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Slide 2 Slide 3 Slide 4 The Church needs to be challenged in heroic giving. No timidity is allowed in proclaiming the Good News and healing of the Gospel. The worlds needs are so great, and the Churchs role in the transformation of the person and of the world so pivotal and essential, that any timidity on the subject is an insult to God. George Regas Slide 5 Slide 6 Toward Creating a Theology of Christian Stewardship Slide 7 A priests responsibility to her or his people centers very much on enabling them to form their own theologies. Slide 8 Slide 9 Now Mark, take all of this to your secret place and weigh it carefully. Slide 10 Five Pounds of Peanuts in a Three Pound Bag: Our Agenda! 1.Pray 2.Review our direction this morning. 3.The History of Giving in the Episcopal Church. 4.Theology: What is it? How do we do it? Why is it important? 5.What has the entire Old Testament say about Stewardship? 6.What has the entire New Testament have to say about Stewardship? 7.Toward creating a theology of stewardship. Slide 11 The History of Giving: The primary ways in which the Episcopal Church has been financially supported Colonial Period Revolutionary War to the early 19 th Century The 19 th and early 20 th Century The Post 1920 Period The Period after 1968 to the present Slide 12 Slide 13 Slide 14 Slide 15 Slide 16 Slide 17 The Alabama Plan works because: It asks for and receives leadership from the top. It requires hard work on the part of all those involved. It rests upon strong reflection on the Old and New Testaments, with particular focus on the mind of Jesus Christ. Slide 18 How Anglicans Theologize Slide 19 What is Theology? Slide 20 Issue SCRIPTURE TraditionReason Slide 21 Slide 22 Slide 23 What does the Old Testament say about Stewardship? Slide 24 Slide 25 Primarily: Nothing belongs to us. It all belongs to God and we are Gods stewards in the course of our earthly life. We are called to be a grateful people for all that God has entrusted to us. We are to live under the law and give accordingly. Slide 26 What does the New Testament say about Stewardship? Slide 27 What it doesnt say Money is important! That we are to live strictly under the law. (see St. Paul!) Much about the tithe. (see Jesus!) Slide 28 What Our Lord says is this: God must be central! NOT: Job Money Power Place Sex Booze/drugs The state The religious law Old Number One! Slide 29 Look at the Story: The Widow The Samaritan The Prodigal (or the Parable of the Loving Father!) The Talents Zacheus Judas The saddest of all!!! Slide 30 The Widow and Her Mite Slide 31 Slide 32 The Good Samaritan No one would have remembered the Good Samaritan if all he had were good intentions. He had money as well. Margaret Thatcher Slide 33 Slide 34 The Prodigal Slide 35 Slide 36 Slide 37 And he came to his senses. Slide 38 The Parable of the Talents Chremodephobia! The fear of money. Slide 39 Chremodephobia: The fear of money! Slide 40 Slide 41 Zacheus Slide 42 Come Down from that tree . What went on at dinner? One way or another, Our Lord healed Zack of Mammon Illness. (That which makes money central, disfigures relationships, dulls self and makes God secondary.) Slide 43 Slide 44 Judas and his silver Mixed motives, like us! Slide 45 Slide 46 The Rich Young Man He defines tragedy. Slide 47 Slide 48 Slide 49 Cultivating a Theology of Stewardship: Why is it important? Slide 50 Slide 51 Many Good Reasons: It quiets us, freeing and liberating something deep within us. It helps control some of our fears. It inspires us to do more for others. It allows us to concentrate on other aspects of the Christian faith: worship, study, pastoral care, missions, etc. It aids aids us in putting Christ in the center of our lives. Slide 52 Cultivating A Deeper Theology of Stewardship: Why do you give? It is the law! To maintain order in the greater society (My taxes pay for an orderly society. Oliver Wendell Holmes) CONVERSION ZONE Being a part of the love story which is Jesus Christ. Choosing to live a Grace-filled life. Slide 53 What kind of givers are there? Slide 54 What kind of giver will you be? George: the non-pledger Slide 55 Slide 56 What kind of giver will you be? George: the non-pledger Pendleton: the tipper Slide 57 Slide 58 What kind of giver will you be? George: the non-pledger Pendleton: the tipper Warren: the control giver Slide 59 Slide 60 What kind of giver will you be? George: the non-pledger Pendleton: the tipper Warren: the control giver Sky: the casual giver Slide 61 Slide 62 Wesley K. Wilmers Research on Giving in the United States 70% is impulsive 20% is out of habit 7% is somewhat thoughtful 3% is very careful and intentional Slide 63 What kind of giver will you be? George: the non pledger Pendleton: the tipper Warren: the control giver Sky: the casual giver James: the angry giver Slide 64 Slide 65 What kind of giver will you be? George: the non-pledger Pendleton: the tipper Warren: the control giver Sky: the careless giver James: the angry giver Herb: the M.I.T. giver Slide 66 Slide 67 What kind of giver will you be? George: the non-pledger Pendleton: the tipper Warren: the control giver Sky: the careless giver Herb: the M.I.T. giver Sally: the grace-filled giver Slide 68 What is Grace for the Christian? Slide 69 Grace has many manifestations Slide 70 Grace is my dying Quaker neighbour living each moment with a sense of gratitude. Grace is giving our children the ability to err or to fail. Grace is always welcoming our children home. Grace is reaching out to someone in need with no desire or expectation for reward. Slide 71 Grace is the courage to say I am sorry. Grace is loving and caring for someone half way around the world who we will never see or know, save to know they are starving or ill. Grace is to love another shamelessly, vigorously, despite their evident flaws. Grace is knowing that God always loves and accepts us. Slide 72 God has bestowed upon us all that we have and all that we are, freely, with no small print. In turn, we consciously seek to live life in the same way, . living an ever more loving, dignified, sacrificial, compassionate, and forgiving life that models that models Jesus Christ who gave himself freely for us. Slide 73 Slide 74 My Story: A Final Thought on GRACE and JOY ( Not Happiness )! Slide 75 Slide 76 Slide 77 Go to your secret place and weigh your theology of stewardship. Slide 78 Slide 79 Slide 80 Grace is .. Ann German and her boys preparing the Easter flowers for everyones enjoyment. Hillary Greene bringing her lovely ladies to church each Sunday. The way Connie Sullivan answers the phone at St. Marys. John, Tom and Isabelle freely giving coins from their Easter flower sale for Haitian relief. Slide 81 For your consideration: I. What stands out in your own life journey as the most important relationship or teaching or event that helped shape your understanding of Christian Stewardship? II. What does your parish as a community need to gain a deeper level of understanding and practice? Slide 82 Questions for those responsible for parish stewardship Is there a class on stewardship? Are persons clear about what the word tithe means? Does the Rector tithe? Is there a commitment on the part of leadership to tithe? Is there a childrens program on stewardship? Slide 83 How is the follow-up handled? Is there confidentiality around pledges? Is there good bookkeeping of pledges received? Is provision made for credit cards, stock transfers, direct deposits? What liturgical customs surround stewardship? Is there a step-up scale made available? Has next years stewardship chair been chosen? Slide 84 Every member canvas? Why do people come to Church? Are pledge cards and materials available throughout the year? Who prays for the stewardship ministry? Are stewardship materials personalized? Are thank you letters immediate? What precedes Stewardship Sunday? Do lay persons preach on stewardship? Slide 85 What is the size of the stewardship committee? Does the parish tithe received income? Is there a stewardship prayer for the parish? Are there pledge cards and envelopes? Are they available in the pews year-round? Slide 86 Grace takes many forms The athlete The seemingly sophisticated - elegance, class, appearance, certain kinds of possession . Slide 87 Amazing Grace! How sweet the sound that saved a wretch like me! I once was lost, but now am found, was blind but now I see. Twas Grace that taught my heart to fear and Grace my fears relieved; How gracious did that Grace appear the hour I first believed. Through many dangers, toils and snares I have already come, tis Grace hath brought me safe thus far and Grace will bring me home. The Lord has promised good to me. His word my hope secures; He will my shield and portion be as long as life endures. Yea when this flesh and heart shall fail, and mortal life shall cease, I shall possess, within the veil, a life of joy and peace. John Newton Slide 88 Questions: Positively and or negatively, how was stewardship, giving approached in your family of origin? What single person most inspired you to give generously to the church? What Biblical story most strongly informs your giving? Why? What few truths would you like to impart to your children, grandchildren or Godchildren about stewardship?