St. Paul Lutheran Church
Wheaton, Illinois
Stewardship Policy
The Stewardship Policy of St. Paul Lutheran Church is to encourage the regular contribution of resources: financial, time, and talents, in response to God’s love. The following declaration of policy is based on the current Lutheran Church in America’s adopted statement of commercialism which is:
“Commercialism, the selling of goods or services in the name of the church, with the purpose of securing funds for the operation and mission of the church, its auxiliaries and church-related institutions, vitiates the clear relationship between the giving of the Christian and the mission of the church. It fails to bear testimony to the mission of the church and creates a false image of the church.”
“Commercialism further weakens the life of the church and a true sense of stewardship for the following reasons:
It involves the church in other than its true business of giving-giving the gospel.
It is used instead of giving. The church languishes and suffers from a lack of support, due to an improper understanding of and commitment to giving by its members.
Buying from the church often suggests supporting the church. This leads to a false sense of security which satisfies the consciences of people not vitally related to the church.”
Therefore,
Be it resolved that the preferred means of securing funds for the activities sponsored by St. Paul Lutheran Church and its organizations is through funds supported by budgets approved by the congregation and supported by the weekly, monthly, and annual envelope contributions and other authorized direct offerings, except for the following:
A free-will offering may be received whenever there are no significant costs or fees to the sponsoring organization.
A suggested donation or free-will offering may be received whenever there are substantial costs or fees to the sponsoring organization over which it has control.
A suggested donation, free-will offering, or fee may be received whenever there are definite costs or fees to the sponsoring organization over which it has no control.
Only in exceptional situations, and with the express, prior approval of the Church Council, may funds be received by the selling of goods or services where the funds are to ultimately be used for specific religious, educational or service activities.
In all instances, the responsibility for approval shall rest in the elected council of St. Paul Lutheran Church.
The above stated Policy on Stewardship recognizes that the reasons sometimes given for commercialism may include motives and practices that are desirable and should be encouraged.
“The motives include fellowship or participation – the wish to be involved, to work with others in a common task; and service – a desire to feel needed and worthwhile, to have the opportunity to help.
Stewardship principles indicate the genuine need for fellowship, participation and service. Congregational organizations need to evaluate the opportunities for fellowship and service they provide and look for creative ways to improve these experiences.
Other steps that organizations can take include:
Studying the opportunities for using the time and talents of people in service projects that require little or no funding to perform but may at the same time meet the needs of the people giving the service and of these receiving the service.
Working towards building a positive attitude towards new opportunities for service that may emerge.
Systematically trying to increase giving so that money is available to cover the costs of service projects.
Finding meaningful ways to affirm the worth of individuals and their talents in terms other than dollars.”
The above steps are ones that should be encouraged for all organizations at St. Paul.
(Approved by Church Council 7/7/86)