I know someone who frequently says, ‘Oh, if only I could win the Lottery, then I would give it all away!’ For the record, I know for a fact that this person doesn’t even buy a ticket, so the generous sentiment will never be put to the test. But the thinking is common enough: With half a million, think of the good we could do! The projects we could fund! The mouths we could feed! We assume that, if we are to be generous, we need a full pot to be generous from. It makes sense, doesn’t it?
Although “stewardship” sounds like a bible word, it isn’t. But it is a bible concept. The concept is twofold – there’s stewardship of what’s been given particularly to you and there’s stewardship of everything else. Stewardship is the way we look after things – not the way we own things. We are stewards, or trustees, or custodians – of something that belongs to someone else but which has been put into our charge. Stewards are not owners, they are guardians.
Gift Aid is a long established scheme and generally well understood and used by churches. Here is a list of 10 do’s and don’ts to help make sure you are operating the scheme well.
Stewardship today announced the appointment of its new CEO, Stewart McCulloch.
Stewart will take over the position on 1st August from current CEO Michael O’Neill, who is returning to his native America in August after nine years leading the organisation.
Close your eyes. Now conjure up the image of your perfect supporter. Piece together the identikit of that person.
Let’s start with age: similar to you? Or perhaps older (but not too old).
Background: again similar; helps if they get your cultural references surely?
Next, circumstances: probably on a reasonable to good salary with a steady job.
Stewardship’s Deposit Account is a gift to churches and Christian charities, with no setup charges, monthly interest and plenty of flexibility. One satisfied customer is Rachel Fadipe, Executive Director at SAT-7 UK.
My wife is a good global citizen. She’s compassionate and well informed, makes sacrifices to her bank balance in the pursuit of justice, and is always in it for the long haul. In short, Emma’s exactly the kind of supporter that charities want.
I was sat in church about two years ago listening to a sermon about modern slavery. We were invited to think about each garment of clothing that we were wearing and ask the questions; where did it come from, who made it, what was life like for the overseas garment worker?
Alphabetical ratings have long been used in the financial sector to assess the strength of investments. AAA (better known as 'Triple A') is the highest possible rating indicating financial strength. At Stewardship, we have taken the concept of the 'Triple A' rating and applied it to churches. Here it is not a measure of financial strength but is shorthand for three attributes important for churches and church leaders to live by when it comes to handling money.
Money, sex and power. Three of the most significant and enduring dangers facing churches, church leaders and Christians. Jesus spoke extensively on all three topics with many of the New Testament letters addressing unhealthy situations caused by them. Still today, modern media feasts on churches where scandals and failures arise in these areas or where Christians seem to fall below the high standards of the gospel.
blogs by the Stewardship team and selected guest writers.
Stewardship is the operating name of Stewardship Services (UKET) Limited. Established in 1906.
Registered charity no. 234714, and a company limited by guarantee, registered in England no. 90305.
Registered office: 1 Lamb's Passage, London EC1Y 8AB
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