Stewardship strategies to propel your community of faith through the lazy days of summer
When I was serving a pastoral charge in Saskatchewan, I joked with them that there never seemed to be a good time to do anything. In the fall, it was harvest and everyone was busy with that. In the winter the snowbirds went away, and the weather was dodgy and unpredictable for those who stayed. In the spring it was seeding time, so farmers were once again occupied. And then it was summer and everyone was on holidays!
In my stewardship work, I see a lot of teams lose momentum over the summer when it’s hard to meet. Ministers are on holidays, and well, everyone just needs a break. So here are some tips for keeping your stewardship ministry going over the summer. Get these in place before everyone scatters to the cottage, and you’ll be able to hit the ground running in the fall.
Make summer a time for gratitude
If you know our Called to be the Church: The Journey stewardship materials, you’ll know our three pillars are Inspire, Invite, and Thank.
Weirdly, we sometimes forget about intentionally thanking our donors. This summer, why not send a handwritten thank-you note to one donor each week?
You could also plan a Gratitude Sunday—make it lay-led!—using our “All in One Gratitude Sunday” service, featuring everything you need from prayers to sermon.
Review the “Donate” page on your website
Firstly, can you even find your donate page? Make sure it’s easy to find right from the homepage.
Does your donate page mostly speak to people looking to make a first or one-time donation? Remember, that’s who would likely be going to the website to donate. Your regular donors already know how to give.
PAR or envelopes should not be the first option you list. Giving through e-transfer or CanadaHelps should take priority. Claim your free CanadaHelps page, and add some photos and stories to make it especially engaging to new donors. Reach out to your Stewardship Support Staff if you need help.
Once you’ve made your donate page easy to find, ask yourself if it inspires and thanks. This can be really simple: something like, “Thank you for your donation. It is making a difference right here in our community. Your generosity makes it possible for us to offer a worship space that is safe and inclusive for all people, to combat isolation amongst seniors in our community, and to feed our neighbours through our food pantry.”
Inspire with Mission and Service Stories—and your own stories!
In the summer while worship services and newsletters are lighter, why not include the inspiring stories of how Mission and Service is transforming lives around the world? The stories range from those of local Canadian ministries to ones from our global partners. There’s something to inspire everyone!
While you’re at it, consider writing your own versions to speak to the impact your community of faith has made. Show photos and get quotes from those involved. Tell people how their offerings are transformed into God’s love.
You can tell a story before the offering is received, share it in your newsletter, or post to social media. Get your Mission and Service stories here.
Take advantage of our “Bequest and Estate Giving” course
Many congregations are taking advantage of our CHURCHx course, which digs deep into legacy giving and how to set up a program at your church. A “live” online version of the course is in the works for the fall, but you don’t have to wait. You and your leadership can work through the materials at your own pace today by registering online. The course pairs well with a patio and lemonade.
Make plans now for the fall
Rather than saying, “Let’s meet in September to think about a stewardship campaign,” set a timeline now for your campaign and set a date for your first planning meeting in September. This way, you won’t need weeks to get organized in the fall. Dates can be changed, but having something on the calendar is a good step toward success.
Lastly, we hope you’ll tell your Stewardship Support Staff all about how you are inspiring, inviting, thanking, and growing generosity during these lazy days of summer.
—Rev. Brenna Baker is the Community of Faith Stewardship Support Staff for Horseshoe Falls, Antler River, and Western Ontario Waterways regions.
The views contained within these blogs are personal and do not necessarily reflect those of The United Church of Canada.