Posts by Betsy Schwarzentraub
The Seven Faces of Philanthropy
What motivates affluent people to make major planned gifts to nonprofit organizations like your church? In The Seven Faces of Philanthropy: A New Approach to Cultivating Major Donors (Jossey-Bass, 1994), Russ Prince and Karen File lay out the results of a sophisticated sampling of wealthy givers across the United States. What did they learn? Plenty!…
Read MoreExtravagant Generosity
Extravagant generosity is based upon our extravagantly generous God, the Giver of every good gift, the Source of life and love! From Robert Schnase’s book Five Practices of Fruitful Congregations: A Congregation that Practices Extravagant Generosity: 1. Thrives with the joy of abundance instead of the fear of scarcity 2. Encourages members to grow in…
Read MoreEarth Trek: Christianity and Creation
God loves all creation. God delights in creation and cares for the well-being of all creatures (Gen. 1). Creation reveals God’s character. Through creation itself, God’s character can be seen (Rom. 1:19-20) and all things created give praise to God (Ps. 19:1-6; Ps. 148). Wilderness places facilitate close encounters with God (Exod. 3:1-2) and provide…
Read MoreOne-Liners for Shared Mission
One-Liners About Your Shared Mission for Your Church Bulletin, Website, or Newsletter 1 Shared Mission is our coordinated connectional ministries a way to reach out to transform lives beyond the reach of any single congregation. 2 Not a tax but real, live ministry! Through our shared mission, we sustain vital work through hundreds of channels…
Read MoreMeasuring Generosity in Your Congregation
A major trend among our denominational leaders these days is to look for measurable outcomes for our life together. That’s easy to do for some quantitative measures – what some people call “bodies and bucks” – but how can we measure our ministries qualitatively – for example, in our stewardship and generosity as a congregation?…
Read MoreChecklist for Your Generosity Plan
Essentials: Plan for Our Congregation: Who did or is doing this: Done/Date: 1. Vision – “God-Sized Goals” Compelling Vision Statement Notes: “Scope of Ministries” or “Narrative Budget” that focuses on changed lives Notes: 2. Ministry-Centered Budgeting Process Notes: 3. Vital Connection to Mission Notes: Opportunities for…
Read MoreWorksheet to Build a Generosity Plan
Building a Generosity Plan for For Our Congregation Desired Outcomes or Results: For example: 1. Growing vibrant, faithful stewards (personal growth) 2. Maturing as a vital congregation of gospel stewards (congregational growth) 3. Building a local church of generous hearts and lives 4. Strengthening the stewardship of the church’s full ministry (mutual support with…
Read MoreWhy a Three Year Plan is Easier Than Six Months
Many church leaders think it is so difficult just dealing with the crises of the next six months, they can’t imagine planning ahead for three or more years! But the truth is it’s easier to plan when we look further out in time, for at least five reasons: 1. Taking a longer view helps us…
Read MoreChurch Financial Commitment Programs
Committee or Work Area Planning Sheet
Committee or Work Area Planning Sheet Your response on this sheet will help our congregation set our sights for next year in terms of goals, financial support, time and effort. We’ll put these dreams together and turn them into plans for the church family during our church planning retreat on [date]. Please fill out this…
Read MoreGenerational Stewardship Chart
Generational Stewardship Chart
Read MoreCelebrating a Church Endowment in Worship
Call to Worship Song: “Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing” UM Hymnal No. 400 Litany: Gracious, giving God, You have blessed us with every gift, and especially with the gift of Jesus, who came that we all might have abundant and eternal life. We give You our hearts and our lives! We…
Read MoreKey Stewardship Resources for Church Leaders
All print resources are available from http://www.cokesbury.com Betsy Schwarzentraub A Disciple’s Path: Deepening Your Relationship With Christ and the Church Leader Guide with CD and Companion Reader, by James A. Harnish with Justin LaRosa A Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen, edited by John Mogabgab Afire With God: Becoming Spirited Stewards, by Betsy Schwarzentraub Committed…
Read MoreSample Annual Financial Commitment Programs
Go and See – (Ecumenical Stewardship Center) Go and See is a Sunday morning mission fair inspired by the miracle of loaves and fishes. This festival approach encourages participants in a sense of discovery and wonder – discovering the gifts God has given us, and wondering at the joy and increase the Holy Spirit brings…
Read MoreExtraordinary Money Church Campaign
Michael Reeves’ Extraordinary Money! (Discipleship Resources, 2002) could have been called “Everything You Ever Wanted to Know About Capital Campaigns But Were Afraid to Ask.” – because there is a lot of fear out there about capital campaigns. People ask questions such as: • “Can we do it ourselves?” Reeves says, “Don’t!” and gives seven…
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