Several
years ago when I was visiting my father, I told him that I had
taken a new position with the church in the stewardship program.
“It’s that time of year again, isn’t it?”
was his response. It will soon be “that time of year again”
for many congregations. But churches that hold a fall pledge
drive or a campaign can do it in ways that raise more than the
church’s budget. In fact, several ecclesiastical experts
contend that budgets are not the motivating way to fund the
mission of the church.
What our stewardship programs should be doing is asking for
a “faith commitment” and calling the fall activity
a “commitment program.” Of course, the practical
concern about the budget is always about how to raise enough
money to ensure that the existing ministry of the congregation
will be able to continue and possibly expand. Bills and salaries
have to be paid. But there is much more to financial giving
than paying the bills and salaries.
The understanding that financial giving means more than raising
money is evident in the popularity of the New Consecration Sunday
Stewardship Program written by Herb Miller and published by
Abingdon Press. No budgets are prepared in advance, and no pledge
cards are sent in advance. People are asked to come to worship
on a given Sunday to hear a guest preacher and to make a commitment
to Christ’s church at the end of the service by filling
out a commitment card with a dollar amount. At the close of
the service, the cards are brought forward to be blessed. The
commitment is to Christ and the mission of Christ’s church,
not to a budget. A budget is prepared only after those who give
have made their commitment.
The Bible teaches us that “where our money is, there
will be our heart.” How we use our possessions is an indication
of our heart’s location. As Charles Spencer, former Associate
for Stewardship, says, “If my money is at the country
club, that’s where my heart is, too.” The fall stewardship
commitment effort gives us a chance to determine the location
of our hearts. It can be a time when we look at how we are using
all of the gifts that God has given us and make adjustments
toward a more faithful lifestyle.
Consider carefully and prayerfully the kind of stewardship
commitment program that will be used in your congregation. There
are a variety of approaches, including “Pony Express,”
“Consecration Sunday,” and “Every Member Visitation.”
As you review the options, use these guidelines to help the
session or stewardship committee decide on a program:
- The commitment program should be the culmination of a yearlong
stewardship education and interpretation program.
- Review the types of programs used in the past. Try not to
repeat the same type of program too often.
- Decide how much time, energy, and money the group is willing
or able to invest in this year’s program.
- Think about the response of church members to worship services,
small-group meetings, and congregational special events. Use
an approach that allows you the opportunity to communicate
with the most people.
- Plan the focus of the commitment program. Consider using
a new mission program or an exciting new ministry that is
being launched.
- Gather information in advance about what members know and
feel about the ministry and mission of the church, both locally
and worldwide. This will help you determine the educational
component of the program.
|
