Conference Caps Stewardship Series
Episcopal News Service. May 26, 1976 [76180]
CHICAGO, IL -- More than 100 persons enthusiastically participated in the final meeting of the stewardship series offered by the office of development/ stewardship of the Executive Council of the Episcopal Church at O'Hare Inn, Chicago, May 24-26. Representing not only the 13 dioceses of the Fifth Province, but ten additional dioceses as well, the participants learned of three differing approaches to parish and individual stewardship which have already been heard by more than 1,000 members of the Church across the nation.
True stewardship" ...is the passion for giving one's self away," said the Rev. Robert M. Cooper of Nashotah House, WI. Dr. Cooper presented the biblical basis for stewardship in an introductory address to the conference. He was joined by three experienced stewardship consultants who presented the meeting with successful stewardship models: the Rev. James L. Sanders, Selma, AL; the Rev. Canon W. Ebert Hobbs, Cleveland, OH; and Ashley Hale, Laguna Hills, CA.
The series of stewardship conferences is a two-fold response, according to Oscar C. Carr, Jr., executive for development/stewardship of the Executive Council: the 1970 General Convention had charged Mr. Carr's office with developing the human and financial resources of the Church; and there was a call from the grass roots all over the Church for assistance in developing and carrying out a continuing stewardship program in local stations.
The first provincial conference, held in Dallas in 1974, proved such a success that the programs were carried to eight other provincial locations by Mr. Carr's team. Representatives from every domestic diocese and Alaska have now been exposed to the program.
The Diocesan Stewardship Education Program, dubbed "The Alabama Plan," was introduced by Father Sanders. It is a program reminiscent of the plans utilized by professional fund raisers, and it is based on a program of personal commitment, from the rector of the parish to the man in the pew, of portionate giving. In the plan, no budget is formulated until after the canvas is completed. The vestry pledges itself to work toward giving $1 for work outside of the parish for every $1 spent within it.
Every pledging unit of the parish is personally contacted by a trained canvasser, and a systematic follow-up program is conducted over a two-year period. A paid consultant-trainer, trained in the skills needed to supervise the plan, assists in the organization, training, follow-up and evaluation of the program in the parish.
"The Diocese of Alabama Plan envisions the need," said Father Sanders, "to take the time to develop the skills to provide an effective resource for stewardship education for the parish."
The Plan demands hard work from a substantial number of people, he added. But the results have been startling. The Diocese of Alabama now has the highest per capita giving in the Episcopal Church. Individual parishes have realized from a ten percent to a forty-five percent increase in income as a direct result of using the Plan.
The Covenant Plan, as presented by Canon Hobbs, is essentially a manual of resources, offering materials for parishes without the ability to secure professional training or consultants. The manual guides the local parish in organizing and operating a five-week every member canvass, giving background information, suggested resources and a list of program options.
"Good stewardship," explained Canon Hobbs, "is a measurement of our conviction, and it is one way to help people in expressing their covenant relationship with God." Basic goals of the plan are to develop a better understanding of Christian stewardship, the developing of a deeper concern for the whole work of the Church, the encouragement for all members to make a financial commitment to the work of the Church, and to develop an active stewardship committee in every parish.
"When we decrease the support of our Church," added Canon Hobbs, "we demean the value of our ministry."
Similar to the Alabama Plan, the Congregational Development Plan features the use of a paid trained consultant. As outlined by Mr. Hale, there are seven basic principles upon which the plan depends: high resolve; uncompromised long range plans and high goals; the aim to give away more than is spent on one's self; good lay leadership; personal witness; individual stewardship counseling and pledging designed to help the individual Church member.
In this plan also, no budget is prepared prior to the canvassing of the parish. "The parish budget," said Mr. Hale, is a wishy-washy compromise between what we ought to do and what we really do -- it is the last refuge of the nominal giver."
The program offered by Mr. Hale is not what he described as "two weeks open season on giving," but rather a year-round effort by the whole parish to change the lives of Church members. "The money merely keeps score."
The plan involves individual interviews and counseling in stewardship, workshops on goal-setting and witnessing and analyzing the structure and work of the parish. The program may take as long as two or three years to implement.
According to Barclay Spence of the Diocese of Western New York, one parish of his diocese which has employed the Congregation Development Program realized an increase of 60% in pledges in one year.
Conference participants attended three specialized workshops, each one covering the details and the implementation of the three stewardship programs.
Reactions to the two-day conference were highly favorable. According to one participant from an urban inner-city parish, "...this is the kind of thing I can take to our people with confidence."
A clergyman from Western Michigan said it was the most enlightening conference he had ever attended.
A layman from the Diocese of Springfield said he hoped that the program could be brought to the diocesan level.
All three of the main speakers emphasized one point about the plans which were presented: when a plan is selected by a diocese or a parish, the whole plan must be followed, each step and every phase must be followed.
Assisting Mr. Carr in conducting the workshop were members of the Church Center staff in New York City: the Rev. Richard Anderson, assistant for development/stewardship and Miss Catherine Morphet, Mr. Carr's administrative assistant.
The Rt. Rev. Albert W. Hillestad, president of the Fifth Province, welcomed the conferees, and the conference Eucharist was celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Quintin E. Primo, Bishop Suffragan of Chicago.