Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church: A Guide for Every Member [Hardcover]

Kennon L. Callahan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 15, 1997

This complete guide to giving and stewardship sheds new light on solid financial resources, one of the 12 keys to building an effective church. Here is a practical plan for the growth and development of giving and stewardship in your congregation, complete with action worksheets that advance the progress of the plan over four years.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

How to put a church on solid financial footing--a motivational and informational account of Callahan's twelfth key that asserts money is not the first issue of stewardship. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

"Two things are true of congregations," writes Kennon Callahan. "Congregations never have enough money. Congregations have all the money they really need for God's mission." With these paradoxical statements, Callahan launches his exploration of Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church. Drawing on four decades of consulting experience with churches of all denominations, the author of Twelve Keys to an Effective Church provides readers with a motivational and informational account of his twelfth key—how to put a church on solid financial footing. Callahan stresses that money is not the first issue of stewardship. Before a church can be successful in fund-raising, it needs a clear sense of mission in the local community. "Money follows mission, not the reverse," he writes. "This is a shorthand way of saying that the stronger the congregation's relational [person-centered] characteristics, the easier it is to raise money. The stronger the congregation's mission, visitation [in the community], worship, [significant relational] groupings, leadership, and [participatory] decision making, the stronger the giving." Giving, he says, increases in direct proportion to the strength of the mission. "When you grow the mission, the money will come—and it will be sufficient for the mission." This comprehensive and pragmatic guide to giving and stewardship examines the six sources of giving available to a congregation:

• spontaneous giving
• major community worship giving
• special planned giving
• short-term giving
• annual giving
• Anduring giving

And it explores the five major motivational resources that help people give generously:

• compassion
• community
• challenge
• reasonability
• commitment

Callahan also shares practical suggestions and wisdom for appl

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass (August 15, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078793867X
• ISBN-13: 978-0787938673
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #236,901 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Kennon L. Callahan, B.A., M.Div., S.T.M., Ph.D. : researcher, professor, and pastor : is one of today's most sought-after church consultants and speakers. Author of many books, he is best known for his groundbreaking Twelve Keys to an Effective Church, which has formed the basis for the widely acclaimed Mission Growth Movement.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A very personal perspective on stewardship, May 15, 2002

By 

Andrew Edwin Jenkins (Birmingham, AL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church: A Guide for Every Member (Hardcover)

The book looked a bit simplistic at first-- short, straight-forward outline... I thought I'd probably read through, mark if off the list of things I've been referred to read, then never look at the book again.

What a surprise!

Callahan walks you through several principles about giving-- and how these principles, when enacted, help reach the potential God places in each follower of Christ through His Spirit. He speaks of people wanting to give to winning causes, and how the fact that we speak the vision in a positive (or needy) way changes people's perspective and willingness to give. He speaks of "the ask" and of other great concepts, many of which have much to do with leadership in other areas besides the finances of the Church.

I'm impressed by the practicality of this work, as well. And, of how Callahan offers useable space in the actual text for you to jot your ideas, thoughts, and how you might implement some of these principles.

Also, if you've ever wondered if "special offerings" willl detract from "general funds" (i.e. "Will people give to this and forget about that...?"), KC addresses that, in depth, as well.

A great book. You can read it in a few hours, but it will take much longer to digest-- even though it can be implemented immediately!

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Straight Talk on Stewardship, May 5, 2000

By 

Brian J. Hayes (Pasadena, California) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church: A Guide for Every Member (Hardcover)

Far too often, "stewardship" in church parlance means "money". In this book, Kennon Callahan explains in simple terms that individual generosity comes from inspired corporate stewardship. Churches with compelling missions of social action engage their members' hearts, and their pocketbooks follow. Callahan's book reminds sincere church members that stewardship isn't a financial decision but a spiritual decision. All priests, pastors and lay leader who want their parishes to grow should read this book.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Giving and Stewardship, July 10, 2005

By 

Linda D. Johnston "Librarian, Church Volunteer" (Woodburn, OR USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church: A Guide for Every Member (Hardcover)

I found this book to have just the information I was seeking. I serve on our church's Fundraising Task Force. We needed information that made sense and guided us through the minefield of improving stewardship and giving to support the day-to-day activities in our church. I have used other Callahan books and found this one to be very useful in our work. It refocused our efforts toward taking care of our givers to improve our giving and stewardship. Great book that is very easy to read, understand, which makes our task of fundraising more congregation and community based.