How do we respond to God’s call?
How do we respond to God's call to serve and love our neighbors? We faithfully steward the gifts God has so abundantly given to us. Stewardship is using all that God has entrusted to our care—our time, our skills, our money—to love God and our neighbors, both inside and outside our church walls.
All We Have
O Lord, Giver of Life and Source of Freedom, we know that all we have is received from your hand. Gracious and loving God, you call us to be stewards of your Abundance, the caretakers of all you have entrusted to us. Amen.
—Episcopal Diocese of Washington
Online Giving
This information highlights both opportunities and challenges for congregations.
A Comparison of Online Giving Options shared from the Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod.
Tithe.ly
Tithe.ly has been an ELCA-preferred vendor for e-giving since 2018. With online, mobile, and text giving options, they also provide church management software. Enable members to give online and manage membership data.
Vanco
Vanco's Faith Team wants to help you build a thriving congregation. ELCA congregations like yours were Vanco's first clients 20 years ago. They offer innovative approaches like storytelling, engagement, and e-giving.
Recommended Reading
Congregational Resources
The Generosity Project
The Generosity Project (ELCA) is an intergenerational, household-focused approach to stewardship, aiming to connect generations, foster generosity as a faith practice, and grow in God’s grace.
Visit LinkStewardship of Life Institute
Based at United Lutheran Seminary, the Stewardship of Life Institute offers grants, a resource-rich website, and a weekly e-newsletter with reflections and a stewardship toolbox for congregations.
Visit Link
Based at United Lutheran Seminary, the Stewardship of Life Institute offers grants, a resource-rich website, and a weekly e-newsletter with reflections and a stewardship toolbox for congregations.
Recorded Stewardship Webinars
Our ministry partner, PRC—Practical Resources for Churches—invites you to check out their compilation of stewardship and finance resources which includes recorded stewardship webinars
Visit LinkMore Than Money
Learn how to ask about and require accountability in your congregation’s financial stewardship ministry.
Visit LinkKids, Money, & Stuff
Kids, Money & Stuff is a retreat or small group format on personal stewardship development for parents and children grades 3-8. The leader guide is available here.
Visit LinkHow Much Is Enough?
An excellent 60-page booklet on personal stewardship in an age of abundance.
Visit LinkGenerosity Matters
This approach to stewardship offers step-by-step guides for developing a theme-based emphasis. Scroll down to access resources on Legacy giving, Narrative Spending Plans, and Council Devotions.
Visit LinkELCA Stewards of God’s Love
A comprehensive manual for congregations that want to develop year-round stewardship. This can be downloaded or ordered online.
Visit LinkELCA Resources for Congregations
Explore the various tabs—Generosity, Creation, Financial Response, Leadership, Lifestyle, Stories, God’s Great Mercy—to find valuable stewardship resources available for download or, in some cases, ordered from ELCA Resources.
Visit LinkELCA Financial Best Practicies
The ELCA Office of the Treasurer has resources to help congregations develop best practices in their financial dealings.
Visit LinkCross Generational Stewardship Recorded Workshop
Stewardship often makes people uncomfortable. This webinar introduces a cross-generational model to spark conversations about why ministry and giving matter, with new stewardship approaches. Led by Heather Roth Johnson and Karen Walhof of Good Shepherd, Minneapolis. Originally broadcast on April 26, 2018.
Visit LinkCongregation Council Devotion on Mission Support
This devotion for a Congregation Council meeting offers a reflection on Mission Support. From the Montana Synod.
View DocumentBecause of God’s Great Mercy
This Chick Lane stewardship program for congregations gives people a simple way to increase their giving by ½-1% per year. Download the pieces at no cost.
Visit Link6 Weeks on Money
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and 6 Weeks on Money partner to promote a healthy relationship with money. The course is $80.
Visit LinkStewardship Partners
ELCA Regional Gift Planner, Stephanie Burke
In this video, Stephanie offers details about her work and how she can help you give generously to ministries in this synod and across Region 9 (the southeast).
GSB Fundraising
- Building a Culture of Generosity: This six-session program teaches you to run an outstanding annual stewardship campaign, complete with print and video resources, offered through our partners at GSB. Cost $700; $250 of this may come from a Thrivent Action Team Grant. Scholarships available.
- Stewardship for All Seasons: This two-year program will transform your congregation’s culture of generosity. It includes resources on communication, storytelling, and planned giving. Many congregations see growth. Cost: $3000 per year; with synod scholarship, cost is $2500 per year.
RootedGood
In today’s post-Christian, secular environment, faith-based organizations—long known for blazing a trail of good—are struggling with their mission and message, questioning their relevance in a changing world. RootedGood exists to affirm and support these leaders. We believe that God created everyone to do good work, and the role of faith communities is as relevant—and needed—as ever.
Our mission is to equip leaders with the resources, processes, and confidence they need to reimagine their work and build their capacity to become something new, serving others and creating a positive impact in today’s world.
- Good Futures Accelerator: This proven and affordable course empowers congregations to creatively use their church buildings and property to further their mission and generate new forms of income.
- How To Guides: This series of guides was created to help churches navigate new economic models for mission and ministry, particularly focused on the effective use of buildings and property.
