Thu
Oct 1
2009
Mitch McCartney
Director of Communications & Development
Nebraska Synod, ELCA
Back in the day when I served on a church council, I remember the tough discussions we would have around this time of year.
Few things would cause more anxiety than conversation about where the congregation would spend money in its upcoming budget. Our church was typical: we had building expenses that had to be covered, staff obligations that had to be met, requests to fund ministries within our doors that various individuals supported.
There was always this feeling that “there was only so much to go around.” (As if we hadn’t read about feeding of the 5,000 lately.) So when it came to the end the process, there would always be a discussion about whether we could fund mission share to the larger Church at the level we did the year before.
I have a confession to make. I once advocated for cutting mission share from my congregation’s annual budget. At the time, I was a strong advocate for our congregation’s youth ministry and with all of the “brick-and-mortar” items having already been funded, I was worried that every dollar that we spent in mission share, ministry outside of our church doors, would mean one less dollar we would spend on ministry between our church doors.
I was unsuccessful, but not without some support, in making the argument to cut mission share. It’s good that I failed. I was wrong.
Make It Simple is a new ELCA stewardship resource to assist congregations in their stewardship ministry. From congregational, small group and household learning events to children and youth activities, Make It Simple provides tools to engage all age groups. A series of nine video segments add personal witness.
