Virginia Episcopalian Magazine Summer 2013 Issue | Page 28

Year-Round Stewardship

Diocesan mentoring program provides congregational support
Stephanie Gurnsey Higgins
Talking about money is difficult for
most people. The conversations can
delve into issues of relationship, values
and security. We all can make excuses
for why we don’t tithe – “I need to
build a safety net for myself,” “I think
I can spend my money better than my
church,” or “The church is too big, they
won’t miss my money.” Some of our
excuses – while valid statements – can
derail our own growth because they
allow us to withhold part of ourselves
from our relationship with God.

The theologian Henri Nouwen
reminds us that, “Jesus knows our
need for security.” He was not unaware
of what he asked his followers to
commit, but that “our trust, our basic
trust, Jesus teaches, has to be in God.”
Stewardship is about committing all
that we have and all that we are to
the glory of God. It is recognition that
we all have unique gifts of our own to
bring, and use, to help the Lord and if
we decide to withhold these gifts we
do a disservice to ourselves, to our
church and to God.

To assist churches with
stewardship campaigns, the Diocese of
Virginia has established a Stewardship
Mentoring Program. Initially developed
by Frances Caldwell, former director
of Development & Stewardship,
the program is implemented by the
diocesan Committee on Stewardship.
In this six-month program the vestry
and/or stewardship committees work
with a mentor from the Committee on
Stewardship to delve into how best to
recognize and use their congregation’s
time, talent and treasure. Mentors use
a curriculum that follows a year-round
approach to stewardship, emphasizing
teaching, learning, establishing a
culture of gratitude and, yes, talks
about money.

Since the program started two
years ago, five churches have completed
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“ ere we support and encourage one
H
another, we forge friendships that matter,
and we learn about tools and tips and
strategies that increase our ability to
accomplish the Lord’s work.”
The Rev. Jay Morris

the process and two more have begun
working with mentors recently. Is your
church ready to transform your Annual
Campaign into a year-round exploration
of all of your gifts?

Read on for some of our mentors’
perspectives.
Liz Rudolph

I loved being a part of the creative
energy at the church I mentored. When
I arrived, the church was focused on
the future and the group was ready
to learn, plan and implement. Our
meetings were casual, low-tech and
highly conversational, a lively give
and take of information, questions,
challenges and ideas. Everyone in th B