Steve Oelschlager gives best practices for congregational stewardship ministry.
Ecumenical Stewardship Center Collection
In 2021, the Ecumenical Stewardship Center Board of Directors voted to dissolve the corporation and to entrust to Lake Institute on Faith & Giving ongoing stewardship. Lake Institute is honored to receive this gift of 40 years of resources and network from the leaders of the Ecumenical Stewardship Center.
The Ecumenical Stewardship Center created ready-to-use, quality resources to encourage generous giving and transformative stewardship. The Giving: Growing Faithful Stewards in Your Congregation magazine, theme materials, and the Companion Resource provide comprehensive and customizable stewardship materials that will challenge and encourage church leaders and the faith communities they serve. You can now find all of these resources here at no cost. If you have questions about the ESC resources, please contact us at LakeInstitute@iupui.edu.
Larry Strenge explains how relationships are key to cultivating generosity as discipleship.
Marcia Shetler offers characteristics and questions to help build the foundation of a fundraising campaign
Mike Little and Susan Taylor highlight the complexity clergy often have in their relationship with money.
Marcia Shetler suggests that congregations ought to have a legacy plan in place for members.
Rev. Dr. H. Fred Bernherd shares his experience with scarcity and abundance in a small congregation.
Keith A. Mundy writes how an annual stewardship emphasis can strengthen generosity in your congregation.
Dr. William Enright shares how in giving generously we become a part of something bigger than ourselves.
Rebekah Basinger offers some tips for good storytelling.
Rev. Melvin Amerson highlights a few ways Christian congregations can give courageously through year-round generosity.
Rev. Bruce Barkhauer turns to scripture for encouragement to speak about matters of money with courage.
David P. King, Ph.D. writes about the risks Christian scriptures ask of us when it comes to stewardship.
Barbara Fullerton puts her study of congregational stewardship practices into action in a small town Canadian congregation.
Eric Law highlights his book Holy Currency Exchange and how it can help congregations become more mission-focused.
Pulling from his teaching and research, David P. King, Ph.D. writes that fundraising is primarily about relationships.
Lyle Miller shares the principles that guide his teaching and preaching about stewardship.
Paul Marsh outlines what it can look like to use the servant leadership model on a stewardship team.
Rev. Bruce Barkhauer offers a "recipe" for creating the best possible conditions for a flourishing culture of generosity.
Meredith McNabb writes that congregations’ own economic practices are a potent model of what faithful generosity and stewardship look like.
Marc Kirchoff shares how giving digitally became a part of worship.
Leaders of a church in Pennsylvania launched a Year of Contagious Generosity, and what happened next surprised a lot of people. Money raised benefited the local fire department, school district, and helped rebuild a community playground.
Bruce Barkhauer shares a Biblical foundation for stewardship from the Christian tradition.
Dan Busby writes how good internal controls can help discover fraud, and prevent it from ever happening.
The what, when, and how of a capital campaign to help fund your dreams.
Lori Guenther Reesor highlights what churches can learn from annual giving programs.
Linda Yutzy shares one congregation's experience with narrative budgeting.
David P. King, Ph.D. writes about ways our language reframes imagination when it comes to religious fundraising.
Jim MacDonald reflects on the Millennial and Gen Z generations and offers suggestions for encouraging them to give.
Using research, Betsy Schwarzentraub explains who a major donor is and best practices to reach them.
Using scripture from the Hebrew Bible and Christian texts, Lana Miller gives some insights into offering as a form of worship.
This excerpt from Rev. Dr. James F. Miller's book INCREASE! A Path to Abundance for the Local Church is a charge for the church not to abdicate the untapped and unrealized potential of tithing.
Marcia Shetler suggests one way congregations can structure their stewardship ministry teams.
Timothy Siburg shares how practicing stewardship year-round changes lives, grows disciples, and does God's work.
Andy Debraber reflects on what teaching faithful stewardship looks like in a congregation.
Bruce Barkhauer offers seven scripture texts to consider for preaching about faithful generosity.
Margaret Marcuson shares nine idea of practicing faithful generosity in a Christian congregation.
Beryl Jantzi reflects on passages from 1 & 2 Kings and how it connects with faithful generosity today.
David P. King, Ph.D. pulls from the Christian scriptures to highlight the gritty hope and generosity required of us today.
Tim Schuster identifies three keys to how a generation approaches finances, values, and everything in between.
Rev. Dr. Sidney Williams writes that fishing differently requires a collaborative investment in faith and intellectual, social, and human capital -- not just finding different ways to ask the same people for more money.
Rev. Bruce Barkhauer shares how a Christian pastor might preach on the hope of stewardship.
Rev. Rosanna Anderson reviews Peter Brown's book Through the Eye of the Needle and offers some applications for preaching and ministry in the Christian context.
Rev. Bruce Barkhauer offers suggestions on best practices for preaching about generosity in a Christian worship setting.
Meredith McNabb explores the ways that generosity is regarded in different religious traditions.
Faithful, Hopeful, Loving is a companion resource to Giving Magazine Volume 22, produced in 2020 by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center. It includes campaign guidance, preaching guides, bible study/small group materials, worship/liturgy, children’s sermons, model letters and communication support.
Devoted to Generosity is a companion resource to Giving Magazine Volume 21, produced in 2019 by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center. It includes campaign guidance, preaching guides, bible study/small group materials, worship/liturgy, children’s sermons, model letters and communication support.
This collection of resources which reference Christian Scripture and promote generosity toward the church.
This collection of resources which reference Christian Scripture and promote stewardship and generosity toward the church.
This collection of resources which reference Christian Scripture in order to promote generosity toward the church.
This collection of resources which reference Christian Scripture in order to promote reconciliation across religions, nations, and individuals.
This collection of resources which reference Christian Scripture and are intended to inspire fiscal generosity toward the church.
This collection of resources includes handouts intended to inspire generosity in congregants using Christian Scripture.
This collection of resources includes handouts which inspire generosity in congregants with the assertion that our monetary giving becomes an extension of ourselves in support of mission.
This collection of resources includes handouts which encourage generosity in congregants using Christian Scripture.
This collection of resources includes handouts which encourage generosity in congregants using the suggestion that growing in our giving is one way of growing in our faithfulness.
This collection of resources includes handouts which reference Christian scripture to encourage generosity in congregants. Notably, this Starter Kit includes instructions and guideposts for canvassers.
This collection of resources includes handouts which reference Christian scripture to encourage generosity in congregants.
This collection of resources includes handouts which reference Christian scripture and emphasize thankfulness intended to encourage generosity in congregants.
This collection of resources includes handouts which tell stories and reference Christian scripture intended to encourage generosity in congregants.
This collection of resources provides brief inspirational writings to encourage fiscal generosity from congregants.
This collection of resources includes handouts and letters intended to encourage generosity in congregants through written poetry, prayer, and Christian scripture references.
This collection of resources focuses on moving toward a mindset of giving freely as instructed by Jesus in Christian scriptures.
This collection of resources includes handouts and letters which inspire generosity using the freedom in Christ taught in Christian scriptures.
This collection of resources includes bulletins and handouts which use anecdotes and verses of Christian scripture to inform and inspire financial generosity in young people and congregants.
This collection of resources includes bulletins and handouts which use anecdotes, warnings against greed and apathy, and verses of Christian scripture to inspire generosity.
The Commit Thyself starter kit is a collection of handouts that focus on individual commitment to stewardship and giving as a part of the Christian church. These handouts reference Christian scriptures and provide practical advice for congregants and pastors.
This collection of resources includes a bulletin and handouts which use parables and verses of Christian scripture to inspire generosity.
This video from the Stewardship Fusion Conference features Rev. Dr. Clayton Smith where he focuses on practical advice for cultivating generosity among congregants.
This video from the Stewardship Fusion Conference features Rev. Adam Hamilton where he talks about stewardship in the church, paying particular attention to courageous asking and creating a culture of generosity.
This Generosity Transformed keynote address from Bishop Jennifer Baskerville-Burrows wraps up the conference with final thoughts about what we heard and what we can do moving forward.
This Generosity Transformed keynote address from Rev. Dr. Ginny Brown Daniel focuses on Equipping congregations for ministry, particularly diving into those functional but antiquated fundraising practices, and stepping into the digital age.
This Generosity Transformed keynote address from Rev. Dr. Anthony Bailey focuses on what Bailey calls God’s subversive generosity, including the consideration of reparations.
This Generosity Transformed keynote address from Rev. Lee Hull Moses focuses on how to encourage congregational generosity, financially and beyond.
Live Simply is a companion resource for Giving Magazine Volume 18.
Live Generously is a companion resource for Giving Magazine Volume 19.
Live Free is a companion resource for Giving Magazine Volume 17.
Live Courageously is a companion resource for Giving Magazine Volume 20.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Living Free. The articles in this issue challenge the reader to consider what freedom is and what it means to live freely and generously.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Living Simply, including practical tips to cultivate contentment individually and as a congregation, as well as sample sermon topic outlines on the subject.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Living Generously and emphasizes the ways generosity allows donors to be present and feel a part of something bigger than themselves.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Living Courageously. Inside you’ll find thoughtful reflections and practical application for courageous generosity across various generations and modes of giving.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Stewardship and Generosity. The articles in this issue aspire to provide practical advice to improve individual congregations practices of faithful generosity.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Stewardship and Leadership. Inside you’ll find best practices for congregational stewardship and ministry and stewardship principles for clergy people.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Stewardship and Relationship, diving deep into the idea that “relationship is the foundation on which all generosity rests” (Marcia Shetler).
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Stewardship and Mission, with articles and anecdotes outlining the role that mission plays in influencing generosity.
Wrapped in God’s Love is A Milestone Ministry Resource developed by the Canadian Interchurch Stewardship Committee.
Rev. Duane Grady created this resource for the Ecumenical Stewardship Center to help make offering statements a priority in worship. Using a mixture of humor, meaningful stories, vivid examples, and an acknowledgment of the culture binds that inhibits from gleeful and joyful sharing.
This stewardship material was written by Clark Hargus, Disciples of Christ pastor, and has been used successfully by small membership congregations throughout North America for more than two decades.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Loving Generosity. As you seek to keep the lights on in your church, consider how brightly your light is shining in your community.
This issue of Giving Magazine focuses on Hopeful Generosity. Within these pages you will find inspiration, motivation, and thoughtful reflections about the certainties of hope.
This issue of Giving Magazine, published by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center, focuses on Faithful Generosity. Within these pages you will find stories and illustrations of long-time engagement and first steps.
This issue of Giving Magazine, published by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center, focuses on Year-Round Stewardship, citing research from Lake Institute's National Study of Congregations' Economic Practices.
An easy-to use, four-week stewardship resource for congregations of any size and worship situation created by the Ecumenical Stewardship Center.