that both our private charity and public policies should reach out to protect children from want by ensuring their parents jobs and the tools of work -- training, child care, health care -- and by making sure their children get a healthy start in life to prevent future dependency.

Charity also is something we should engage in to respond to immediate and emergency needs. But charity is no substitute for justice, and fair opportunity must exist for every child if a fair chance for all Americans is to result.

There are eight degrees in the giving of tsedakah, one higher than the other.

1. Those who give grudgingly, reluctantly, or with regret
2. Those who give less than is fitting, but give graciously.
3. Those who give what is fitting, but only after being asked.
4. Those who give before being asked.
5. Those who give without knowing to whom, although the recipients know the identity of the donors.
6. Those who give without making their identity known to the recipients.
7. Those who give without knowing to whom, and neither do the recipients know from whom they receive.
8. Those who help others by giving a gift or loan, or by making them business partners or finding them employment, thereby helping them dispense aid to others. As Scripture says, "You shall strengthen him, be he a stranger or a settler, he shall live with you" [Leviticus 23:35]. This means strengthening them in such a manner that falling into want is prevented.

-- An epitome of Maimonides' Eight Degrees of Tsedakah; Mishnah Torah, Gifts to the Needy, 10

[Maria Evans]

We are having a Bishop's Committee planning meeting Aug. 16 at our church and perhaps after the meeting I might have some things to discuss as one of the things we have to dialogue about in our parish is stewardship...