Proven Principles of Stewardship Success For The Church

1. Stewardship is a biblical concept that is also a matter of faith and response. The greater one knows of and has experienced the love of God, the greater will be the response as one offers to God his/her gifts of time, energy, talent, and financial resources to support ministries and bless lives.

2. People give to a cause that will make a significant difference in people’s lives and in the world. People will give more to a cause than they will to simply support an organization. To expect generous support, the organization must know its true mission, vision, and purpose and invite people to share in that mission, vision, and purpose. Often, the greater the vision, the greater the giving.

3. The practice of Christian stewardship is more than an obligation. It is a privilege. All that we have is a gift from God that God entrusts to our care to use with wisdom, compassion, generosity, and obedience. The Moravian Covenant for Christian Living states, “We deem it a sacred responsibility and genuine opportunity to be faithful stewards of all that God has entrusted to us: our time, talent, and our financial resources. We view all of life as a sacred trust to be used wisely.”

4. The Bible is clear that people of faith are to give generously to help provide for the poor and destitute as well as to support the mission, vision, and purpose of the Church.

5. Participation in the Church is vitally important to the life of the Church and the individual person of faith. Church “membership” includes an expressed desire and commitment to worship, learn, serve, and give throughout the year.

6. The Boards will make an annual review of each member’s participation in the life of the Church. For those less active, caring efforts will be made to help them once again commit to the obligations of membership. For those who choose to be inactive and after several caring efforts are made by meeting with them, their names will be removed from the roles of membership.

7. The Church and its leadership will not focus on the need of the Church to receive but the need for the giver to give to a cause and a purpose that will glorify God, bless lives, and strengthen the Church. Such opportunities to give will result in joyful and generous support.

8. The Church will offer each person of faith an annual opportunity to learn of and understand their spiritual gifts, areas of ministry interest, and ways to use those gifts and interests within the local ministry of the Church.

9. The Church will conduct an annual financial stewardship program for 3 to 5 weeks that will teach the importance of building a Bible-based, God-honoring budget and allow each person of faith to make a financial commitment to the mission and purpose of the Church. Percentage giving with the goal of tithing will be taught and modeled.

10. Leaders must be willing to ask for what is needed. Communicate specifically and with clarity the need for the gift, where it will go, and how it will be used. Use both a narrative and line item budget.

11. Fund-raising will not be used to underwrite the annual budget, but opportunities will be given throughout the year for people to support specific benevolent causes beyond the budget that may include the fun, fellowship, and benefit of fund-raising.

12. The Pastor will give theological and methodological leadership by teaching, preaching, and modeling all areas of Biblical stewardship education.

13. Board members will also be leaders, striving to grow in their understanding and practice of Biblical stewardship.

14. The Church will gladly assume and make every effort to make full payment of denominational benevolences and quotas as part of the annual operating budget.

15. Intentional recognition and thanks will be extended for all gifts of time, energy, talent, and financial resources that are given throughout the year to support the mission and ministry of the Church.