2009 Budget- serving the imperatives of our common vision
Mission, discipleship and evangelism are all part of stewardship. The Stewardship Commission believes that God calls us to be faithful stewards of His creation. We are called to use all that is entrusted to us to restore all people to unity with God and with each other in Christ. Stewardship is a key to our relationship with God. All of the members of the Commission have discovered for themselves that our response to God can provide for a more joy-filled life in Christ. It is our passion and calling to share this experience and vision with the diocese, in a variety of ways and with a variety of voices.
Narrative account of Stewardship Ministry:
2006 -In spring the Stewardship Commission hosted the Rev. Greg Rickel, (presently Bishop of the Diocese of Olympia) provided two workshops titled “Joy or Pleasure? Stewardship as a Transformed Life.” The clergy-only event had nine attending and the ‘all leadership’ workshop had 13 laity and two clergy in attendance. Connie Ross joined 17 diocesan stewardship leaders from across the U.S. for the first Stewardship Summit organized by Terry Parsons of the national church. In the fall, the Rev. Chuck Robertson offered: “Vestry - What does it mean?” (Clear vision of leadership including leading in growth in stewardship understanding. Thirty-eight attendees enthusiastically received it. The following weekend, The Episcopal Network for Stewardship (TENS) conference was held in Seattle, WA. The commission provided nine registration scholarships. Two commission members attended with a total of 24 attending from Oregon. Two parishes invited Commission members to share stewardship vision. A team presented at the Convention Mission and Ministry Fair for those seeking understanding.
2007 -In February, the commission visited the southern end of the diocese. St. Mark, Medford hosted a workshop with 18 attending and five parishes represented. In the spring, the first Province VIII stewardship workshop, “Greeting, Growing and Giving,” was presented in Sacramento. Thirteen Oregon attendees represented five parishes, six scholarships were provided and four commission members attended. In May, the Rev. Chuck Robertson, canon to the presiding bishop, visited three locations: Roseburg, Newport and Wilsonville, sharing the wisdom of holistic stewardship. A total of 72 attended one of the three workshops; with a total of 24 parishes represented. In response to the General Convention’s resolution that presentations about personal debt and its effects on spirituality be held in dioceses, John Hoskins, senior philanthropic advisor at Saint Francis Academy in Salina, KS, presented two workshops, attended by 19 lay and clergy representing eight parishes. Also, the stewardship commission offered three workshops at the diocesan convention’s Mission and Ministry Fair: “Giving to God”; “Stewardship of Debt”; and “Stewardship 101.”
2008 - Three commission members attended the TENS (The Episcopal Network for Stewardship) conference in April. The TENS conference is where the commission hears some of the best national presenters. We plan to bring one or more of these leaders to Oregon to present in 2009. Two members took the training for debt ministry. We believe that debt not only causes harm to the soul, it also has a large impact on the giving to our parishes. Our goal is to visit and encourage parishes to provide debt ministry throughout the Diocese. Several parishes expressed interest in beginning debt ministries. The commission hosted a Province VIII conference, “The Greatest Stories Ever Told,” in June, which included workshops on stewardship, evangelism and congregational development. About $5,000 in scholarships were provided to help churches send participants.
2009 – The commission will continue providing workshops, with the focus on “Stewardship 101. We will arrange for one or more speakers to present to clergy and leadership. We will continue the efforts to grow the debt ministry; providing support in parishes interested in providing a safe place for individuals to explore ways towards financial health. We will support national and Province VIII conferences by sending commission members and providing scholarships for others to attend. We will continue to provide stewardship education throughout the diocese, sharing at least one offering in the southern area. The commission is always ready to answer the call by any parish that wishes support in stewardship in form of sharing our vision through a workshop or advice regarding materials.
Contact:
Ms. Connie Ross, Convener
jracon@juno.com |
