ALDE Stewardship Resources-ELCA-Submitted by Margie Fiedler
The following are resources from the ELCA that I feel would be good for ALDE to promote for the audience of congregations, pastors, key leaders. These resources were reviewed in consultation with Danielle Beam, and Phil Reitz, ELCA Stewardship Specialists. Each of these can be found on the ELCA Stewardship Web site. I also would mention that the ELCA stewardship staff is perhaps the best resources. They are available to provide direct coaching or on site encouragement. There are lots of resources out there, but to have staff that can support a congregation, well, that is the best resource!!
- “The Great Permission.” This is a field handbook, that also has an annual stewardship response associated with it called, “With God’s Permission” This resource focuses on the abundance and assets in a congregation, and then challenges individuals to be faithful stewards of the abundance.
- “Ventures” This is an excellent and comprehensive module where 6-8 local congregations gather together and spend the better part of a year leaning stewardship fundamentals, discussing personal and congregational attitudes about money and developing an annual stewardship response method.
- “Step by Step” by Michael Meier remains one of the best comprehensive yet easy to understand resources on stewardship. It is very theologically sound, yet gives practical guides on how to choose an annual response and follow through with it.
- “Making Christ Known” is an excellent tabloid. Often congregations use it and the stories in it to begin discussions about mission support and connecting the ministries of the local congregation to the wider ELCA. Temple talks, articles in the bulletin, Sunday school sessions and Bible Studies have all been place in which Making Christ Know has been used.
- Stewardship Key Leader-These are trained and retired people who can help congregations with a regular stewardship emphasis and also capital or debt retirement efforts. This works best in context of up to $1 million appeal. The price is right, (expenses and a very small stipend) Great for small congregations.