Orthodox Stewardship A Presentation Based on

“Stewardship: a Way of Life”

Resource One articles by, Father Frederick Watson

and Father Basil Aden 

It is a word that has been misunderstood in our modern era.

Stewardship is a biblical word.

The Church Fathers, especially St. John

Chrysostom, used it to mean “almsgiving.”

We Orthodox Christians usually hear about stewardship when it is related to money:

*Dues *Fund Raising Drive *Special financial program *Sermons are about giving *Stewardship = moneyStewardship is more than theseIt does not tell the whole storyof what Christian Stewardshipis all about.

Stewardship as a Way of Life

St. Peter wrote that every Christian is charged to "be a good steward of God's grace." (I Peter 4:10)

St. Ignatius of Antioch told the faithful that they were "stewards in God's house, members of His household, and His servants." (Epistle to Polycarp, 99)

Stewardship is enshrined in our Divine Liturgy.

“We offer unto You Yours of Your own, in behalf of all, and for all.“

It is giving back in

thanksgiving

We have nothing of our own. All that we have we borrow from God.

Bad Stewardship: • Pollution

• pornography

• waste

• servitude

• apathy

• abortion

• environmental

destruction

St. John Chrysostom

180 DegreeTurn Around ?

Repentance

Motivation for Stewardship

Personal Stewardship

PersonalResponsibility

Growing moreChrist Like

Stewardship Grows From our

Spiritual Practice

*Prayer*Fasting

*Eucharist*Stewardship

We become Christ Like

Fruit of Good Stewardship

*Joy

*Love

*Caring

*Compassion

Rewards of Stewardship *Life *Salvation *God’s Love *God with us

Already Bestowed

Stewardship is Thanksgiving Instead of Reward

.

Two basic principles for stewardship in

the Orthodox Church.

First- Orthodoxy is a way of life.

Second- Worship is the defining role in this way of

life.

What happens when we think of giving in terms of

worship?

Concern Shifts

New reference, context, motive, and purpose.

IT IS OFFERING

First FruitAnd the Lord spoke to Moses, saying, "Speak to the children

of Israel, and say to them: 'When you come into the land which I give to you, and reap its harvest, you shall bring a

sheaf of the first fruits of your harvest to the priest.

Our Stewardship Becomes Holy

Our Jobs Should Be Holy

Our Family Life Should Be Holy

OurTeaching

andLearningShould

BeHoly

From Personal Stewardship

To Our Parish Community Stewardship

Our Community Life and Service Should Be Holy

OurChurch Life Should Be Holy

A Living Sacrifice To God

Sample opinions for motivation of Orthodox stewardship

Most Urgent Need For Growth Was Money

More adult education

More outreach to the wider community

Thank YouACROD

Stewardship Commission

For more thoughts and information, see ‘Stewardship: a Way of Life: Resource One’.

www.acrod.org- Stewardship

BibliographyWatson, Father Fredrick, chairman, Aden, Father Basil, Hall, Father Deacon Stephen,Bilanin, John, “Stewardship: a Way of Life.” A publication of the Diocesan Stewardship Commission, American Carpatho-Russian Orthodox Diocese. 2010.

Krindatch, "The Realities of Orthodox Parish Life in the Western United States: Ten 'Simple' Answers to Ten 'Not Too Easy' Questions,"