Stewardship Information

"Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe." (John 20.29)

Stewardship Information

Stewardship Note From Kate Killebrew
How Much Do the Religious Give?
What's New in Stewardship Resources?

Stewardship Note From Kate Killebrew
(Consultant for Mission Funding and Parish Redevelopment, kkillebrew@snip.net)

It's not too early to start to think about Stewardship! Actually if your plan is year round, then you are thinking about it all year! But just in case you need some new ideas, take note of these excellent web sites for stewardship resources

www.stewardshipoflife.org
www.pcusa.org/stewardship
www.elca.org/dcm/stewardship
www.generousgiving.org
www.tens.org

How much do the religious give?
By Martin E. Marty

“The people at GenerousGiving.org see some decline (adjusted for inflation) in the last couple of years. Overall, 70 percent of Americans "gave," and 60 percent of their giving was to religious agencies, especially church-and-synagogue. They gave on average $1,075 per household, across class lines. (As usual, the poorer gave more than the richer; those who do not benefit from "tax cuts" more than those who profit wildly from them). I suppose this comes out to about $20 per week for all causes, including church.
Whoever does what Jesus-in-the-gospels did, and examines the collection plate as it goes by, still will find plenty of "mites" or one-dollar bills. The move from pocket change to dollar-bills, I am told, began post-Depression and especially after World War II. A book titled How Much Is That In Real Money? would help us calculate that, today, one would have to give ten-dollar bills and up to match the 1945 dollar.
How does church giving compare to other "giving" and paying? For example, tipping. The Chicago Tribune last Friday (November 7) featured "Tipping," and posted amounts that are regular, or seem to be in place. For example, women do, or should, tip their manicurist $4 and, on a $40 haircut, $8-$10. The hotel concierge who gets you good tickets deserves $20. The one that I thought too low was "Chambermaid: $1 to $5 a night is appropriate but not required." Spend $100-$300 for a hotel overnight, and leave $1 to the new immigrant in Housekeeping who deals with all the "remains" of the day (and night)? Unfair. But I digress.
My bottom line: our giving to all causes, beginning with church, per capita among givers -- and without averaging in non-givers in the population -- is closer to "tipping" than "sacrifice" or "generous giving."

What's New in Stewardship Resources?
(available in the Resource Centerand through Presbyterian Distribution Service)

Graceful Living: Your Faith, Values and Money in Changing Times (2001) The Rev. Laura DunhamGraceful Living helps readers reflect on their attitudes toward money, clarify their values, and develop a comprehensive financial plan with strategies for implementation. Commissioned by the Ecumenical Stewardship CenterThe Steward Living in Covenant: New Perspectives on Old Testament Stories is the sixth book in the Faith's Horizons series edited by Dr. Ron Vallet. It is a companion to the earlier popular study Stepping Stones of the Steward. This resource combines powerful story telling with creative dramas and choral readings to enliven worship and Christian Education. Each chapter includes questions for reflection and suggestions for action.The Price of Faith (2002)Marie T. CrossIn The Price of Faith: Exploring Our Choices about Money and Wealth Marie Cross speaks to the silence surrounding money in light of faith. It joins daily decisions to congregational worship and Christian mission. One area of particular interest is the att ention to the theology and practice surrounding the offering plate. "Ten session plans that deal with personal finances, church funds, charity, and attitudes about money are included to help adults gain a new understanding of stewardship." A great resource for an adult Christian education class or Stewardship Committee.