Stewardship 
in the Parish of Saint James


Mission: To develop, foster, and sustain the spirituality, understanding, and practice of stewardship, emphasizing the offering of time, talent, and treasure. 

1.       What is Christian Stewardship?

Christian Stewardship may be defined as the response which the Church and men and women are called to make to God for all that He has given us and done for us, above all in Jesus Christ. 

Christian Stewardship is ...

Stewardship involves our use of three resources in God's service:

2.       Stewardship in the Diocese of Ottawa

A motion to initiate a stewardship campaign was passed by the Synod of the Diocese of Ottawa in September 2004.  The intent was that this should be parish-driven, but supported by the diocese.  A Stewardship Council was formed in 2005 with a mandate of building a program over the next two years. A similar approach was under way nationally in the form of the 'Letting Down the Nets' program (LDTN).  In March 2006 a Diocesan Stewardship Conference was held to introduce the Stewardship Development Initiative (SDI).  This timing was propitious for Saint James', as we had at that point initiated our ongoing Renewal Process. 

3.        Stewardship in Saint James’ parish

 In August 2004, Parish Council unanimously passed the following motion:

It is recommended that we undertake a concerted effort at parish renewal, including an examination of the strengths and weaknesses now existing, with a view to bolstering the former and repairing the latter.  The renewal program should be followed in due course by a stewardship campaign, to include an all-member visitation.  

We have now completed the first phase, that of establishment a renewal process.  Note, though, that renewal is an ongoing process which must be practised on a continuing basis. 
 

4.       The Campaign

 All of our preparations lead up to the all-member visitation in February/March of 2008.  Following an information ‘blitz’, a final campaign aimed at congregational commitment, some 40 – 50 visitors will go out to members of the parish who are expecting them (we shall visit only the willing).  The visitors will discuss with the visited any questions or concerns the latter may have relating to the parish, and will leave printed information as well as a short video.  The aim is to engage every member of the parish in terms of time, treasure and talent, to help show how each of us can contribute to a strong growing parish infused with the Holy Spirit.

How do we get from here to there?  Although we have almost a year, that time will go by quickly, and we must start immediately.  A Stewardship Action Team has been formed to prepare for and run the campaign.  Membership is shown in Appendix B.

An overriding need is that of communications, especially within the parish.  It is essential that parishioners know and understand what is going on, and “buy in” to the concept of stewardship.

Section 5 below notes tasks which must be carried out in preparation for the campaign itself.  One person on the Stewardship Action Team should take responsibility for each of these tasks, with others (not necessarily on the Team) helping as needed.  Each of these group leaders should report on plans and progress at each meeting of the Action Team.  A suggested scheduling of these tasks is shown in Appendix A. 


5. Tasks/Projects:

a) Publicity:

  • Inserts in church bulletin
  • Epistle articles
  • Crosstalk articles
  • Article(s) for local newspapers
  • Emails, monthly
  • Website
  • Letters to congregation; pledge cards

f) Video:

  • 10 –12 minutes, presenting the parish, its people, its aims, explaining the campaign.  Work should begin immediately, since it should present church activities over the course of a year.  Present a DVD to every family visited.

 

b) Parish events:

  • Stewardship presentations/Sermons
  • Praying for our stewardship ministry
  • Dinners
  • Small group gatherings

g) Speakers

  • Speaker for a meeting of each church group
  • Speaker for parish campaign launch
 

 

c)  Christian Education

  • Putting stewardship into the heart of education programs. 
  • Putting giving up front, i.e. give first fruits rather than leftovers

h) Ministry fair

  • A table for each church group after a service; members explain the group’s purpose, hand out brochure.

 

d) Ministry guide: 

  • Includes a description of all the ministries and services in the parish, as well as a name and phone number of someone to contact for each ministry or service.  This is background material for parish visitors.

i) Parish brochure:

  • Description of the parish, its history, aims, mission.  A copy should go to every family visited.  Draws on ministry guide, narrative budget, and other materials.

 

e) Reaching out to the community:

  • Consultation/focus groups
  • Social services
  • Police
  • Seniors’ residences
… results should inform our future actions

k) Train parish visitors:

  • Our aims
  • Use of the ministry guide
  • How to contact and meet parishioners

 

 

Appendix A
Stewardship Campaign Timelines, 2007/08

 

Task

Name(s)

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

July

Aug

Sept

Oct

Nov

Dec

Jan

Feb

March

a

Jane Venus, Nicole Tomkins

Communications

b

 

Parish Events

c

 

Christian Education

d

Spruce Riordon

Prepare ministry guide

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

e

Rick Marples, Brent Francis, Geoff MacMillan

 

 

Consult with community

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

f

Todd Sandrock

Prepare video

 

 

g

Rick Marples, Terry Tomkins, Jane Venus

Meet church groups

 

 

 

Presentations

 

 

 

 

 

h

Beryl Sheridan, Marg Hartley, Brent Francis

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fair

 

 

 

 

 

 

i

Marlene Grant, David O’Connor, Ray Armstrong

 

 

 

Prepare brochure, visitor materials

 

 

 

 

 

j

Phil Whittal

 

 

 

 

 

 

Recruit

 

 

 

 

 

k

Victor Wehrle

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Train visitors

 

 

a, b

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blitz

 

 

 

Spruce, Terry

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Campaign