Stewardship Kaleidoscope Review
Nine pastors and lay people from Central/Southern Illinois Synod congregations attended the Stewardship Kaleidoscope conference in St. Louis September 24-26, supported by scholarship money from the ELCA. With keynote addresses by Diana Butler Bass and Chick Lane, and almost forty workshops to choose from, attendees were inspired by the themes of generosity and gratitude.
“The entire Kaleidoscope Conference was inspiring. The content was spiritual and practical. I found myself taking many notes as I did not want to forget anything. I know this experience will assist me in my job as stewardship chair.”
“My favorite part of Stewardship Kaleidoscope was the keynote address by Diana Butler Bass where she talked about gratitude (from her new book). The portion that I am still reflecting on is the difference between individual and corporate gratitude and how that impacts the way we look at the world, at the church, and our faith life. When we are truly grateful to God for all that God has given us then our lives in all aspects are lives of gratitude.”
Practical highlights
- It’s about telling our story from the perspective of abundance;
- Pastoral leadership and participation are needed for creating a culture of generosity;
- It’s about normalizing the conversation about giving/sharing—not just in sermons;
- Be grateful, in writing, to the congregation for their monetary gifts (not just their volunteering).