Clergy and congregations often have difficulty seeing eye-to-eye when it comes to money issues. This course works with representatives from each group to open a dialogue about the differences between fundraising and stewardship and how money-talk can extend beyond the annual campaign into pastoral ministry.
People who take this seminar will:
- understand the landscape of religious giving based on the latest research;
- analyze contemporary ideas of stewardship and participate in a dynamic process of shared inquiry to find new language and ideas for congregational generosity;
- learn to identify the congregational taboos of money-talk;
- learn how to engage parishioners in redemptive conversations about the faithful use of money and possessions;
- learn about the role congregations can play in helping parishioners shift from transactional giving to giving that is transformational;
- spend time crafting a unified, congregation-specific vision for cultural change;
- design a working plan to implement cultural change to move towards greater generosity.
This program is ideal for: Clergy and their congregations' lay leadership.
“I’ve been told many times how to talk about money in the sense of what the Church needs from people. The effect of Faith, Money, and Giving was to shift the question to what people need from the Church by way of talk about money.”
Larry Voelker
Priest, Church of the Holy Cross
Indianapolis, Indiana
“Clergy and laity alike tell us “this is just what we needed.” Often what is learned is like an epiphany. The light goes on and congregations learn to have not just civic, but profound, conversations about inspired giving.”
Tim Shapiro
Director, Indianapolis Center for Congregations
Indianapolis, Indiana
