Christian Stewardship
Training for Treasurers
Training is available for small groups of treasurers as required and is co-ordinated at a Deanery level. Evening 'workshops' can be arranged either at the diocesan office or in the parishes.
Individual support is always available by telephone or email.
For further advice please contact Mrs Mary Makin on 023 9289 9655 or email
Christian Stewardship Resources
A good Christian stewardship programme requires the establishment of a clear vision. The Mission Resources Adviser is able to offer advice and guidance to parishes to prepare and run Christian stewardship programmes tailored to a parish's needs. These include, Vision Days, Pass IT on, Giving in Grace, TRIO, Get Going on Giving, etc.
For further advice please contact Revd Dr Dennis Lloyd, 023 9289 9676 or email
Some thoughts on Christian Stewardship - at the foot of this page you will find links to further information which may be of help to both individuals and parishes. You can also find links a wide range of Christian Stewardship pages on the web by clicking here
What is Christian Stewardship? In recent years the concept of Christian Stewardship has changed considerably to become a much richer exploration of our Christian values, belief and lifestyle. A steward is someone who is entrusted with the care of another’s possessions – and so Christian Stewardship is the response which the Church and men and women are called to make to God for all he has given us and done for us above all in Jesus Christ. The Stewardship of the world’s resources today is becoming of increasing importance as we realise how much we have wasted, particularly in the last couple of centuries. We cannot get away from the fact that Christian Stewardship is the stewardship of all God’s resources, of which money is but a representative part.
But it is not just about money. When we receive a gift we like to say “thank you”, and that is what we should be saying to God, not just in money, but using our time and talents as well.
One of the questions often asked is “how much should I give my church?” In his 2nd letter to the Corinthians St Paul tells them “God loves cheerful givers.”
Sir Moses Montefiore, a great figure of Victorian Britain, during a long life was at various times Sheriff of the City of London, an international spokesman in defence and human rights, and a philanthropist. On one occasion he was asked how much he was worth. He thought for a moment, and then named a figure. But surely, said the questioner, your wealth must be more than that?
With a smile he replied: “You did not ask me how much I owned. You asked me how much I am worth. So I calculated how much I have given to charity thus far this year – because we are worth what we are willing to share with others”. He went on to say “the more I share, the more I have…. That is why communities, neighbourhood groups and voluntary organisations are vital to the health of society….Active citizenship begins with the insight that we are worth what we are willing to share with others.”
It has been said that the Church of England is very wealthy, but the trouble is all the wealth is in the pockets of its members. These days we all have many calls on our incomes, and for some reason there always seems to be a reluctance within the Church of England to talk about money. And yet, it is mentioned more in the bible than love or prayer.
In St. Paul’s second letter to the Corinthians he tells us of the generosity of the Macedonians who, whilst poor, had raised and sent substantial funds to their fellow Christians who were even poorer. Today, in Portsmouth Diocese, we operate a “Fairer Shares” scheme to fund the Church in South East Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, whereby the wealthier parishes pay more per capita than the poorer ones.
The old testament teaches us to tithe (give 10%) our income to the church, and in 1980 the General Synod recommended that we all try to give 5% of our net income to and through the Church. How many of us think of giving in proportion to our income?
St. Paul encourages us to put aside a sum regularly, in proportion to what we have earned, to give to the Church. And if we give in this way the Church can gain even more income by recovering the tax you have paid on your hard earned income. Gordon Brown, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has said that he wanted to “Get Britain giving”, and one of the things he did was to introduce the Gift Aid scheme.
Many years ago the Archbishops of Canterbury and York produced a short guide to the duties of Church membership, which was commended by General Synod some ten years ago as a guide, rather than a requirement, for new and existing members of the church. This is what it said:-
All baptised and confirmed members of the Church must play their full part in its life and witness. That you may fulfil this duty we call upon you:
To follow the example of Christ in home and daily life and to bear personal witness to him
To be regular in private prayer day by day
To read the bible carefully
To come to church every Sunday
To receive the Holy Communion faithfully and regularly
To give personal service to church, neighbours and community
To uphold the standard of marriage entrusted by Christ to his Church
To care that children are brought up to love and serve God
To give money for the work of the parish and diocese and for the work of the Church at home and overseas.
How are you going to say “Thank you” to God?
There are links from this page that may interest you.
Stewardship and Thanksgiving Sunday 2007
Christian Stewardship programmes
Leaflet - How much should I Give?
Thoughts on Christian Stewardship
A reading list for Christian Stewardship
Biblical references to God and giving
Discover your spiritual gifts - score chart
Pass it on pack Co-ordinators' notes
Link to Liverpool Diocesan scheme Worth a visit
