Congregational Stewardship

Living with Money

• 200 000 182
• $175.00
• Available from UCRD
• Borrow from AVEL

An ecumenical video resource to stimulate discussions about money and how our relationship with it impacts our relationship with God and with others. Explore the role, power, and impact of money with:

• Individuals
• Couples during pre-marital or marriage counselling
• Families
• Lay and clergy peer study groups
• Committees
• Confirmation and new member classes

The kit contains four 20-minute video segments, a leader's guide, and a participant's journal featuring Bible studies, essays, a bibliography and discussion starters.

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How much should I give?

People often ask, "How much should I give to the church?" This percentage chart [PDF: 1 p/37 KB] shows how much a weekly gift would be if determined as a percentage of income. These percentages are examples to consider in making a decision about how much to give to your church.

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Stewardship Commitment Programs

There is no special stewardship program that will ensure that your church will meet its budget next year. Besides, most people do not give to budgets! Stewardship commitment programs are an intentional means for asking people to give or to increase their giving to the mission and programme ministries of their church.

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Additional Resources

Thanks Giving: Growing Generosity Among God's People

• 155 134 1417
• $15.95
• Available from UCRD

This book by Christopher Levan is about money and how to invite people to give it for God's work through the church. Thanks Giving spells out the importance of doing an every member visit, with instructions for how to do it well. It offers the theological reflection and methodology demonstrated in its companion piece, the visitors training resource, Opening Doors: Inviting Generosity (available in DVD or video, see below).

Celebrate Stewardship!

• 200 000 190
• $11.95
• Available from UCRD

Some congregations have experienced increases of 20% or more in commitments to annual giving after using this program!

A five-week, biblical program that culminates on a Celebration Sunday, when estimates of giving are gathered in the worship context. Bulletin inserts, letters, and minute messages are all on-line at a special URL obtained through purchase of the program. Celebrate Stewardship involves children and youth. It also includes information on the United Church's Pre-Authorized Remittance (PAR) program and the Mission and Service Fund.

Opening Doors: Inviting Generosity

• 800001482
• $15.95
• DVD (also avail. in VHS)
• Available from UCRD

Opening Doors: Inviting Generosity is a Stewardship Development training video for every-member stewardship visitation. This instructional video shows what the "ask" involves and what words to use when approaching church members for monetary contributions to their church community in the at home environment.