Stewardship University Stewardship As a Way Of Life: Practical Steps to Increase our Stewardship Response Begin Now: Consider adopting the mission statement: The goal of our Stewardship ministry is to help God s people grow in their relationship with Jesus through the use of the time, talents and finances that God has entrusted to them. 1 2 Shift The Focus And Emphasis The Annual Response Program A Way Of Life, not a beg-a-thon A response to God s daily blessings, grace and presence in our lives. A cornerstone of Stewardship Ministry Vital to your congregation NOT the whole house 3 4 1
Start early! Be Biblical Maximum Generosity.org Never use the budget Use full-sized Estimate of Giving cards 5 Use the most effective ways to ask: 10. An event 9. Impersonal letter 8. Telephone strangers 7. Mail-merged letter 6 6. Personal call, no follow-up 5. Personal call, letter follow-up 4. Personal letter on stationery, no follow-up 3. Very personalized letter 2. One person face-to-face 1. Two people face-to-face The Very Personalized Letter Stewardship and Giving: How to Increase the Financial Support of Your Congregation Workbook Resource by the Rev. Kevin E. Martin, available from www.tens.org 7 8 2
6. Personal call, no follow-up 5. Personal call, letter follow-up 4. Personal letter on stationery, no follow-up 3. Very personalized letter 2. One person face-to-face 1. Two people face-to-face Most effective ask: Face-to-face People who know each other asking each other about something that all care deeply about 9 10 A Story of A Gift Tell compelling stories about meeting needs Outreach Christian formation Other programs, ministries Show how people s giving changes lives 11 12 3
The Story of Dewey Bozella Don t talk about Church needs Focus on the Giver s need to give Give people targets: One hour s pay/wk Grow by 1% 13 14 Grow 1% on $50,000 income Giving Begets Giving Provide special appeals $200/mo = $2,400/year $2,400 $50,000 = 4.8% 6% = $3,000 $250/mo 7% = $3,500 $292/mo 10% = $5,000 $417/mo Helps grow a habit of giving Offer a variety Generational differences Greatest generation Gen-next Connect service with giving 15 16 4
How Are You Spiritually Gifted? The Catechism says Q. What is the ministry of the laity? People do desire a deeper walk with God People don t know their spiritual gifts Many (like this guy) unaware they HAVE them A. The ministry of lay persons is to represent Christ and his Church; to bear witness to him wherever they may be; and, according to the gifts given them, to carry on Christ s work of reconciliation in the world BCP, 855 17 18 Why Use Our Gifts? The glory of God is a human being fully alive --Irenaeus Spiritual gifts brings out the image of God-ness in us Brings Joy! Discovering Your Spiritual Gifts Take a self-scoring Inventory Vestry or committee Adult Ed. classes Confirmation Serve from your strengths, not your willingness 19 20 5
The Church needs ministers, not simply volunteers Learn your gifts Use your gifts Grow closer to God and to others God is Calling You! Create A Culture Of Thanking The Story of the Humane Society fundraiser Form thank you, then what? Next year s appeal What s the Church equivalent of driving the dog around? 21 22 Create A Culture Of Thanking Do more thanking Use creative, personal thank you s Everybody loves feeling appreciated! Write ten a week for six weeks Tell Your Mission Story Social Media Facebook Twitter Google+ Gen-next lives here! Word of Mouth on Steroids 23 24 6
Tell Your Mission Story Newsletter Pictures of people, people, people! E-mail blasts Church Web site Pictures of people, people, people! Tell Your Mission Story You must be interesting It is SINFUL to be boring Connect story to expected response Be clear how to give or get involved 25 26 Other Ways To Focus On The Giver s Need Give Make Stewardship Year-round, Not Only A Fall Fundraiser Make it easy for Legacy Giving Wills, beneficiary Some people give this way rather than to operating Go figure Use the calendar Preach on money 4 times a year Witness talks Lead up to the Annual Response 27 28 7
Join The Episcopal Network for Stewardship WWW.TENS.ORG an association of church leaders who understand, practice, and proclaim God s call to generosity. Our Purpose: Inspiring Generosity and Faithful Discipleship Adopt The Stewardship Mission Statement The goal of our Stewardship ministry is to help God s people grow in their relationship with Jesus through the use of the time, talents and finances that God has entrusted to them. Start in the spring, to have a rich harvest in the fall. 29 30 Remember Last, But Not Least The glory of God is a human being fully alive - Irenaeus 31 32 8