…a church of Growing and

Committed Christian Stewards

Guidelines for Developing a Strong Stewardship Ministry

• Encourages

Christian stewards.

• Develops a ministry of stewardship in

your church.

• Enlists / Elects a team to coordinate a

focused stewardship ministry.

A

STEWARDSHIP

MINISTRY…• Proclaims Biblical teachings on stewardship.

• Teaches and encourages members to be a faithful

and wise manager.

• Challenges members to reach their giving potential.

• Provides the church with careful budget

development, promotion and administration of

funds.

Stewardship

Ministry

Organization

• The Church leaders MUST support and

participate in the stewardship ministry.

• Each person involved in the stewardship

ministry MUST be practicing biblical

stewardship.

Models

• A Committee Model

• A Team Model

• An Individual

Leader Model

• Combination Model

Committee

Model

• Is composed of a minimum of 5 persons.

• Plans stewardship education, budgeting and

accounting.

• Meets regularly.

• Develops an annual plan of stewardship

activities.

• Has greater responsibility and flexibility in each area.

• The team leader relates to the church staff, resides at team meetings and coordinates the work of the team.

• Work leaders are assigned to each of the primary areas of work – education, budgeting and accounting.

Team Model

Team Members

• Stewardship Education Leader

• Budget Leader

• Accounting Leader

Stewardship

Education

Leader• Explores ways to teach biblical stewardship

through existing church channels.

• Recommends new and ongoing activities

for the church calendar.

• Serves as a resource person for the team

on stewardship education matters.

Budget Leader

• Explores areas of mission and ministry

support needs.

• Plans the best methods for budget

development, promotion, commitment,

and administration.

Accounting

Leader

• Receives

• Counts

• Deposits

• Records

• Distributes

• Reports

• Audits

Is responsible for a constant review of

church financial procedures:

Individual

Leader Model

• Is a designated leader, someone other than the treasurer.

• In consultation with the pastor, determines needs and activities in stewardship education, budgeting, and accounting for all funds.

• May coordinate the work of several existing groups involved in stewardship.

Combination

Model

• Stewardship Education group which affirms,

encourages, and teaches.

• Budget group which develops, promotes,

commits, and administers the church

budget.

• Accounting group who is responsible for

handling and reporting on all funds received.

• Select the best Model for your church

• Provide training for those serving in the

stewardship ministry

• Schedule regular meetings

ACTION PLAN

• Basic Actions

• Stewardship Education

• Budgeting

• Accounting

• Estate Planning

• Capital Fund-

Raising

Basic Actions

• Be committed to Christ and the fulfillment

of your church’s mission.

• Evaluate your church’s stewardship needs

and plan actions to meet those needs.

• Be aware of available resources.

Stewardship

Education

• Teach Biblical stewardship.

• Use testimonies and pre-offering statements.

• Express gratitude to church membership for their faithful expressions of stewardship.

• Include a stewardship

challenge in new member

orientation materials.

• Provide estate-planning

information.

• Include stewardship

features.

Budgeting

• Budget Development

• Budget Promotion

• Budget Commitment

• Budget Administration

Accounting

• Develop policies to insure the careful handling of all church funds.

• Receive money from all channels within the church.

• Encourage

formulation of policies

for receiving special

gifts.

• Record all financial

transactions.

Accounting

• Count money and complete appropriate records.

• Report to the church on all financial transactions.

• Arrange for an annual

audit of church

financial records.

Estate Planning

• Promote estate giving to church members.

• Plan and conduct estate-planning

emphases.

• Participate in formulating policies for

receiving special gifts.

• Promote “Make Your Will Month.”

Capital Fund-

Raising

• Conduct an emphasis on raising money for

a determined church need.

• Select and recommend the procedure to

raise the funds for the church’s approval.

• Serve in the church ministry organization

until this work is completed.

• WHAT?

What exactly do we need to accomplish?

• HOW?

How is the best way to accomplish it?

• WHEN?

Prepare a calendar/time for the process.

• WHO?

Who will lead in accomplishing this task?

Decisions….

…a church of Growing and

Committed Christian Stewards

Guidelines for Developing a Strong Stewardship Ministry