From the October 19, 2009 edition of the Alban Weekly:
STEWARDSHIP AND SIMPLE THINKING
by Dan Hotchkiss
Something about stewardship campaigns inspires simplistic thinking even in leaders who, on other subjects, are quite capable of grappling with ambiguity. Stewardship is complicated. It includes everything from dilemmas facing households in a shaky economic time to the pledge-dampening effects of large endowments. One can--and many of us do--reduce these issues to simplistic opposites: abundance versus scarcity, generosity versus selfishness, faith versus the world. But real stewardship requires dealing with more complicated issues.
The annual stewardship campaign touches taproot issues for most congregations.
- What special purpose do we serve? Would we be missed?
- What other good might we accomplish with our dollars?
- Are there expenditures we have continued out of habit?
- What way of life are we inviting people into?
- Whose lives do we mean to change, and in what way?
Continue Reading "Stewardship and Simple Thinking"
As an outcome of the SWUUC District Fall Conference 2009, the new Champions of Change pilot program has been born. We are very excited about this new lay leader development program and, to this point, the five participants are indicating that the program is being quite helpful.
Please go to Wayne Clark's blog (see below) for an overview of the program and bios of the participants.
Check out the Congregational Stewardship blog at http://congregationalstewardship.blogs.uua.org/
Purchase Beyond Fundraising: A Complete Guide to Congregational Stewardship at (800)215-9076 or https://www.uua.org/bookstore.
All of the services of SWUUC including this website are provided through the generosity of our congregations and their members. And freely having received, we freely give.
The UUA Annual Program Fund is the process by which all UUA congregations support the work of the association and provide substantial resources and assistance to one another. Every congregation must certify their membership by February 1 of each year. A large amount of the SWUUC budget is funded through and dependent on the full Fair Share participation of our generous congregations.
SWUUC Dues are paid each year by the congregations directly to SWUUC each year. The dues rate is determined by the delegates to the SWUUC Annual Meeting. The current rate is $20 per member.
Friends of The District are individuals who answer a yearly call to donate funds for some special project of SWUUC. This website was funded through Friends of the District. We encourage you to join these supporters and make some extraordinary things happen.
Chalice Lighters is another program supported by individuals who are asked to make a small donation no more than three times a year. These funds go directly to help one of our SWUUC congregations make a major dream come true like a first minister, first building, new staff member, or major remodelling project. Consider not only becoming a Chalice Lighter but also organizing others in your congregation to do so as well.
more UU Congregational Finance and Stewardship Resources