FAQ: The Deacon and Stewardship

What is the role of the deacon in the area of stewardship?

"Inspiring Faithful Stewardship" is a key part of the deacon's charge. Stewardship has to do with the special steward/manager relationship we have with God - the master Creator. It has to do with the use, care and giving of all the gifts that God has entrusted to us: our time, our talents (skill/abilities), our treasures (money/material wealth) and our trees (creation/environment).

Diaconal Ministries Canada (DMC) collaborates with Christian Stewardship Services (CSS) and with the Canadian Ministries Office - CRCNA. This collaborative network defines stewardship as a "journey in which congregations and individuals joyfully and obediently manage the talents, treasures, time and other resources that God has given them to be Christ's presence in our neighbourhoods and communities around the world."

How does a diaconate prepare an offering schedule?

Planning an offering schedule is a serious exercise intended to help those who come on Sunday to celebrate and worship their Lord in the cheerful presentation of their offerings. The offering schedule needs to reflect the vision and direction of the congregation in its ministry.

Some do’s…
• Each offering should have a purpose
• Each offering should be based on need
• Each offering cause should be carefully researched and selected

…and Don'ts
• Do not repeat last year’s offering schedule
• Do not base offerings on tradition
• Do not plan offerings for miscellaneous causes

What does a diaconate do with the many, varied requests for financial support?

The deacons ought to obtain additional information if the request comes from a ministry/organization with a focus that seems to align with the congregation’s ministry priorities. The mission statement, description of ministry, financial statements and number of people assisted each year ought to be requested.

Here are some guidelines:

It must be a registered charity.
It should be a Canadian charity.
It should be approved by the denomination or classis. (This is helpful; however, some wonderful causes may be passed over in the process.)
Local/regional causes may have higher priority.
If a cause is not on the recommended denominational list, ask for an audited statement. This will automatically remove some requests. Another important consideration is to become informed about how much of the money received actually goes into the ministry.
Only consider causes that include an actual request for funds, not those that simply send information or brochures about their ministry.
Rotate causes, especially non-approved causes. Once on the list, these causes do not have to remain there forever. Circumstances for these ministries may also change.
Establish percentage guidelines (e.g. what percentage will go to approved, non-approved, local, non-local, etc. causes).
Have an offering from time to time for the local benevolent funds (deacons' fund: the needs within the church). From time to time, smaller donations from this fund can support ministries which respond to needs.
In selecting causes, deacons may decide on a specific area of ministry each year such as illiteracy, hunger, the handicapped, Christian literature/Bibles, or ministries to children, and select a mixture of causes in that area, perhaps at the local, regional, national and international levels. In this way, your congregation can become more informed about various opportunities of ministry related to a specific need.

How do deacons assist the church to “excel in this grace of giving” (II Corinthians 8:7)?

Assist the congregation to discover the “overflowing joy” of giving as did the people of 2 Corinthians 8 & 9. These chapters offer the following biblical principles about giving. Giving is to be:

regular (on the first day of the week)
first fruits (not leftovers)
proportional (as we have been blessed)
cheerful (without compulsion)
generous (expecting a blessing)
sacrificial (beyond expectation)

Giving financially is only a part of our stewardship before God. The offering of time and talents is a significant part of our gratitude for God's grace. To nurture this gratitude, deacons need to encourage an ongoing commitment to faithful stewardship. Then the joy of giving will be (re) discovered!

Stewardship education for individuals and the church is available through the competent and dedicated staff of Christian Stewardship Services and the printed resources from Faith Alive Christian Resources. (1-800-333-8300)

If applicable, how do deacons face the problem of members who do not support the church financially as they ought to do so?

This responsibility should be shared between elders and deacons. They need to work together on such challenges. Those making a visit should keep several things in mind:

Visitors should assume that the family or member they are visiting is committed to Christ and his church. A change in giving patterns does not necessarily imply spiritual problems (the family business may be on the verge of bankruptcy, for example). The visitors must approach the visit with a spirit of inquiry, not a spirit of judgment.
Visitors should also go in the spirit of helpfulness. The purpose of all visits, whether about financial or other responsibilities, is to build up the church member, and to help him or her grow in commitment to Jesus Christ. The visitor should try to help the member or family resolve whatever stands in the way of shouldering responsibility for the church ministries – be it financial difficulties, anger at the church, or sheer indifference to responsibilities.
All guidelines that apply for any visit to a church member should be followed. Visitors should ask if they are able to come, set a definite time, and stick to that schedule. They should agree beforehand on the purpose of their visit and not get distracted by small talk. Visitors should listen well, not avoiding sensitive issues but remembering that their role, at this point, is to understand the members.
Each church member also needs to experience the “joy” of giving.

A good approach is to ask the member what the church could do differently to help him or her be more willing to contribute more generously. Whatever the outcome, it is important that there is follow-up. If the member’s giving pattern improves, that should be recognized with a phone call or another visit. Take time to praise and offer thanks. If the giving pattern is appropriate, given the circumstances, the deacons should follow up to show their concern about the member’s financial needs. If it was believed that the member could and should be giving more but the pattern does not change, that may prompt the need for another visit.

As other parts of the deacon’s role, this activity should be accompanied at all times with prayer so that the Lord may use it to build up the member, the church body, and God’s kingdom.

How may the diaconate be involved in tuition assistance for Christian school attendance?

Each diaconate is charged to "gather in the gifts which God's people willingly give, and distribute according to need...to the families." It is important to respond to each needy situation according to its own circumstances. Policies can be too confining while guidelines can be more effective. Each diaconate should have guidelines on tuition assistance. Some of the following may be helpful:

The family is responsible for the application of assistance at the school and at the church (including an annual review).
The diaconate is not responsible for ensuring that the school meets tuition needs.
The school board should not deal directly with the deacons.
The deacons should be involved with families having a general financial need, part of which may be due to tuition.
Deacons should issue diaconal assistance directly to the family and not through the church. The church treasurer should handle distribution of general school offerings.

What are “ministry shares”?

Ministry shares – formerly known as quotas – are the financial contributions each adult member of the Christian Reformed Church is asked to make toward the shared ministries of our church. Churches have recognized that some of the ministries to which Christ calls us can best be implemented when we work together to gather the resources. The phrase "ministry shares" reflects the purposes for which these funds are used. The money is gathered by congregations through ministry-share offerings and remitted to the denomination.

This process allows our denomination to support a wide range of ministry programs.

The 'Ministry Shares' web site of the Christian Reformed Church is helpful. It includes links to:

videos
powerpoint presentation
allocations and
denominational agencies