The decline of giving to churches was well documented during the Great Recession. Larger churches particularly struggled with giving. The graph here shows regional declines in giving. Many churches struggle with a vision on stewardship. Many churches guilt their people into giving or force the concept of tithe.
Viewing giving through the lens of stewardship is helpful for churches and Christians. Having a theology stewardship is key for churches to build a fruitful plan for giving. If we start from the idea that everything we have comes from God then we can see our money, possessions, talents, and time as gifts. Americans are very possessive when it comes to our property.
However, churches often ask the question, how can we encourage giving? Cynthia Woolever gives three ways pastors and churches can encourage giving:
First, worshipers want to know how their contributions make a difference. Congregational leaders should highlight the specific ways that worshipers’ financial gifts are changing lives in the congregation and the community. The emphasis should be on ministry rather than on supporting programs.
Second, leaders can help worshipers become percentage givers. Currently, only about 14 percent of worshipers said they decide how much to give based on a percentage of their income. In a national study of giving, researchers found that worshipers in “percentage-giving churches” contribute three times more dollars than worshipers in congregations that ask for offerings in dollar amounts (Money Matters, Dean Hoge, et al., Westminster John Knox, 1996). In percentage-giving churches worshipers are asked, “What percentage of your income do you feel God is calling you to give?” This question is consistent with the Bible’s instructions about giving.
Third, only a very small percentage of worshipers report that the urging of the congregation or leader is a major influence on their financial decision-making. Is this because it rarely happens? Congregational leaders can emphasize that financial giving is a spiritual matter? An opportunity to express gratitude to God and contribute to God’s work.
Here at First Baptist Church, we are about to enter into a time of stewardship assessment in worship for the next two Sundays. Our church has a deep heritage of support and a long history of producing fruit. What is the fruit? Well, it depends on who you ask. We have produced fruit by making disciples, supporting missionaries, changing lives, caring for the needs of our community, engaging in worship, and so many other ways. How is God calling us to continue producing fruit to achieve a spiritual vision? God is doing some exciting things and our congregation is ready to respond.
Peter Block, business consultant and author of Stewardship Choosing Service Over Self-Interest provides some business world insights to stewardship that model what stewardship should look like:
Authentic service is experienced when individuals act out of their own choices, as opposed to acting out of compliance.
The ways we govern, manage, and lead today are a testimony to self interest and entitlement.
Stewardship is to hold something in trust for another. It is the willingness to be accountable for the good of the larger organization or community of which we are a part
We choose service over self interest most powerfully when we build the capacity of the next generation to govern themselves.
God encourages us to give of ourselves proportionately. We need to give all ourselves to God through the local church in proportion to what we have. Our giving (time, resources, and talent) is a spiritual act. When we begin to see our stewardship as a spiritual opportunity we will begin to see the fruit it produces.
See your talent and gifts as fruits of God’s blessing! Share your fruit with others!
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