Gratitude is the heart’s memory.
— French Proverb

Resources for Pastors

These resources are especially for pastors:

Clergy Financial Planning Resources brochure

Pre-retirement Seminar

"Doorway to the Future"

November 7-8, 2008

Comfort Inns and Suites, Elgin

This seminar is especially for clergy and spouses who are seeking information to plan for retirement.

In addition to the tranditional emphasis on financial planning, individualized pension projections, presentations on health benefits and housing issues are addressed.  A new session on health and wellness is planned and a retirement coach will also be present.

Click here for more information and registration materials

or contact Bob Burkhart - rgburkhart@att.net

The Center for Christian Stewardship offers many resources for integrating the stewardship ministry into worship.  Offering prayers and sermon starters, geared to the lectionary, are available as well as children’s messages.  The site has a resource list of annual campaign resources and information about capital campaigns, book reviews, and links to other sites with information about planned giving and stewardship.

Read “Things a Pastor Can Do” (PDF) to learn about the pastor’s unique role in planned giving programs.

Follow this link to an article in a recent issue of Christianity Today, "Growing Generous Givers" (click here).

Reverend Linda Grenz, a trainer and consultant for LeaderResources, offers a fresh perspective on congregational giving in her article, "Faith-based Stewardship"

Be highly knowledgeable about the apportionments of the general church, conference and district.  Interpret to the congregation the mission and ministry enabled through the apportionment system.  Visit www.umcgiving.org for comprehensive information on apportionments and to order several free resources.

To assess the potential of an annual stewardship campaign, begin by analyzing the giving history during the last several years.  With an Analysis of Giving (PDF) completed, the Stewardship Committee will understand its starting point as it plans the annual campaign.  Creating Congregations of Generous People, by Michael Durall recommends a twelve-month stewardship program that begins with this analysis.

Use our biblical references (PDF) to stewardship themes to find texts and theological grounding for faithful stewardship practices.