Stewardship
Stewardship is our care for what God has entrusted to us, and particularly concerns our use of our time and money.
John Leach, who advises on Stewardship says:
As Stewardship Adviser it is my conviction that people become willing to give away freely what God has freely given them when three other things fall into place:
- our faith becomes renewed as we appreciate more fully what God has given to us
- we have set before us a huge vision which we feel it is worth giving to, or rather investing in
- and we are taught regularly the principles of giving by our leaders.
Without these three factors, stewardship actually tends to mean ever-more urgent demands for fund-raising, often simply in order to survive. Campaigns may provide some short-term answers, but people’s hearts are not touched nor is their faith renewed. The main motivators are guilt and panic, and the next crisis soon looms.
Therefore, my strategy has been to work on the teaching of stewardship, principally by the clergy, and by encouraging churches to dream exciting dreams which will call forth generosity from people. My Teaching Stewardship booklet is available from me at the Diocesan Office, and of course I am happy to speak to PCCs or congregations.
Some very helpful teaching resources are available from a directory on the Chichester Diocese website: http://natstew.diochi.org.uk/content/weblinks.htm