By David Stewart, Pastor, Bartlesville-Oak Park UMC

Stewardship is everything we do after we say, "I believe."

In light of our current national economy, a financial workshop hosted by the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation, Aug. 28 at OKC-Chapel Hill, provided helpful resources useful to every pastor and church.

Stewardship Focus Day highlighted the importance of giving in a way that moves beyond the cartoon example of a man examining an offering plate passed in a church. The cartoon character ponders, "I think this is the price of admission."

Beginning with the handbook given out, Making Disciples Through the Ministry of Church Finance, produced by the Foundation this year, the workshop reminded participants that finances and stewardship are not just about money—they are basic in a faithful and healthy relationship to God.

According to the Discipline, a United Methodist pastor has five specific responsibilities, beginning with "to provide leadership for the funding ministry of the congregation" and ending with "to encourage giving." This means every pastor is to be providing helpful leadership and direction in this area. The roles of the Finance Committee, Financial Secretary, and Treasurer in this process are also outlined in the Foundation’s educational resource. The handbook also lists resources to help churches develop long-term ministry funding.

The keynote speaker, David Bell, highlighted the spiritual and relational aspects of generosity. He contrasted the way of faith against "hyperconsumerism" advocated by advertising media. He is recognized nationally as a church finance expert.

Rev. Bell said faith-full stewardship allows a church to focus and celebrate the abundance of God’s giving. It takes a positive view—"What shall we do with all we have?"—instead of being pulled down by what might be lacking.

Is the glass half-full or half-empty? If you at least have a glass, start from there!

Too often, Bell said, church finances are organized and presented as a line-item budget. That might excite an accountant, but surveys indicate that 70 percent of Americans don’t know how to read or understand a line-item budget. Such budgets are dominated by big-ticket items: staff salaries/benefits, utilities/maintenance, office supplies, etc. Other nonprofits, such as United Way, downplay administrative costs because those are not what excites people to give.

The reality is that those numbers "come to life" by providing for ministries such as pastoral care, facilities in which to nurture children, educational classroom space, worldwide evangelism, and more. People will be excited about giving, Bell said, if they see their money gifts make possible caring evangelism, nurture, and ministries.

He suggested a church’s annual budget be organized with a focused emphasis on Ministry Areas. Stories can be shared about the difference each area of ministry makes in people’s lives.

Trevor Smith of Waurika led a session about the needs of small-membership churches and how people in those congregations may be inspired in their giving. David Wiggs of Enid presented models that churches can use to simplify effective stewardship programs. Since both these pastors are in the Oklahoma Conference, they are available to respond to specific questions.

Everything we have is a gift from God. (Even kids during their teenage years!) Stewardship is not a code church word for how to force people to give financially. Stewardship is saying YES to being a disciple of Jesus Christ and saying YES about all of life. Giving can be a joy and delightful privilege, as we return a portion for God’s further blessing through our churches. God will work through such giving to assure gifts are distributed to meet real needs.

Through the development of an effective church stewardship program, we all can help create the climate and culture of abundance rather than scarcity. "God loves the hilarious giver! (2 Corinthians 9:7)"

Abundance exists in every local church. The Foundation’s program provided resources to make stewardship development energized, fun, and faith-full.