The Steward

People make donations for all sorts of reasons. For some it is the mission of the organization, while for others it’s how their gift will …

My friend and former colleague Dave Robinson was fond of saying that many church leaders suffer from “terminal nostalgia.” That is to say, they retain …

One of the best parts of my job is working with parish leaders to help them achieve their financial stewardship objectives. This continuous engagement helps …

Practicing stewardship intimately ties us to who we are as a Christian people. Stewardship is an expression of faith. It is not simply the Church’s …

Our understanding of stewardship as a way of life is based in scripture. The first chapter of Genesis tells us that God created all things …

It has been widely reported that the Anglican Church of Canada will be gone by 2040. Given the change in demographics, the aging of our …

I’ve long taken exception to secular fundraising’s dependency on the promotion of “benefits” or “membership” to encourage giving. There is almost no emphasis on altruism …

Recently I’ve devoted considerable time to thinking about how we can better assess the generosity of donors in parishes. Part of this thinking is motivated …

Recently, the Ontario government announced a reopening plan that would see public activity return to pre-pandemic levels. It is an aspirational objective, that’s for sure. …

I have a confession to make. There was a time when I wasn’t quite sure what to do when the collection plate came around. I knew …

Any way you look at it, the pandemic is having a profound impact on how parishes respond to ministry needs, stewardship education and worship. This …

Growing up, I was always impressed by the generosity of my father. In many ways, he had a rather unassuming upbringing. As the son of …

What motivates people to be generous? Throughout my career as a stewardship educator, I have encountered countless people who have made a priority of giving …

Churches have responded to the pandemic with exciting worship innovation and adaptation. They have found new ways to maintain contact with congregants, to socialize and …

I’m a maker of lists, a setter of schedules, a taker of tests. I love online quizzes – IQ scores, Myers-Briggs, history, geography, the bible …

It has been a tumultuous year. Despite its wild uncertainty, 2020 – the year of the pandemic – will go down as one that forced …

In the weeks following the birth of our first child, my wife and I had our will drawn up. Being in our early 30s, we …

The lockdown began in the third week of March. That week resonates strongly for many of us, as it brought in a period of unprecedented …

I want to share some personal thoughts with parish leaders about the idea of presenting a deficit budget at vestry time. I can appreciate that …

I set out with a twenty-dollar bill in my pocket. Attending the Christmas Lessons and Carols service at a nearby parish on the last Sunday …

It might seem odd to draw attention to a major milestone or anniversary one year before it happens.  It would be strange, for example, to …

Here’s a fresh idea: Encouragement Sunday! What’s that, you might ask? It’s a new way of looking at a longstanding idea – of prayerfully making …

Everyone loves to receive a letter. Even at a time when fewer people send letters and e-mail and text are the preferred vehicles of communication, …

One statistic stands out for me more than any other when assessing the health of stewardship in a parish: the total number of donors who …

First, the good news: 28 per cent of the parishes in the diocese are experiencing growth in attendance, number of givers or both. That means …

One of the things that Anglicans typically are not inclined to do is speak about their faith. The Natural Church Development program indicates that “passionate …

Like many others, I’ve made my fair share of donations over the years. One gift stands out from all the others. The amount was rather …