Generosity Abounds! Stewardship Education Program
The UMFWO is pleased to offer a unique stewardship education resource called Generosity Abounds! This stewardship education toolkit was developed with available content from across the Connection and helps churches approach their stewardship as a holistic process for creating a culture of generosity within the church that ultimately:
- Increases congregational engagement;
- Increases revenue;
- Strengthens commitment to faith and faithful living;
- Focuses church ministry and mission programming.
The toolkit is comprised of 3 phases. Congregations will have the option to complete the three phases in one of the following ways: on their own using our free curated resources; or with the help of consultants; or a combination of both DIY and guided options.
Phase I: Strategic Discernment
During Phase I your church undertakes a discernment period in which it reviews or develops:
- Church Mission, Vision, and Values statements – review, refresh or renew these statements.
- Church Story: intentional process of developing your church’s story including past history, current programs, and future plans.
- Mission Giving Goals: identify the missions your church wants to focus on.
- Intentional Discipleship System: ensure that your church has a pathway of discipleship for everyone in the congregation and promotes and supports this process as a primary activity. We recommend that all congregations complete the Intentional Discipleship course and resources from UMC Discipleship Ministries called See all the People.
Phase II: Stewardship Standards Assessment Process
Phase II is an assessment period in which the church assesses their current stewardship program against best practices and identifies ways to take the next step up in adoption of recommended stewardship standards.
Phase III: Generosity Annual Plan
In this phase your church builds a Generosity Annual Plan based on the work done in Phases I and II; and deploys the right team to lead implementation of that plan. This process should include:
- Training of the lead team on the plan
- Establishing a timetable for implementation
- Expectations for oversight/accountability
FAQs
Because we understand that every church is different and will approach the program with varying levels of experience, the length of the process will vary. For example, some churches have already completed the processes we recommend in Phase I and may skip that phase. Others may need to complete Phase I, but because of challenges convening a group of volunteers, may move more slowly, taking several months to complete each subsequent phase.
Because we understand that every church is different and will approach the program with varying levels of experience, the length of the process will vary. For example, some churches have already completed the processes we recommend in Phase I and may skip that phase. Others may need to complete Phase I, but because of challenges convening a group of volunteers, may move more slowly, taking several months to complete each subsequent phase.
Ideally each church should convene a small, diverse group of church leaders along with a few people who are new to the church or who are not in leadership but have influence. A group of 7-10 people is a good size for most churches. For a very small church, 5 people will be sufficient.
If your church is starting something new, desiring to grow but feeling stuck, dealing with a loss of revenue and engagement, or looking for a clear path forward, then completing this program now will assist your church for many years to come.
Sign Up for Consultation
We can speak to your congregation about:
- Hearing more about Generosity Abounds!
- Learning more about stewardship courses and resources.
- Questions about the Generosity Summit.
2025 UMFWO Stewardship Education Opportunities for West Ohio Clergy
- Generosity Summit 2025
- Saving Grace Clergy Edition led by Rev. Anna Guillozet
Links
Stewardship Websites and Forums
Lewis Center for Church Leadership:
www.Churchleadership.com/tag/giving
Giving 365 – Your Ministry Resource Library:
www.giving365.Horizons.net
Resource UMC:
www.Resourceumc.org has periodic stories on giving/generosity or go to https://www.resourceumc.org/en/content/resources-for-starting-a-stewardship-campaign
Discipleship Ministries:
https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/
Other Unique Resources
Want a ready-made suite of graphics for your campaign? www.Saltproject.org Look for the Together For Joy suite
Need a prayer about stewardship? https://edow.org/congregational-resources/stewardship/annual-giving-toolkit/prayers-for-stewardship/
Want to illustrate the impact of your church to your congregation?
Consider a budget that is more than just numbers – use a narrative budget. Here is a beautiful example. Visit Building a Narrative Budget on the Center for Faith and Giving webpage.