Conditions for effective Stewardship Education
and development in the Parish
Bill Yon, stewardship consultant with the national Church, developed a list of conditions that have been found to contribute to effective stewardship development in the parish. With thanks to Bill for his work, here is that list.
• The clergy are tithers or are committed to a plan of increased proportionate giving leading to the tithe.
• The clergy are willing to witness publicly to their own understanding and practice of stewardship, and invite members of the parish to reexamine their own beliefs and practices as well.
• Vestry members are also committed to proportionate giving (leading toward the tithe) as the pattern of their own practice of stewardship and give clear encouragement to others to do the same.
• Stewardship education focuses on the need of the giver to give, not the need of the church to receive.
• The rector and vestry are committed to increasing the percentage of parish income devoted to mission outside the parish, and hold specific mission opportunities in front of the congregation.
• Opportunities are provided annually for parishioners to talk through their decisions about giving with their fellow Christians.
• Before the stewardship commitment program, members are given the training necessary to approach this ministry with clarity and confidence.
• A careful plan is developed to carry a stewardship education effort through to a successful conclusion.
• Careful evaluation of the year-round parish stewardship program is conducted annually that enables the parish to build on successes and learn from mistakes from year to year.
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