2012 Stewardship Sunday: January 15

There are over 80,000 registered charities in Canada. Just this sheer number of charities indicates that there is a competitive environment for churches and their agencies in terms of attracting donor dollars. This might sound crass for the introduction for Stewardship Sunday worship materials – but it must be named and acknowledged at the outset.

In a book with the provocative title, Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate, J. Clif Christopher proposes that rather than see competition as a dirty word, churches embrace the challenge of earning people’s time, attention, and money by offering ministry that people can believe in. Christopher asserts that people generally want to be part of something that changes lives. Churches able to articulate and live out their mission as change agents in the world will receive support.

the following: build a high expectation culture in all areas of discipleship and stewardship; just before the offering, have weekly testimonies of how attenders have experienced the church at work; offer ongoing, regular classes on finances and faith, helping people organize their material lives around Christian principles; write hand-written thank-you notes to those who contribute finances and time to church ministries; replace line-item budgets with narrative or missional budgets dividing all expenses into categories such as worship, nurture, service, etc.

In closing words to church pastors and leaders, Christopher encourages them not to view stewardship as one more job to add to the “to do” list. Rather, “simply make stewardship the hallmark of who you are each and every day.” While it is good for worship cycles to include particular focus on stewardship, it is also good to be reminded that we make stewardship the hallmark of who we are each and every time we gather.