Review by James W. Murphy Creating Financially Sustainable Congregations By James L. Elrod Jr. Church Publishing, pp.128, $14.95 James Elrod’s Creating Financially Sustainable Congregations and Mark Elsdon’s We Aren’t Broke are filled with useful guidance, and both pose provocations as churches seek to be effective, sustainable, and relevant in the post-COVID world. Both … [Read more...] about Two Useful Guides to Church Finances
stewardship
The Holy Spirit and Giving
By David Munson Jr. What does it look like when we let the Holy Spirit in? The New Testament is full of miraculous stories about people who let the Holy Spirit into their lives. We learn from these stories that people are filled with the grace of salvation, not by their own actions, or even by spiritual gifts, but by accepting the Holy Spirit’s Lordship as a consequence … [Read more...] about The Holy Spirit and Giving
Pandemic Prompts New Methods for Stewardship
By Neva Rae Fox The pandemic has prompted new and alternative ways for congregations to worship, gather, learn, and continue ministries. Now, as the traditional fall stewardship season nears, some churches are incorporating websites, social media, apps, YouTube, digital dinners, videos, Zoom, and other new tools. The Rev. Diana Wilcox, rector of Christ Church in … [Read more...] about Pandemic Prompts New Methods for Stewardship
ETHICS: Climate Change and the Lordship of Christ
By Andrew Thompson Increasing temperatures and shifting climate systems create widespread chaos in the world today. Droughts cause hunger and food insecurity, and climate-induced migration stirs up violent conflicts over scarce resources. Feeding the hungry and peacemaking are at the heart of the Church’s mission and many Christians decry the deep injustice of the crisis, as … [Read more...] about ETHICS: Climate Change and the Lordship of Christ
Putting Treasure Where the Heart Is
Review by Kirsten Snow Spalding Faithful Investing: The Power of Decisive Action and Incremental Change Ed. by James Murphy Church Publishing, pp. 208, $19.95 As an Amazon Associate, TLC earns from qualifying purchases. For 50 years, some faith communities have employed socially responsible investment strategies as one way to engage in ministry. Others … [Read more...] about Putting Treasure Where the Heart Is
A Practical Church Guide to Digital Pledge Systems
By Kirk Petersen Maybe a parishioner has asked you about paying his or her pledge on a smartphone. Maybe you saw an ad from a digital pledge processor saying their product can increase your income by some suspiciously precise percentage. Does your church need to take the plunge into digital giving? The short answer: probably not. If you want to look into digital … [Read more...] about A Practical Church Guide to Digital Pledge Systems
Well-Placed Charity
Shrewd Samaritan: Faith, Economics and the Road to Loving Our Global Neighbor By Michael Tessman Thomas Nelson, pp. 256, $26.99 Review by Michael Tessman On a recent visit to Washington D.C., with some extra time before my train, I sat on a park bench in Lafayette Square across from the White House. Apart from an amplified broadcast of one person’s take on the … [Read more...] about Well-Placed Charity
Giving and Outreach in the Smaller Church
By Neal Michell What do you do about outreach when you are in a small church with limited resources? Outreach is often an unmined treasure for the smaller church. I learned this in a church I served several years ago. My first impression of the congregation was that it was fairly dispirited. It had declined in attendance for the previous four years. Because of limited … [Read more...] about Giving and Outreach in the Smaller Church