Yesterday’s teleconference on stewardship with Bob Hunter, Director of Stewardship at Second Presbyterian Church Indianapolis, contained some real gems.

One of the best was his using the metaphor of oxygen for money in the life of the church. “I think about the church as an organism. Money is the oxygen that is necessary to metabolism.” He said that money, like oxygen, is unstable, potentially corrosive, and very explosive — and yet essential.

Hunter suggested that it is most important for pastors to articulate a vision of what they are wanting to accomplish, to make a compelling case for support that grows out of the vision of this congregation — not the pastor’s dream or the treasurer’s pet project, but a broadly held vision. We have to answer the question people are asking: “why should I give to you?”

In challenging times, he pointed out that it’s important, as Ed Friedman always said, to “first focus on your own functioning.” When anxiety increases, we tend to automatically focus on the functioning of others, saying “I wish those people would do more.” Instead, we can ask ourselves, “How am I going to manage the anxiety that is inevitably going to affect me?”

The recording of the teleconference is available. E-mail me at Margaret@margaretmarcuson.com, and I’ll send you the link.

Join me this Thursday, February 25, at 9 Pacific/10 Mountain/11 Central/noon Eastern Time for a one hour conference call conversation with Bob Hunter on the topic, “How Do You Get Clear about Stewardship?”

Robert L. Hunter is Director of Stewardship, Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis, IN. Bob has developed a year-round program of giving as well as a major capital campaign and special mission gifts at Second Church. He was a long-time student of Edwin Friedman. E-mail me at Margaret@margaretmarcuson.com with your interest, and I’ll send you call-in information. If you can’t make the call, a recording will be available.

This is the next of a series of conversations with leaders on money and ministry, the topic of my forthcoming book. If you can’t make the call, a recording will be available. There is no charge for the teleconference or the recording.

What do you think about financial stewardship? While there are a host of resources for churches on developing their giving, it’s important to clarify your own thinking. The clearer you are yourself, the easier it will be for you to offer others a challenge to give.

Here are some questions to ask yourself. Don’t ask them of others until you’ve done some thinking for yourself:

1. Why do you give? For most of us, there is a variety of reasons: our values, our upbringing, our position of leadership, a sense of obligation, love. See if you can untangle some of these threads for yourself.

2. Why do you give the amount you give? Do you tithe? Why? Do you and your spouse or partner agree on these matters, and how do you make the decisions you do?

3. Why do you give where you give? Do you give most of your tithe or other charitable giving to the church, or do you divide it up? Why? How do you respond to those phone calls? Do you give to everyone who comes along, or not? Why?

4. What did you learn about giving from your family of origin? I can remember getting a dollar allowance and being expected to give a dime. As a young adult, the first time I chose not to tithe it made me very anxious-I was breaking the family rules. Over time, I had to figure out what I myself thought about those rules.

As you clarify your own thinking, consider how you want to share it with the congregation. It can help others if you acknowledge the complexity of these matters, and that you struggle, too. Stand side-by-side with people rather than pointing a finger at them.

Asking these questions will help you get some distance from the understandable anxiety about next year’s budget. Some churches are in the middle of budgeting now, others go through the process in the fall. But there’s no bad time to ask yourself questions that will lead to greater clarity about stewardship. Step back from your own anxiety about staffing, your salary and the rocky economy. Figure out what you think. Then, think about what you want to say to the church about what you think.

Finally, consider how you can frame your thoughts on financial stewardship in a way that will help others with their thinking, rather than trying to cajole or coax them into thinking and behaving in the way you would like. Growing mature givers (including ourselves) takes time.

My husband, Karl, and I were married on February 16, 1980. I’m so grateful for his presence in my life all these years. He’s still my biggest fan. We have plenty to talk about: we still read books in the same room and say, “Listen to this!” He always likes what I cook, and he makes dinner when I don’t want to. He watches chick flicks with me and often even likes them. I am truly blessed.

Recently a couple of colleagues recommended Jim and Casper Go to Church.. One of the co-authors, Jim Henderson, recruited Matt Casper, an atheist, to attend churches all over America with him. They hit some high-profile evangelical churches like Saddleback, Willow Creek, and Joel Osteen’s church, as well as smaller places like the Bridge and Imago Dei in my own city of Portland, OR and a house church in San Diego. It’s fascinating to get Casper’s take on his experiences. He asks, “If Jesus is everywhere, and everyone here is following him, what do you think this enlightened, impassioned and above all, humble carpenter from Galilee would say about Plexiglas dunking tanks, millionaire pastors, camera cranes, and music coming straight outta Branson? Is this what Jesus had in mind for church?”

Jim’s comments are just as enlightening. At one point he comments on something he had noticed among pastors, especially pastors of larger churches: “Sometimes it seems as if the same gift that enables people to become professional orators (a.k.a. pastors/teachers) often disables them from connecting on a personal level.” Hmmm. They both notice how rarely they are approached by someone who is not a designated official greeter.

A quick read, and well worth it.

Great post here from Israel Galindo on his new blog, Perspectives on Congregational Leadership.

I’m experimenting with Twitter this year. I’m posting tips about churches and money (if you’re reading this blog in Facebook, you’re already getting the tips). My Twitter name is Marcuson. If you’re on Twitter, I’d love to have you follow me.

Also, Anthony Coppedge has an interesting blog about churches and technology, as well as an e-book, “The Reason Your Church Must Twitter.”