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Essential AnnualCommitment Program

Strategies

Tom GossenExecutive Director, TENS

tom@tens.org

I’m New to Stewardship

Part 3Essential Annual

Commitment Program

Strategies

Part 4Building

Relationships:A Key Ingredient in Stewardship Growth

Part 1God’s Story

··· † ···Our Story

Connecting the Dots

Part 2Leadership’s Role:

Creating a Climate ThatInspires Generosity

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“… all learning and action must begin with the question why?” Aristotle

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Our Christian faith puts giving at the central point in our relationship with God.

The biblical story is about giving, receiving, using, and giving back, and the indisputable giver is always God. God gives. God’s followers give.

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We give because we have been graced

God has given each of us time, potential, and opportunities so that our lives can fulfill a purpose, and at the same time, strengthen the work of Christ.

God’s giving is not determined by our giving.

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We give because we have been graced

God is the continual giver who waits for our responses to those gifts.

When we fail to teach the people who worship with us the principles of Christian giving we frustrate them.

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When to Teach About Giving?

Giving, as a principle of our faith, should be taught and re-taught at every age.

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When to Teach About Giving?All Who Seek MembershipPrior to and Throughout Commitment

ProgramsSermonsAt the OffertoryMonthly & Quarterly ReportsParish CommunicationsReports to VestryPastoral VisitsSee Questions as Opportunities to TeachEconomic Crisis

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Remember!

Faith and commitment cannot thrive when understood and presented in terms of problems that must be overcome and needs that must be met.

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Financially Healthy Congregations Balance between stewardship techniques

and fundraising strategies Recognition that money is a symbol of our

value system Openness to discuss money within the life of

the congregation Affirmation of our status as “gifted” people. Regular two-way communication between

the leadership and the membership regarding financial information

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Financially Healthy Congregations Systematic challenges to grow in giving

appropriate for each member. Regular opportunities for additional giving. Both operating and capital funding invite gifts

from donor income and capital. Planned giving is encouraged and a support

system is in place. People appreciate giving opportunities as

opportunities rather than burdens.

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Transformationvs.

Transaction

Licensed for use by TENS

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The Financial Response

Objective:

To give every member the opportunity to intentionally and consciously respond to the love and grace of God through their giving to and through the ministries of their congregation.

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The Financial ResponseStrategy:

At least once a year, every member of the congregation is to be contacted, made aware of the various ministries and opportunities within the congregation, and challenged to decide upon his or her participation. The method by which contact will be made is selected each year. The response includes the opportunity to make financial commitments (or estimates of giving).

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Remember!Success is not solely dependent on the response method chosen. The response method is just one part of an integrated effort which involves careful planning, a meaningful and challenging Vision for Ministry, and well-executed programs of stewardship education and ministry interpretation. A solid emphasis of year-round Christian stewardship education will enhance your success in the annual Response Program.

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Initial PlanningWhat program are we ready for?

What do we want to achieve?

Schedule considerations

Theme

Education components(adults, youth and children)

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Resource Needs

Database access/useDemographic targetsStaffing requirementsMentor/consultant requirementsBudget

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Clergy & Vestry Roles

Licensed for use by TENS

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Clergy & Vestry Roles

New or revised Vestry Stewardship Statement?

Personal visits or notes?Approval of plan and budgetAdvance pledges and reporting?

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Recruiting and Training Leadership

Select the right persons for the job

Recruit!!! DON’T ask for volunteers

Written job descriptions

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MailingsStationery

–Letters– Invitations & response cards–Thank you notes–Pledge cards

How many, from whom and when?Customizing by demographics?Personalized IndividualizedPostage

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Witness Voices

How many and who?How do we recruit them?What do we want them to say?Written or verbal? Both?

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Theme MaterialsVision for mission / ministryPoster(s) / recognition wallStationery for lettersThank you cards / letters InvitationsResponse cardsDecorations

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Meal EventsBest time of dayOne time or multiple?Format (content)LengthCatered?Music?Keynoter selection criteria

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Ingathering Sunday

Date (? All Saint’s Sunday?)Format

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Saying Thank You

█ How? (Personal Notes, list in publication, billboard, etc.)

█ When?█ Who authors?█ Content?

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Follow-Through

When to begin?What (letters, calls, visits, other)?Who does it?To whom?For how long?

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Then What????

Reward those who workedNurture those who don’t pledgeNewcomer incorporationEnvelope systems

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Available From TENS

Summary of these programs is included in your handout material

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Available From TENS (catalogue p. 18)

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This popular stewardship financial response method takes place during worship. It is a stewardship program for congregations of all sizes, rural or urban, and speaks from a spiritual rather than a fund-raising perspective. Abingdon Press, 2002, ISBN: 0687063159, $9.00

New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program Guest Leader Guide by Herb Miller, Abingdon Press, 2002, ISBN 0687063760, $11.00.  New Consecration Sunday is based on a biblical/spiritual theology of the need of the giver to give for his or her own spiritual benefit rather than on the need of the church to receive. Directed toward raising the level of stewardship rather than toward raising the church budget, its no-gimmick approach focuses on the question, "What is God calling me to do?" rather than on the question, "What does the church need in order to pay its bills?"

New Consecration Sundayby Herb Miller

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Resources on Flash Drive

1. Bible Study – Personal Response Approach2. “Teaching Christians to Give” by Hilbert J. Berger

from Vol. 2 of Abingdon Guide to Funding Ministry3. Five Popular Annual Commitment Programs4. Three Easy Steps to Compute Your Pledge5. The Official Stewardship Panic Kit6. Outline of a Pledge Program Using Mailings

and Witnesses

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Further Discussion

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Bullet List

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