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The Stewardship Academy

This systematic approach to stewardship is a thorough training in leading churches in healthy and Biblical approaches to the use of money and finances by two gifted, insightful, and nationally recognized and experienced leaders.  This transforming process includes a broad range of information, ideas, resources, and models of stewardship, with participants getting assignments to work on between sessions to enhance and reinforce learnings as applied to their current ministry setting.  Listed is the content of the exciting and practical topics covered in the 3 dynamic sessions of the Stewardship Academy.

SESSION ONE
“Thinking Theologically About Stewardship”
“Stewardship in the United Methodist Tradition”
“Demographic and Cultural Characteristics”
“The Church and the Economy”
"The Church and the Scarcity/Abundance Paradox"
“Repenting of Your Greatest Stewardship Sins”
“Leadership for the Stewardship Ministry”
“Growing Giving in the Local Church”
“Organizing for Commitment”

SESSION TWO
“Essential Elements of Successful Commitment Campaigns”
“Year-Round Stewardship Ministries”
“The Second Pocket Approach to Giving”
“The Congregation as Steward”
“Designing and Implementing a Planned Giving Ministry”
“The A-B-C’s of Giving”
“Planning Your 2005 Commitment Campaign”

SESSION THREE
“Developing Your Theology of Funding”
“Troubleshooting and Intervention”
“The Communication System”
“Implementing Change and Leadership Development”
“Creating the Climate for Commitment”
“Establishing Congregational Funding Goals”
“The Financially Healthy Congregation”
“Stewardship Mega-Trends”
“Stewardship Potpourri”

LEADERS

Both of the leaders of the Stewardship Academy are nationally recognized and experienced seminar leaders gifted in the areas of stewardship and finance.  Both are members of the staff of the Foundation of the West Michigan Conference of the United Methodist Church, as well as clergy members of the West Michigan Annual Conference.

Rev. Dr. Wayne Barrett is President and Executive Director of the United Methodist Foundation of the West Michigan Conference.  He has served over 500 congregations across the United States in planned giving, capital funding, and stewardship development.  With certification in financial planning and planned giving, Dr. Barrett has also done graduate study in accounting, finance, and taxation.  A prolific author, he has written three best-selling stewardship books, the most recent is Get Well !  Stay Well ! Prescriptions For a Financially Healthy Congregation published by Discipleship Resources.  Since 1987, he has also served as editor of Clergy Finance Letter.  He is also a much in demand lecturer and seminar leader in more than 40 states and provinces in the United States and Canada.

Rev. Denny Buwalda is a former District Superintendent and currently Vice-President of Development of the United Methodist Foundation of the West Michigan Conference.  He is also Director of New Church Development in the West Michigan Conference.  He is a widely traveled and sought seminar leader, consultant, and speaker across the United States, addressing issues and models of new church development and congregational funding and stewardship.  He has been a regular presenter in the School of Congregational Development for the United Methodist Church, as well as in many annual conferences.

DATES AND PLACES

This set of seminars will be held on the following dates and locations.  Click on a location for further information.
Registrants are expected to attend all three sessions.

IOWA Stewardship Academy, Des Moines, Iowa (Adventureland Inn):  Session One - March 9-10, 2007/Session Two - October 12-13, 2007/Session Three - April 4-5, 2008

If your church or conference would be interested in hosting or sponsoring this set of seminars, please click on the "Sponsor Info" button or text link for information.

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