I can't believe I am doing this again but this week I am copying my friend Scott Hibben's article. He lifts up basic reminders for all of us concerning stewardship and giving. Scott Hibben is on staff with the Iowa Annual Conference and an ordained United Methodist Elder.
Stirrings - September 28, 2011 - Scott Hibben - scott.hibben@iaumc.org • www.iaumc.org
This past April we offered a series of “Tippers to Tithers” workshops across the Conference,
with Paul Nickerson. The purpose of these workshops was to assist congregations in identifying
and implementing some of the most recent best practices in financial stewardship and giving. If
your congregation was part of this workshop, hopefully you are well on the way to already
doing this, but since we are now coming upon that time of year when again every church thinks
twice about its budget and its people’s giving, I thought it might be helpful to highlight some of
our learnings.
• People’s giving is not about “duty, obligation, and expectations of church membership,”
but actually from what inspires them
o Make it personal—tell the story of the difference their giving is making in the
lives of individuals
o Make it about something bigger than themselves—something eternal, of God,
because it REALLY is!
• For these reasons, people don’t give to a budget, but to people and purpose
o Therefore, don’t put a financial budget in people’s hands, with all the financial
figures, but a ministry budget, that puts the focus on people and ministry
• Especially in these economic turbulent times, one of the best gifts a church can give its
people is teaching them healthy stewardship practices
o Such as through Financial Peace University, Good Sense, etc.
o So definitely have a campaign—which helps people learn how to budget and
plan their giving to the ministry of their church
• Definitely have different letters for different levels of givers
o People give at different levels for different reasons, so the same message
doesn’t resonate with everyone. Customize your letters to 1) the “top 20%”
givers, 2) the middle 80%, and 3) the 20% who are “low/no” givers
• Stewardship development is not just a October/November issue
o Preach it, teach it, celebrate it, live it out twelve months a year
o Emphasize planned giving—what people can keep doing after they are gone
• Say, “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!”
o People give to that from which they receive some affirmation
o Weekly write notes, thanking people for ALL their support of their church’s
ministry, sharing the difference their giving is making in individuals’ lives
• Be transparent and accessible, mailing out monthly statements
• Electronic fund transfers (EFTs) are a good thing
o For young adults, who have no/carry no checkbooks
o For people who miss church but through EFTs still support their church’s ministry
• The pastor needs to know/be able to know what every person is giving
o Because people’s giving are spiritual, leadership, and pastoral care issues—and
that is the responsibility and daily work of a pastor
• Avoid statistics in the bulletin or newsletter that are self-defeating or don’t tell the truth
o Don’t beat people up, shame them into giving, or be Chicken Little calling out
“crisis”—because over the long run, that does not motivate giving, but defeats it
o Church giving doesn’t come in evenly over twelve months—so your reporting
needs to reflect that
• Have some fun already!
o God loves a hilarious/cheerful giver, II Corinthians 9:7, so reflect that in the
offerings, campaign, how you thank people and celebrate their giving…
To learn more about all of this, Clif Christopher’s book, “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate,” is a
great resource, along with your district Stewardship Team. Churches that implement these best
practices notice on average a 20% increase in giving, but even more importantly, a deeper
renewal of spirit about what faith and the practice of our faith is all about—for the cause of
Christ. May you discover that, too.
In Christ, together,
Scott
Stirrings - September 28, 2011 - Scott Hibben - scott.hibben@iaumc.org • www.iaumc.org
This past April we offered a series of “Tippers to Tithers” workshops across the Conference,
with Paul Nickerson. The purpose of these workshops was to assist congregations in identifying
and implementing some of the most recent best practices in financial stewardship and giving. If
your congregation was part of this workshop, hopefully you are well on the way to already
doing this, but since we are now coming upon that time of year when again every church thinks
twice about its budget and its people’s giving, I thought it might be helpful to highlight some of
our learnings.
• People’s giving is not about “duty, obligation, and expectations of church membership,”
but actually from what inspires them
o Make it personal—tell the story of the difference their giving is making in the
lives of individuals
o Make it about something bigger than themselves—something eternal, of God,
because it REALLY is!
• For these reasons, people don’t give to a budget, but to people and purpose
o Therefore, don’t put a financial budget in people’s hands, with all the financial
figures, but a ministry budget, that puts the focus on people and ministry
• Especially in these economic turbulent times, one of the best gifts a church can give its
people is teaching them healthy stewardship practices
o Such as through Financial Peace University, Good Sense, etc.
o So definitely have a campaign—which helps people learn how to budget and
plan their giving to the ministry of their church
• Definitely have different letters for different levels of givers
o People give at different levels for different reasons, so the same message
doesn’t resonate with everyone. Customize your letters to 1) the “top 20%”
givers, 2) the middle 80%, and 3) the 20% who are “low/no” givers
• Stewardship development is not just a October/November issue
o Preach it, teach it, celebrate it, live it out twelve months a year
o Emphasize planned giving—what people can keep doing after they are gone
• Say, “Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!”
o People give to that from which they receive some affirmation
o Weekly write notes, thanking people for ALL their support of their church’s
ministry, sharing the difference their giving is making in individuals’ lives
• Be transparent and accessible, mailing out monthly statements
• Electronic fund transfers (EFTs) are a good thing
o For young adults, who have no/carry no checkbooks
o For people who miss church but through EFTs still support their church’s ministry
• The pastor needs to know/be able to know what every person is giving
o Because people’s giving are spiritual, leadership, and pastoral care issues—and
that is the responsibility and daily work of a pastor
• Avoid statistics in the bulletin or newsletter that are self-defeating or don’t tell the truth
o Don’t beat people up, shame them into giving, or be Chicken Little calling out
“crisis”—because over the long run, that does not motivate giving, but defeats it
o Church giving doesn’t come in evenly over twelve months—so your reporting
needs to reflect that
• Have some fun already!
o God loves a hilarious/cheerful giver, II Corinthians 9:7, so reflect that in the
offerings, campaign, how you thank people and celebrate their giving…
To learn more about all of this, Clif Christopher’s book, “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate,” is a
great resource, along with your district Stewardship Team. Churches that implement these best
practices notice on average a 20% increase in giving, but even more importantly, a deeper
renewal of spirit about what faith and the practice of our faith is all about—for the cause of
Christ. May you discover that, too.
In Christ, together,
Scott
