Some Resources for Financial Stewardship

Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate: A New Vision for Financial Stewardship

by J. Clif Christopher (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2008)

Stresses the importance of offering parishioners a compelling vision for what will happen with the money they are being asked to contribute, in much the same way that other non-profits have used. Christopher is a Methodist pastor who now operates Horizons Stewardship Company and was the keynote speaker at a recent Annual Council of the Diocese of Virginia. Around 120 pages.

Rich Church, Poor Church: Keys to Effective Financial Ministry

by J. Clif Christopher (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2012)

Suggests ways for transforming a church that is poor (not only poor financially, but also poor spiritually in terms of lacking a thoughtful understanding of how to engage members about prudent management of money) into a church that is rich in both ways. Around 105 pages.

Whose Offering Plate Is It?: New Strategies for Financial Stewardship

by J. Clif Christopher (Nashville: Abingdon Press, 2010)

A sequel to the previous book, which prompted questions about how to improve a local church’s culture about asking for funds and contributing generously. This book offers strategies for changing that culture. Around 140 pages.

Prodigal Sons and Material Girls: How Not to Be Your Child’s ATM

by Nathan Dungan (Hoboken, New Jersey: John Wiley & Sons, 2003)

Clear guidance for parents about how to educate children about the relative value of money and other material possessions. With professional experience as a money manager for Lutherans, and now as a stewardship speaker and consultant, Dungan encourages children to divide their money evenly for three purposes: saving, sharing, and spending. Around 230 pages.

Making the Annual Pledge Drive Obsolete: How Churches Can Get Out of This Business Once and For All

byMichael Durall and Timothy Dombek (CommonWealth Consulting Group, 2014)

The authors challenge congregations to engage adherents in creating a congregation that is doing serious, high impact charitable work. If this is accomplished, asking others to give takes care of itself. The writing is direct and “refreshingly controversial” (from Around 80 pages.

Fearless Church Fundraising: The Practical and Spiritual Approach to Stewardship

byCharles LaFond (New York: Morehouse Publishing, 2012)

In this rich resource – part handbook, part workbook, part spiritual guidebook – former monk and popular speaker and consultant Charles LaFond combines road-tested strategies, technological know-how and sample campaign documents with a spiritual director’s sensitivity. The result is an irresistible, user-friendly text that promises to transform your ministry’s fundraising and its spiritual life Around 195 pages.

Ask, Thank, Tell: Improving Stewardship Ministry in Your Congregation

by Charles R. Lane (Minneapolis: Augsburg Fortress, 2006)

The old conventional wisdom is to send lots of thank-you notes to donors for their gifts, whereas Lane encourages churches to ask carefully (with three chapters directly on that topic), send one thank-you note but then tell the donors repeatedly and in various ways how their gifts are being used and making a difference in people’s lives. The author is a pastor and a stewardship professional in the ELCA (mainline Lutheran). 128 pages.

A Spirituality of Fundraising

byHenri J.M. Nouwen and John S. Mogabgab (Upper Room Books, 2011)

Nouwen’s fundraising book is an essential read for all Christians. He writes, “The more we touch the intimate love of God which creates, sustains, and guides us, the more we recognize the multitude of fruits that come forth from that love.” Nouwen articulately expresses how “fundraising is first and foremost a form of ministry.” It is “as spiritual as giving a sermon, entering a time of prayer, visiting the sick, or feeding the hungry!.” The print is large; the writing is simple and profound. Around 60 pages.

The Passionate Steward: Recovering Christian Stewardship from Secular Fundraising

by Michael O’Hurley-Pitts (Toronto, Ontario: St. Brigid Press, 2001)

A comprehensive guide to financial stewardship, including perspectives on individual giving, corporate giving, annual pledge campaigns, and a bit of attention to planned giving and legacy giving. The author is a Canadian Roman Catholic. Around 160 pages.

Giving to God: The Bible’s Good News about Living a Generous Life

by Mark Allan Powell (Grand Rapids, Michigan: Eerdmans, 2006)

Excellent discussion for clergy and laity about various biblical passages and themes for stewardship, financial and otherwise. Powell teaches New Testament at Trinity Lutheran Seminary in Columbus, Ohio, and is an ELCA pastor. Around 180 pages.

The Power of Half

by Kevin Salwen and Hannah Salwen (Boston: Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, 2010)

While not grounded in Christian theology, this book offers a foundation for conversations about living smaller so that we may help others. The “Hannah’s Take” segments are especially articulate, with questions and family activities that encourage intentional and proportional living across all areas of life. The Salwen’s income bracket and lifestyle description may create a barrier for some readers to identify with the family’s pursuits. Nevertheless, the book is a recommended read for church leaders to use as a resource for conversation about proportional living and giving. About 440 pages.

A Revolution in Generosity: Transforming Stewards to Be Rich Toward God

edited by Wesley K. Willmer (Chicago: Moody Publishers, 2008)

Large anthology about how God’s plan for generosity works, how the Church can transform donors into stewards, how those soliciting funds can transform hearts, and ow leaders can raise up stewards. A number of the authors are stewardship professionals. Just over 400 pages.

.

1

The Episcopal Diocese of Virginia | 110 West Franklin Street | Richmond, Virginia 23220

800-DIOCESE |