Stewardship Activities: Myths and Realities

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1 Stewardship Activities: Myths and Realities Dr. Charles Zech Villanova University Center for the Study of Church Management

2 Permeate

3 Question 1- True or False? While no church is entirely satisfied with the amount that their members contribute, Catholics contribute to their parish at about the same rate as Protestants.

4 Giving as a Percent of Income by Denomination Unitarian-Universalist Christian Science Catholic ELCA Lutheran Episcopal Disciplines of Christ Methodist (Main) Conservative Lutheran United Church of Christ Black Methodist Presbyterian (Main) Liberal Baptist Black Baptist Jehovah's Witnesses Presbyterian (Other) Church of Christ Southern Baptists Nazarene Reformed Church of God Adventists Assemblies of God Latter-day Saints 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%

5 Question 2-True or False? Catholics who attend Mass more often contribute more to their parish.

6 Dollar Contributions Religious Contributions by Attendance Pattern $3,000 $2,500 $2,541 $2,000 $1,500 $1,468 Catholics Protestants $1,000 $569 $848 $1,095 $500 $287 $243 $405 $543 $0 $22 Never Seldom Monthly 2-3 times per month Attendance Pattern Weekly or more

7 Question 3- True or False? Catholics who disagree with official Church teachings on sexual ethics issues such as birth control, divorce, abortion, or the ordination of women contribute less to their parish than do those Catholics who agree with the Church s teachings on each of these topics.

8 Question 4 True or False? Parishes that preach a stewardship message receive larger contributions from their members.

Stewardship All We Have is really a gift from God, who asks us to

support his work on earth Developing a need to give, rather than giving

Conversion of mind and heart Stewardship is not about something we do.

9 Stewardship All We Have is really a gift from God, who asks us to return a portion in the form of our Time, Talent, and Treasure to support his work on earth Developing a need to give, rather than giving to a need Stewardship is an understanding of a total way of life; Conversion of mind and heart Stewardship is not about something we do. It s about who we are, and whose we are Asking ourselves, What Do I Own, and What Owns Me?

10 Dollar Contributions Figure 6-21 Religious Contributions Stewardship Parish $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 $400 $200 $1,012 $845 $0 Yes No/ Don't Know Parish Uses Stewardship Approach

11 Question 5-True or False? Parishioners who plan their giving in advance contribute more to their parish than do those who decide weekly how much to contribute.

12 Dollar Contributions Figure 6-25 Religious Contributions How Contribution Decision is Made $2,000 $1,500 $1,000 $500 $1,883 $1,630 $1,298 $947 $621 $0 Tithe Annual Income Percent Annual Dollar Amount Weekly dollar Amount Afford Each Week Decision This Year

13 $ Contributions Figure 6-23 Religious Contributions by Approve of Pledging Approve Don't Know Disapprove Level of Approval

14 Question 6-True or False? Parishioners who believe that they have an input into parish decision-making contribute more to their parish.

15 Dollar Contributions Figure 6-18 Religious Contributions Leadership Discusses Important Parish Decisions $1,200 $1,000 $800 $600 $400 $200 $0 $1,088 $787 $934 Agree Don't Know Disagree Level of Agreement

16 PARISH STEWARDSHIP OUTCOMES Outcome Value I. Treasure per household regular contributions $517 II. Percent of Parishioners Volunteering Time 27.4% III. Parish Spirituality Index Sum of the Percent of parishioners engaged in the following activities 46.3% Regularly attend weekday Mass Regularly attend other liturgical celebrations (e.g., adoration, rosary) Regularly attend bible study groups Regularly attend small group retreats Member of small faith group

17 Question 7-True or False? Parishes with stewardship councils achieve better stewardship results than parishes without stewardship councils.

18 Percent Change Figure 1: Parish Has Stewardship Council 14% 12% 12% 10% 8% 7% 6% 4% 2% 0% 0% TR VOL SP

19 Question 8 Which of the following parish stewardship activities is most effective? a. Frequent homilies on stewardship b. A parish ministry fair c. Including stewardship as part of a parish plan

20 Percent Change 20% 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Figure 3: Effectiveness of Stewardship Activities 0% 15% 12% 0% 0% 14% 18% 19% 13% TR VOL SP TR VOL SP TR VOL SP HOMILIES FAIR PARISH PLAN

21 Question 9-True or False? The use of lay witnesses is an effective parish stewardship activity.

22 Question 10 Which of the following welcoming activities is most effective at building parish stewardship? a. Greeters at Mass b. Welcome wagon visit new parishioners c. New members reception

23 Percent Change Figure 9: Most Effective Welcoming Activity 20% 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% 18% 13% 9% 5% 5% 5% 0% 0% 0% TR VOL SP TR VOL SP TR VOL SP GREETERS WELCOME WAGON NEW MEMBER RECEPTION

24 Percent Change Figure 9a: Four or More Welcoming Activities 40% 35% 30% 25% 20% 15% 10% 5% 0% 38% 26% 23% TR VOL SP

25 Question 11 Which of the following community building activities is most effective at building parish stewardship? a. Coffee/donuts after Mass b. Parish picnic c. Bingo

26 Percent Change Figure 10: Most Effective Community Building Activity 10% 8% 6% 6% 8% 7% 7% 4% 4% 2% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% TR VOL SP TR VOL SP TR VOL SP COFFEE/DONUTS PARISH PICNIC BINGO

27 Percent Change 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Figure 10a: Four or More Community Building Activities 10% 12% 0% TR VOL SP

28 Question 12 Which of the following parish communications tools is most effective at building parish stewardship? a. Parish bulletin b. Parish newsletter c. Parish website

29 Percent Change Figure 11: Most Effective Communication Tool 25% 20% 15% 10% 23% 21% 12% 13% 16% 5% 0% 0% 0% 0% 0% TR VOL SP TR VOL SP TR VOL SP PARISH BULLETIN NEWSLETTER WEBSITE

30 Percent Change 20% 18% 16% 14% 12% 10% 8% 6% 4% 2% 0% Figure 11a: Five or More Communications Media 19% 14% 10% TR VOL SP

31 Conclusion: Ten Activities to Advance Parish Stewardship 1. Be a welcoming parish that takes community-building seriously 2. Appoint a Stewardship Council 3. Include stewardship as a vital component of the parish plan 4. Emphasize stewardship in all parish formation and education programs 5. Minimize your use of word Volunteers

32 6. Provide the opportunity for lay witness presentations 7. Encourage parishioners to make a commitment to the parish by pledging 8. Communicate with parishioners about stewardship of Time, Talent and Treasure regularly, not just once a year 9. Good stewardship starts in the parish house 10. Remind Parishioners that contributing through estate planning is good stewardship.

33 Remember: Stewardship is First and Foremost a Spiritual Activity

Permeate. Stewardship Best Practices. Question 1

Permeate. Stewardship Best Practices. Question 1 Best Practices Presented by: Dr. Charles (Chuck) Zech Permeate Question 1 Both Catholics and Protestants tend to be satisfied with the level of giving received by their parishioners. 1 Giving as a Percent