I have subscribed to a very helpful publication for many years. It’s called The Clergy Journal. It was edited for a long time by the late Lutheran Pastor Manfred Holck, a resident of Austin.
Is it just a coincidence that the most recent issue is titled “STEWARDSHIP” as we are in the midst of our “Imagine Generosity and Ministry Beyond Belief” emphasis?
In the lead article by Richard Klopp and William Enright, they write:
“American congregations are being stretched in new ways by an economic recession, the depth and length of which is impossible to predict. Clergy are being called upon to think out loud and reflect theologically on issues of money and financial security as they help congregants grapple with the relationship between faith and finances in a world numbed by institutionalized consumerism.
As difficult as these times can be, there is an opportunity here for those who would seize it — the opportunity to make conversation, preaching, and teaching about the faithful use of money and possessions a hallmark of their ministries. Congregations can benefit greatly from ascertaining where they stand, learning all they can about what others are experiencing, developing congregational coping mechanisms, and continuing to reach out to those in need. They can do all this while inviting members to ‘live the vision’ that binds them together as God’s people. Clergy can and should courageously face these issues with their members.”
God’s Word, the Bible, is filled with encouragement for us all as God’s people. Today, I am reading from St. Paul’s first letter to Timothy (6:18-19): “Do good, be rich in good works, generous, and ready to share, thus storing up for yourselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that you may take hold of the life that really is life.”
MAY GOD BLESS YOUR FAITHFUL EFFORTS!
— Pastor David Fetter
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