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Stewardship: What’s Age Got to Do With It?
Karl TravisPastor, First Presbyterian Church
Fort Worth, TX
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4 types of generations
Civic Adaptive Idealist Reactive
These types of generations have repeated in the same order, with one exception, through U.S. history.
Generations Theory
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4 types of generations
Civic Adaptive Idealist Reactive
These types of generations have repeated in the same order, with one exception, through U.S. history.
We develop natural ease with those who experience the same formative events at similar developmental stages.
Generations Theory
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4 types of generations
Civic Adaptive Idealist Reactive
These types of generations have repeated in the same order, with one exception, through U.S. history.
We develop natural ease with those who experience the same formative events at similar developmental stages.
In understanding the past, we anticipate the future.
Generations Theory
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4 types of generations
Civic Adaptive Idealist Reactive
These types of generations have repeated in the same order, with one exception, through U.S. history.
We develop natural ease with those who experience the same formative events at similar developmental stages.
In understanding the past, we anticipate the future.
Biblically, history is a line, and a circle -- a spiral.
Generations Theory
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The Living Generations
Neil Howe and Bill Strauss, Generations: The History of America’s Future, 1584 to 2069. Quill: New York, 1991.
Early experiences of money and stewardshipTrained from childhood
Nickels/Dimes in the milk boxFruit Fruits giversLikeliest to be pledgersLikeliest to be tithers
Giving is a public responsibility, a necessity
GI and Silent Generations
Attitude Toward the Institutional ChurchHigh level of trust and participationChurch mirrored, and symbolized, the
established orderChurch is repository of inherited faith,
entrance into social belongingYet, in later years, the church
was not above critique
GI and Silent Generations
Meaning of Moneymoney = security
Stewardship DescriptorGIs: sacrificeSilents: commitment
Money followed mission
GI and Silent Generations
How the church can encourage good stewardship among GIs and SilentsEstate planningFear managementEncourage GIs and Silents
to share their experiences and valuesto allow a new stewardship conversation
GI and Silent Generations
Baby Boom and 13er GenerationsEarly experiences of money
Post war economic boomUpward mobilityTelevision advertising (redefined
scope of perceived affluence)Rapid growth of stock marketGrowing disparity between
rich and poor
Early experiences of stewardshipSpotty stewardship training in
mainline congregations Many come from unchurched
backgrounds, so stewardship is a new conversation
Taught that giving is a personal option, personal possibility, not public necessity
Baby Boom and 13er Generations
Boomer Attitude Toward Institutional ChurchDistrust, if not disgustSkeptical of stewardship if
presented about the institution’s health. Money does not follow mission, for Boomers
Hold little denominational loyalty
Baby Boom and 13er Generations
13er Attitude Toward Institutional ChurchNot constitutionally anti-
institutionalWill trust a congregation if it
“works,” i.e. does what it says it’s going to, and tells the truth
Looking for community, not church, in which to practice spiritual disciplines
Baby Boom and 13er Generations
Meaning of Money
Money = tool
Stewardship Descriptor
Boomers: distrust
13ers: ignorance
Mission must follow money
Baby Boom and 13er Generations
Making Faithful Boomer & 13er stewards …
Earn trust
Provide control in giving
Provide choice in giving
Educate: many Boomers began faith journey in a time when our congregations didn’t teach stewardship
Baby Boom and 13er Generations
Making Faithful Boomer & 13er stewards …
Reinterpret, Reframe stewardship
1. Holistically. It’s about lifestyle.
2. It’s about individual’s need to give, NOT church’s need to receive
3. Stewardship a spiritual discipline, among other disciplines.
Baby Boom and 13er Generations
Making Faithful Boomer & 13er stewards …
Challenge the conflation of want and need:
Model sacrifice. The congregation which doesn’t give to mission off the top has no moral right to ask its members to
Baby Boom and 13er Generations
Have we been doing the wrong thing, really well,
for the last 30 years?
Common Steps in a Stewardship “Campaign”1.Session projects coming year’s budget (may be rough
draft)2.Interprets budget to congregation
Newsletter articles, Minutes for Mission, letters, brochures
Pastor preaches motivational stewardship sermon on single stewardship Sunday
Pledge Cards toward coming year’s budget circulated by US mail Available in the Narthex Pony Express or other house to house system
3.Pledge Cards returned by due date4.Session totals pledge cards, adjusts budget, dedicates
pledges in worship5.Following year, process repeated
1. Session projects coming year’s budget (may be rough draft)
2. Interprets budget to congregation Newsletter articles, Minutes for Mission, letters,
brochures
Pastor preaches motivational stewardship sermon on single stewardship Sunday
Pledge Cards toward coming year’s budget circulated by US mail Handed out in church Pony Express or other house to house
system
3. Pledge Cards returned by due date
4. Session totals pledge cards totaled, adjusts budgets, dedicates pledges in worship
5. Following year, process repeated
“Campaign” for Whom?
Motivates
GIs/Silents
Motivates
Boomers/13ers
Talk about God, then the believer,
then the Church … in that order.
� Emphasize individual's need to give, not church's need to receive.
� Consider electronic funds transfer, i.e. receiving gifts by debit/credit card payments.
� All stewardship rooted in thanks-giving. Gratitude produces generosity.
� A word about designation, special offerings, etc. vs. unified budget model.
Money Cross Talk for All Generations:~A Miscellany~
Reverse the budget equation• Pledges produce budget; budget doesn’t attract
pledges• Use narrative budgets• Faith first; formulas later
Provide opportunities for faith speaking• Personal faith sharing (Every Member Visitation?)• Testimonials in worship
Earn Trust – walking the walk• PPP: Publicly Promise to Pay mission
commitments first• For leaders, especially pastors: share that you
give, what you give, and why• Transparent Treasury
� Regular financial statements in public places� Systematic reporting of expenditure AND
need
Money Cross Talk for All Generations:~A Miscellany~
In the annual stewardship effort, target the message, design the
experience
• Multiple mailings, generationally specific
• Generationally sensitive brochures, letters, and appeals
• Include younger members in planning and executing the stewardship effort; many times, younger members have little idea of how much money it takes to run a church!
Money Cross Talk for All Generations:~A Miscellany~
• Reframe stewardship to be about all of life, and hence a year round conversatiostewardship more than thedreaded “Stewardship Sunday”
• Teach financial resource management
• Provide resources n:
• Preach on simple living
� Center for New American Dream: http://www.newdream.org/
� The Simple Living Network: http://www.simpleliving.net/
� Alternatives for Simple Living: http://www.simpleliving.org/
Money Cross Talk for All Generations:~A Miscellany~
Divide into groups of 3-4. Include as many generations as possible in your group.
In five minutes, write a outline for a single sermon which would reach and motivate every generation. Here are some choices of texts:Matthew 6:25-34 “Seek first …”Deuteronomy 26:1-15 Giving the first fruitsMatthew 19:23-30 “We have left all ….”2 Corinthians 8:8-15 Give according to what you havePsalm 24 The earth is the Lord’sLuke 12:13-21 Parable of the rich foolMalachi 3:1-10 Tithing
An Exercise for you to try in your congregation …
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