Category Archives: Notes on Developing Stewardship
Dan Loughman: The Parish Stewardship Council – Membership Characteristics
Editor’s note: This is the second in Dan Loughman’s five-part series on the key factors of developing a successful Parish Stewardship Council.
The selection and formation of parish stewardship council members, under the direction of the pastor, is the single most important element in ensuring the ongoing life-long education, formation, conversion and facilitation of stewardship within a parish. (more…)
Dan Loughman: The Parish Stewardship Council – A Primer
Editor’s note: Today’s post from Dan Loughman is the first in a five-part series on the key factors of developing a successful Parish Stewardship Council. Dan has a wealth of experience in the area of stewardship development, having worked with renowned stewardship pioneer and TCS contributor Msgr. Thomas McGread, from the early beginnings at St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita, Kansas. Dan has since moved on to work at the diocesan level as the CFO and as the Director of Stewardship for the Diocese of Wichita, helping them develop into a total stewardship diocese for almost 20 years. Dan’s five-part series will run each Monday over the next five weeks.
There are two key factors for any parish in facilitating the practice of stewardship and harvesting the fruits of stewardship within the parish community.
First and foremost, it is absolutely necessary for the pastor to show a personal and visible commitment to this process. I refer to this as the “pastor factor.” The pastor must generally understand and appreciate what a full-blown parish stewardship process can mean to a parish and its parishioners. He must be seen as the leader of the process. Doing so may require a formation and conversion journey for the pastor, as well. Without the pastor’s up-front visual support, leadership and general oversight, parishioners may end up viewing the process of developing stewardship as someone else’s personal agenda, and not embrace it as a mission put into place by their spiritual leader.
The second and very important key factor is the selecting and forming of an active and committed Parish Stewardship Council under the oversight and direction of the pastor. In accordance with the unique mission and demographic characteristics of each parish, the active and ongoing utilization of a Parish Stewardship Council should be structured and facilitated to emphasize that stewardship is a spiritual “way of life” response and conversion journey — not a process designed only to fill the collection basket. This response and conversion journey calls parishioners to gratefully recognize, receive, unfold, and share their individual God-given gifts in love of and in service to God and neighbor. (more…)
Msgr. Thomas McGread: How We Use Our Time
When people are asked to log their time – say, at work – they often never get started because they’re waiting for a “normal week.”
There have been, however, careful studies of how people in the U.S, actually use the 10,080 minutes that make up a week. Here are some of the findings:
Eric McArdle: The Ultimate Goal Of A Parish
At our most recent Msgr. McGread Stewardship Conference, Fr. Jim Golka — the pastor of St. Patrick’s Church in North Platte, Neb. — gave a wonderful presentation on how they have successfully developed stewardship at St. Patrick. Here, I would like to share with you my recollection of a small portion of Fr. Golka’s presentation, focusing on his comments regarding the mission of a parish.
Msgr. Thomas McGread: Attitude
Editor’s note: Msgr. Thomas McGread is a renowned stewardship pioneer who built St. Francis of Assisi in Wichita, Kansas, into one of the most vibrant parishes in the country by teaching parishioners how to use their personal gifts. Msgr. McGread, now the Director Emeritus of Stewardship for the Diocese of Wichita, was influential in drafting the U.S. Bishop’s pastoral letter: Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response.
The latest post by Msgr. McGread was originally written by Chuck Swindoll, a protestant pastor and author.
Eric McArdle: All Signs Point to Hospitality
Hospitality and Parish Staff Parking are two things that don’t seem to be naturally tied. Unfortunately, though, in many parishes, they are indeed joined at the hip.
During a recent visit I made to a parish (name and city are withheld), I had a good laugh after I pulled into the parking lot.
As I came to the beginning of the walkway that led to the parish campus — the church included — there were the typical parking spaces reserved for handicap parking on one side of the entrance. On the other side were seven parking spaces all “reserved” for staff members. And to ensure there would be no confusion on anyone’s part, there were six-foot tall metal poles cemented into the asphalt with large signs on each space that read, RESERVED STAFF PARKING.
Msgr. Thomas McGread: Stewardship Prayer
Stewardship Prayer
Lord, You alone are the source of every good gift,
of the vast array of our universe,
and the mystery of each human life.
We praise You and we thank You
for Your great power and your tender, faithful LOVE.
Everything we are and everything we have is Your gift,
and after having created us,
You have given us into the keeping of Your Son,
JESUS CHRIST.
Fill our minds with His truth
And our hearts with His love,
that in His Spirit
we may be bonded together into a community
of faithful, caring people.
In the Name and Spirit of Jesus,
we commit ourselves to be good stewards
of the gifts entrusted to us,
to share our time, our talent
and our material gifts as an outward sign
of the Treasure we hold in Jesus.
Amen
