Stewarding God's Gifts
Each of you should use whatever gifts you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. (1 Peter 4:10)
Give us all a reverence for the earth as your own creation, that we may use its resources rightly in the service of others and to your honor and glory. (BCP 388)
The Diocese of Western North Carolina is pleased to provide resources for leading annual pledge campaigns, capital campaigns, and planned giving efforts. We will also point you toward some wonderful spiritual resources that discuss money, gratitude, and giving to use as Christian Formation guides.
From time to time, we will offer webinars around the topics below.
Below are some categories with links, and we are happy to add to this list as we 'crowd source' resources from parishes that have had successes they would like to share.
If you have questions or requests, please reach out to the Rev. Rob Wood or Rachel Carr.
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Annual Stewardship
The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS)
The Diocese of Western North Carolina is a member of the Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS), which is an association of church leaders who understand, practice, and proclaim God's call to generosity. This membership covers all parishes in the diocese, so please take advantage of these great resources as your parish embarks on an annual stewardship campaign. Email Rachel for the password.
2023 Pledge Campaign - Rooted in Abundance
Also available: Previous years campaigns (themes and materials)
You can also sign up for the TENS e-newsletter
The Episcopal Church Foundation (ECF)
The Episcopal Church Foundation's Vital Practices' mission is to offer a comprehensive and holistic resource that helps vitalize Episcopal faith communities. Vital Practices offers vestry members and other people of faith, resources and tools to respond to the changing needs of the Church. Building upon the spiritually grounded, practical Vestry Papers articles that have inspired and informed vestry members since 1995, Vital Practices uses the Internet to both expand its offering and its audience.
PfR acts as a midwife for new ways of being church, enabling churches to be agile, resilient, and intentional about living into their divine purpose in today’s shifting religious-cultural environment. Focusing on servant-leadership development and a transformed approach to year-long stewardship, PfR provides concrete goals, tools, and continuing support for the journey.
The United Thank Offering (UTO) is a ministry of The Episcopal Church for the mission of the whole church. Through UTO, individuals are invited to embrace and deepen a personal daily spiritual discipline of gratitude. UTO encourages people to notice the good things that happen each day, give thanks to God for those blessings and make an offering for each blessing using a UTO Blue Box.
Mennonite Resources for Stewardship Education
(Scroll down on the Everence homepage to locate these resources)
30 Days of Generosity
Do members of your congregation know that every financial decision they make is also a spiritual one? Encouraging their hearts to give generously can be a challenge. This four-week interactive guide for your church members engages the hearts and minds of your church family.
Cultivating Generous Congregations
Drawing on deep research and expertise on religious giving, this training seminar helps you and your leadership team rethink your role in congregational finances and how to awaken a spirit of generosity within your faith community.
Year-Round Congregational Stewardship: Six Best Practices
A guide to download to help your leadership team to assess the stewardship initiatives you currently have in place as well as areas that may not be reflected now in your congregation’s stewardship plan.
Capital Campaigns
Are you planning to raise resources for a specific project, like a building remodel or construction, debt reduction, your music or youth ministry, or more? Capital Campaigns fund ministry outside the normal budgeting and stewardship process.
Discover some resources below and contact the Rev. Rob Wood if you have questions or need some help getting started (rwood.gs@gmail.com).
How to Prepare for a Capital Campaign
Recorded Webinars
Planned Giving
Planned Giving is another term to describe Estate Plans that would include gift monies to the church. People might make a provision 1) in their wills, 2) in a life insurance policy, or 4) through their IRA, 403B, or 401K. Encouraging people to remember their church in their estate planning is another way people can express their faith through giving. See the information in the links below to learn more.