Financial Stewardship Education in the Parish

By Fr. Paul Kucynda

When reading the New Testament, we are often surprised to discover that Jesus was concerned with man and his relationship with material possessions, and particularly with his money. One sixth of all the words of Jesus, as recorded in the Gospels, deal with the relationship of people and their material possessions. One third of all the parables are devoted to the subject. For Jesus, money and possessions and the use or misuse of them was of tremendous importance to the spiritual growth of man.

The Church Fathers of the fourth century and onward were equally concerned with man and his relationship with money. In his writings, St. John Chrysostom chastised those who have wealth and hoard it for themselves while their brothers and sisters are in need. He even went so far as to say that giving to those in need is greater than beautifying the Church building. He, too, saw money and the use or misuse of it as a tremendous challenge for believers.

In our day it is equally necessary for us to address this issue honestly. Every generation of believers must be informed as to the tremendous opportunity for good and evil found in the management of material possessions, and particularly money.

If Christian stewardship is nothing less than God's call for us to use wisely all the resources of the earth and of our life, then financial stewardship is just one of the aspects of the entire invitation. Good financial stewardship requires us to make responsible decisions about our relationship to money on a daily basis. This must be done freely and consciously as we seek to do God's work and let His will be done through our lives.

As members of the Body of Christ, we are called "friends of the Bridegroom" and "co-workers with the Lord." Because of this, the importance we give to the quality and quantity of our financial gifts, brought regularly to the Church in support of her work, is vital to spiritual growth not only of the Church as a whole, but of each of us.

In order to assist parishes in presenting Christian stewardship and particularly financial stewardship to groups of parishioners in an educational setting, the Department of Stewardship has prepared two educational programs that are now available. One is for adults and the other is for children and teens. The following is an outline for each of the programs.

TIME TABLE FOR TEN-WEEK ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM

WEEK ONE

Every participant should be given a copy of the booklet, "WHAT IS CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP?" if this has not already been done, in advance of Week One. Discuss Section 1, Introduction (pp. 1-3).

WEEK TWO

Discuss Section 2, "Of What Am I a Steward?" (pp. 4-6).

WEEK THREE

Discuss Section 3, "How Should I Give, and How Much?" (pp.6-8).

WEEK FOUR

Discuss Section 4, "Hang-ups and Cop-outs" (pp.8-13). At the conclusion of this session, every participant should be given a copy of the booklet, "WHAT IS PROPORTIONATE GIVING?"

WEEK FIVE

"WHAT IS PROPORTIONATE GIVING?" Discuss Section 1, "Introduction, Fundraising vs. Christian Stewardship, The Numbers Approach, The 'Shame-On-You' Approach, and the 'Cry Poor’ Approach'' (pp.1-5).

WEEK SIX

Discuss Section 2, "The Theology of Money, and the Motive for Giving" (pp.5-7).

WEEK SEVEN

Discuss Section 3, "Proportionate Giving and Proportionate Giving Guides" (pp.7-10). At the conclusion of this session, every participant should be given a copy of "GIVING CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE."

WEEK EIGHT

"GIVING CHILDREN THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE" Discuss the entire booklet in this session using the questions for discussion as the basis (p.5).

WEEK NINE

"LEARNING TO GIVE: THOUGHTS FOR CHILDREN ON CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP" Present this filmstrip-cassette program. Conclude the session with a discussion using the "Questions For Discussion" in the Instructor's Manual (pp.39-40).

WEEK TEN

"THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE: REFLECTIONS ON CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP" Present this filmstrip-cassette program. Conclude the session with a discussion using the "Questions For Discussion" in the Instructor's Manual (pp.22-24). You may also want to use part of this session as a "wrap-up" for the entire program.

TIME-TABLE FOR TWO WEEK CHILDREN/TEEN EDUCATION PROGRAM

WEEK ONE

"LEARNING TO GIVE: THOUGHTS FOR CHILDREN ON CHRISTIAN STEWARDSHIP" Present this filmstrip-cassette program. Conclude the session with a discussion, using "Questions For Discussion” Numbers 1-10 in the Instructor's Manual (p.39).

WEEK TWO

Discuss "Questions For Discussion" Numbers 11-20 in the Instructor's Manual (pp.39-40). For more information regarding the programs described here, the purchase of the booklets and filmstrips with cassettes, please write to:

THE DEPARTMENT OF STEWARDSHIP THE ORTHODOX CHURCH IN AMERICA
285 French Hill Road Wayne, New Jersey 07470

Fr. Paul Kucynda, pastor of the Holy Resurrection Orthodox Church in Wayne, New Jersey, is Chairman of the Section on Stewardship, Department of Stewardship and Lay Ministries.