Welcome to The Ministry Lab's curated list of resources to help congregational leaders study and discuss how the congregation should use its resources. Here you'll find:
If you don't find a resource to fit your need, don't hesitate to consult with The Ministry Lab's director, Emily Meyer, who is happy to assist you.
Are you looking for an impactful stewardship program that's theologically-grounded and easy to implement?
In partnership with the Stewardship Leaders Program at Luther Seminary, Church Anew offers Stewardship in a Box, a resource designed to provide everything needed to guide a community through a meaningful conversation about faith and finances.
Using tried and true methods from fundraising experts and stewardship leaders, this resource will help congregations from the beginning to the end of a stewardship campaign. This is not an “all or nothing” resource, that everyone follows exactly and word for word. It is meant to be more of a “choose your own adventure,” setting each congregation up for stewardship success in the way that fits their context best.
The inaugural Stewardship in a Box theme is “You Have Heard it Said…”
This worship and spiritual practice series will help people of faith unpack some of what they have heard about money (and generosity), reflect on how God might be calling them to use all of their money (not just the portion they give away), and discern how people of all ages might participate in God’s mission in their congregation through financial generosity.
A ready-made resource for congregations of every size, Stewardship ina Box will include:
Equipping Event (in-person or online - register below)
Preaching Prompts for pastors, deacons, lay-preachers, SAMs, and anyone sharing a sermon.
Worship and Liturgical Resources including song/hymn suggestions, calls to worship, and prayers of the day.
Graphics for worship
Social media and communication ideas
At Home Practices for households of every size and shape that center Christian faith in ordinary moments of life.
Stewardship Basics for church councils, stewardship committees, or rostered leaders looking to grow their toolkit.
Stewardship Campaign Tools that help church leaders communicate financial need and ask for support from the congregation.
Getting Comfortable Preaching about Money and Generosity
Preaching on the topic of money is spiritually challenging. And it can also be personally challenging to leaders plagued by their own economic insecurity or discomfort in asking people to give. Meredith McNabb of the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving says preachers must address their own concerns and fears about money talk so they can invite their people into the faithful practice of generosity.
CONVERGENCE offers numerous leadership and community development webinars on-demand or in a cohort:
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Protect, Sustain, Grow: Best Practices for Handling Your Church's Money provides practical advice, best practices, and resources for pastors, finance committee members, church treasurers, financial secretaries, bookkeepers, and more. Whether it's your first time dealing with church finances or you've been handling them for years, this video tool kit will help you provide financial integrity and sustainability for your church, as well as expand your church's income.
Developing Your Operating Budget is ecumenical and designed for both self study and group use by finance committees, pastors, and finance staff.
Multiply giving to Minneapolis efforts of renewal and rebuilding.
Participate in and/or donate to the 2020 NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Virtual Walk championing justice, dignity and respect for everyone affected by mental illness. Saturday, September 26, 2020.
2023 Stewardship Annual Campaign Resources Round Up
By Karen Ware Jackson | July 7, 2023
Here’s a deep dive into some of the campaign theme resources available in 2023.
Richard Rohr spends a week of Daily Meditations asking What Do We Do with Money? Thursday's Rights and Responsibilities, a reflection on The Parable of the Ten Gold Coins (Lk 19:11-27), is especially insightful.
The Lewis Center for Church Leadership offers articles, podcasts and leadership development courses on:
Flipping the Script on Church Owned Property
Church Anew's Mark Elsdon is confident that We Aren't Broke.
6 Simple Steps to Launch a Planned Giving Program by Ann Michel of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership
Lewis Center for Church Leadership has a growing list of Covid-19-related resources on topics of Social Action, Stewardship, Technology, and Hospitality.
The Congregational Economic Evaluation (CEE) enables congregations to receive feedback about current financial health, suggestions for action steps and toolkits based on that feedback; and comparisons between congregations nation-wide.
ELCA World Hunger encourage addressing local, regional and global hunger.
Seasonally appropriate materials guide congregations in specific actions and provide for worship and study.
See New Generosity for Stewardship books available through The Ministry Lab.
