PUT A SPRING IN YOUR STEP

            As I’m writing this, I can look out my window and see the sun shining. I can even see bare ground (in between piles of plowed up snow), but I also know that starting tonight, a winter storm is going to come through, so it’s not spring…yet!

            Too often, once we’ve gotten past our fall financial campaigns, and Advent and Easter, and breathe a sigh of relief in the new year. We’ve come through it all; everything is fresh and new, and we can ignore talking about money and stewardship for several more months…right?   Wrong!

            We should be talking about stewardship year-round. I’m not saying that we spend every message, every sermon, every prayer and every meeting talking about money or the budget or the needs of the church.

            We know the church has needs, and I’m not saying keep it a secret, but if every time we talk about stewardship, we’re complaining that we don’t have enough to pay our bills, it will become a self-fulfilling prophecy, and people will stop giving less (why try to bail water out of a ship that is full of holes?), and we really won’t have enough to pay our bills. 

            I am aware that people give when there is a need, but is the need REALLY to pay the heating bill, or is the heating bill something that needs to be paid because children are nurtured through Sunday School and learning about Jesus; because disciples of Jesus Christ are made during worship and prayer; because lives are changed because your WHY isn’t to keep a building heated, but to change lives in a b building that has the Holy Spirit alive and well?

            Look at every item on your line-item budget, every bill paid, are they there because of ministry, or are they there to keep a brick-and-mortar building open?

            This is the type to spend this time doing some analysis of:

• ·         Your church’s why - Why do you exist? How are lives changed? How are disciples made? How are leaders cultivated?
• ·         Your church’s assets – People? Building? Money? Land? Gifts and Graces?
• ·         Your church’s employees – Their gifts and graces? Their jobs? The needs of the church’s ministry?
• ·         Your church’s generosity – How often is money talked about? How is generosity encouraged? How do leaders communicate their own generosity?

            I have worked on financial analyses for some churches. It is a fascinating process and so much can be learned by going through some of these topic and questions? If you are interested in more information on this, please contact me at susanranous@unyumc.org. I’d be happy to work with your church on this and send you some questionnaires and information to pull together to make this a fruitful experience.

            This is the opportunity to put some spring in your Spring!

            REMINDER: The Stewardship Academy is being held April 23^rd, May 21^st, June 18^th and July 16^th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. If you are interested in a registration form or information on the academy itself, please let me know (susanranous@unyumc.org)

 

                                           STEWARDSHIP ACADEMY #5

            The Stewardship Academy has been announced, and is being held on the Saturdays of  April 23^rd, May 21^st, June 18^th and July 16^th. At least the first three will be held via Zoom.

            This week I am introducing the fourth session, which will be held on July 16th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Various topics will be covered at this session:

1.    Generosity - Giving is spiritual before it is financial. Any gift is an external sign of inward spiritual growth. Too often we focus on the need of the church to receive, when we should be focused on the need of the giver to give.

2.    Generosity Audit – We usually think about money when we hear the word audit, but a generosity audit is completely different. Rev. Clayton Smith has created the idea of a generosity audit; and we will spend time looking at what this involves and the audit guide that he has created. A generosity audit is a process that can inform your decisions about what ministry initiatives, mission projects, or programs in your church could be continued, improvement, started or discontinued.

3.    Developing Personal and Corporate Theology – Theology of stewardship include the principles of ownership, responsibility, accountability, and reward. But how are these principles embraced by you personally? How do these principles govern the ministry of your church? Acknowledge the source; give as a response to discipleship; educate throughout the year; and make stewardship a ministry.

4.    Climate of Commitment – We talk about discipleship, and this cannot be separated from stewardship. They are intertwined and dependent upon each other. Just as membership isn’t discipleship; giving as a matter of obligation isn’t commitment. Are people in your church experiencing a climate of commitment? What does that look like?

5.    Healthy vs. Not Healthy – Is your church financially healthy? Has it analyzed its financial health and ability? What are the differences between a financially healthy church and a financially sick church? Hint: it isn’t necessarily based on the balance in the church’s checking account.

6.    Stewardship of Self – We won’t be successful in the areas of stewardship and discipleship in the church or the world if we don’t care for ourselves. The notion of self-stewardship is found somewhere between consumption-focused hedonism and deprivation-focused asceticism. The focus is more on being the “better version of one’s self” regardless of one’s circumstances. Being that better version is not only uplifting for ourselves, but it promotes better relationships with others.

7.    Reviewing Projects and Plans – During the course of these four sessions, many topics and ideas will be touched upon. Each attendee must then choose a topic or idea or practice that they will create a project, plan it out and institute it, reporting back as to the results. We will spend time discussing topics and sharing ideas.

            My hope and desire for this first Stewardship Academy is to provide resources that you can use to benefit your local churches and yourselves. While money and finances are certainly part of stewardship, it is not the whole picture. When we can embrace money and the necessity of that, and also embrace the holistic and theological ideas of stewardship, we can come to the realization that God provides everything needed; how we use it is up to us!

            If you want additional information the Stewardship Academy, please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org.

            If you wish to register for the Stewardship Academy:

Stewardship Academy Registration

 

Full Name
Email
Phone Number
Address
Street Address
City/State/Zip
Register
Stewardship Academy (Clergy)	ÿ  (check if appropriate)
Stewardship Academy (Laity)	ÿ  (check if appropriate)
Cost:	$300.00
Check payable to:	“Susan Ranous”
Mail form and payment to:	Rev. Susan Ranous 201 Candee Avenue Syracuse, NY 13224

 

Any questions:  (315) 427-3668            or        susanranous@unyumc.org

 

 

                                          STEWARDSHIP ACADEMY #4

            The Stewardship Academy has been announced, and is being held on Saturdays, April 23^rd, May 21^st, June 18^th and July 16^th. At least the first three will be held via Zoom.

            This week I am introducing the third session, which will be held on June 18^th from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Various topics will be covered at this session:

1.    Financial Statements – we will look at the various financial statements that are typically used in churches, learning the basics, how to read them and interpret them. What are the financial statements really telling us. We will also spend time “using” the financial statements that will allow us to do the ministry that we are called to do.

2.    Restricted vs. non-Restricted Assets – There are assets that are given to us by donors, with donor restrictions. There are other assets that have also been restricted but have been restricted by the church, and there are assets that are completely unrestricted. What is your gift acceptance policy and how are we allowed to use these different types of assets?

3.    Audits – Audits increase the financial transparency of the church and is a critical element of financial vitality. They are mandated by The Book of Discipline. They are not a symbol of distrust, but are a mark of responsibility, good stewardship demonstrated for all to see, and is a message to local church donors that you care about their gift. We will look at what is required for an internal church audit by GCFA, and how to approach an audit if you are doing it and also if you are preparing for one.

4.    Narrative Budgets – They are a way of talking about the future needs needed to carry out mission and ministry, and don’t just present a spreadsheet style budget with columns of numbers under different headings, i.e. Property, Personnel, Evangelism, Education. A narrative budget tells a story, which is the congregation’s story of mission and service and how the different components of the budget contribute to that specific community of faith being able to live into its God given vision.

5.    Goals – What are the financial goals of your church? What should be the financial goals? How can you accomplish them?

6.    Financial Analysis – A financial analysis is more than looking at the balance in the checkbook. It also must involve looking at all assets (buildings, land, people, ministries). It involves looking at revenue, expenses, employees, and financial health. Generosity needs to be reviewed, as well as how budgets are done. Discipleship, stewardship, and membership are all important.

            Each week covers many topics. If you are interested in more information or in participating in the Academy, please contact me at susanranous@unyumc.org or (315) 427-3668.

 

                                          STEWARDSHIP ACADEMY #3

            The Stewardship Academy has been announced, and is being held on Saturdays, April 23^rd, May 21^st, June 18^th and July 16^th. At least the first three will be held via Zoom.

            This week I want to introduce the second session, which will be held on May 21^st from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Various topics will be covered at this session:

1.    1.Campaign Types – There are many types of campaigns. There are the campaigns that simply ask for an “upgrade” in giving. There are also the campaigns that approach those that haven’t given before to start giving. Is the campaign done simply during Sunday worship, or is there in-person visitation? Letters? Telephone calls? Emails?

    2.   Essential Parts of ALL Campaigns – Do a good job; have a plan and follow it; it’s all about relationship; have specific requests; visit; talk about the mission of the church; don’t be afraid to ask; and say “thank you”.

 

    3. Year-Round Stewardship – Stewardship should never just happen in the fall. There are letters, information, work that can and should be done throughout the year. We will go through different scenarios and ideas for monthly stewardship work.

4.    Three Types of Giving – Operating, Capital and Planned. Any good stewardship program; any effective financial work done by a church must include all three. What are they, and how are they different?

    5.    Planned Giving – This includes giving through annuities, beneficiary designations, bequests, life insurance, real estate, transfer on death, payable on death arrangements and trusts. It is also referred to as deferred gifts. It can include current giving arrangements that require legal or tax planning. It is often done through wills or trust documents or beneficiary designations.

6.    Planning Commitment – Planning is vital to a good stewardship program, and for the givers as well. It provides tremendous opportunity for Christians to make a powerful witness to their faith and their values, and helps maintain the work of the church and its related institutions. Larger charitable gifts than might otherwise be possible become possible. Permanent living memorials for givers and others are established.

            Each week of the Stewardship Academy will cover many topics. The first week covers stewardship and theology, while this second week talks about campaigns and giving.

            If you are interested in more information or in participating in the Academy, please contact me at susanranous@unyumc.org or (315) 427-3668.