Stewardship and Church Finances

Stewardship and Church Finances

2009 Stewardship theme materials!

Igniting Generosity

2009 Stewardship Messages
Use these messages monthly to offer an inspiring, biblically-based reflection in your newsletter, on your bulletin board and website or as a Sunday bulletin insert.(January to July)

Should the Pastor Know How Much Members Give?: Reverend Kate Huey makes a passionate appeal.

What about tithing?: Reverend Kate Huey shares her story in Exercising Generosity.

Picture Budgets: A Church Story Book or Picture Budget communicates mission in two very different ways. Guidelines for a Picture Budget.

Financial Wellness:

Financial Wellness: Congregational and Personal

Use this biblical reflection to introduce the subject of money.

Financial Literacy: 360 Degrees of Financial Literacy, recommended by the UCC Pension Boards offers help for all financial stages of life.

Making Sound Strategic Choices in Anxious Times
Alban Institute Susan Beaumont and Alice Mann offer UCC pastors sound answers to tough questions.(click here)

Faith and Tough Economic Times
Our Pastors Speak Up About the Economy (click here):

Keeping Faith Communities Vital in an Ailing Economy
Rising unemployment, gut-wrenching declines in the stock market and predictions of a recession worse than any since the Great Depression can spell sleepless nights for even the most faithful ministry leaders. (read article)

Support for Seniors: Benefits Check Up offed by the National Council on Aging includes more than 1,550 public and private benefits programs from all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Support for Homeowners: If your congregation has struggling homeowners, let them know about the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's foreclosure prevention site.

Inspiring Generosity
Chapter Four: Asking for Support
(Preview here.) Order now $15

"This is, by far, the best stewardship resource I have ever seen, by any denomination!"
--Lynne Hansen - Stewardship Chair, Pilgrim Congregational Church, Cleveland|

"WOW! This will breathe life into our churches!"
– Rev. Wade Schemmel - Conference Minister, Northern Plains Conference

Our Church's Wider Mission

Does your stewardship ministry include connecting your members to Our Church's Wider Mission—the broader mission of the church, nationally and globally? We can help you with that, too. Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support funds the UCC's Conference and National ministries. Our Church's Wider Mission Special Support includes the four special mission offerings in the United Church of Christ: Neighbors in Need, The Christmas Fund, One Great Hour of Sharing, and Strengthen the Church.

5 for 5, Covenant Keepers
If your congregation gives to each of these offerings and to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support, then you are a "5 for 5" church! And if your church is giving 10% or more of your operating expenses to Our Church's Wider Mission Basic Support then you are also a Covenant Keeper!

Additional Resources / LINKS

Did you know Online Mission Moments give churches a UCC mission story for every Sunday of the year? Just cut and paste these into your bulletins. Speaking of bulletins, have you checked out the UCC Sunday Bulletin Service? They feature full-color front covers and a UCC mission story on the back to inform and inspire. Now that you've inspired generosity, do you want to make it easy for your members to give? The UCC's electronic giving program, called StillspeakingMoney, is designed to do just that.

For even more ideas simply click here.