Why Do We Pledge: Part IV Recently I read a string of messages on Facebook saying that we need all of our members to give a set minimum amount or our congregations are not financially viable (pardon the paraphrase). I was sorry to read that, not the least of which because it got a response […]
Pledging Builds the Community of Beloveds Read More »
Why Do We Pledge: Part III I live in Washington, DC, where democracy is mired in financial influence and partisan radicalism. So I appreciate that, in virtually all of the congregations where I consult, the democratic process is functioning quite well. Part of what distinguishes liberal religious organizations like ours from more conservative ones is
Democracy Lives – in Your Congregation! Read More »
Why Do We Pledge: Part II Pretty much every lay leader I encounter in my work understands about their pledge: the process for making financial commitments. They understand how it works, its timeline, and how it is part of the financial systems of their congregation. This is all to the good. And most of us
To Pledge: Clearly and Directly Read More »
Why Do We Pledge: Part I Everyone wants to be forward thinking, to be creative, to keep up with the 21st Century. So I hear people talking about how pledging to congregations is outmoded; that people don’t live the kind of life where they can plan their charitable contributions a year in advance, that people
Pledging is Dead; Long Live Pledging! Read More »
In our previous blog post, we introduced the concept that it’s hard to know where you are going if you don’t know where you are, and that a number of key statistics about your congregation can go a long way in helping leaders understand where they are, where they are going, and what they need
I am Lost But I am Making Record Time – Part II Read More »
Making Better Use of Congregational Data Can Help Us Find Our Way I heard the quote in the title of this blog as a young pilot many years ago. A World War II pilot radioed that report in –he had no idea where he was, but he was making great progress somewhere. In providing stewardship
“I am Lost, but I am Making Record Time!” – Part I Read More »
Quartile Analysis – This is a Powerful Stewardship Education and Management Tool
Quartile Analysis – A Great Tool You Never Knew You Had Read More »
I am often asked if providing naming opportunities for buildings, rooms, and other facilities is a good idea or not. This can be a sensitive area, specifically because it has such powerful potential for good or ill. It’s an important and worthy conversation to have; don’t avoid it just because some feel strongly one way
Naming Opportunities on Your Campus: Good Idea or Bad Idea? Yes… Read More »
Happy Birthday Well, it’s been a year since we consultants and the UUA started this grand experiment. We asked if stewardship consulting services, provided so well under the UUA’s Congregational Stewardship Network and led so ably by Wayne Clark, could be provided under a new outsourced model. We’re very pleased with the Year One results
Stewardship for Us is One Year Old Read More »
Leadership in Stewardship In many congregations, I hear it said that every member is a member of the membership committee. This is a great message and I hope we all take it to heart. Well, I’d like to suggest a related thought: every leader is a leader in stewardship. I’m talking about all lay and
Every Leader is a Stewardship Leader Read More »
