June 2007 – Ecumenical Stewardship Center

12Jun 2007 by Joe Tolton No Comments

From Cooperation to Competition

By Lyle E. Schaller (Abingdon Press, 2006) This book touches on issues important to how we do stewardship in today’s church, though it doesn’t specifically address stewardship in the church. Whether we established leaders or our church members like it or not, the cultural landscape has changed, and it affects how we do church and stewardship. From Cooperation to Competition asserts that we have moved from a cooperative church atmosphere to a competitive one, and it focuses on surviving this shift—a shift author Lyle Schaller believes will not be reversed. Church organization guru Schaller gives an insightful perspective on what is happening in the churches as a result of this cultural change. Schaller's most important advice centers on the different generations and how they will shape what happens in our churches.…

12Jun 2007 by Joe Tolton No Comments

The Multigenerational Congregation

Congregations, Leadership, Resource Review

by Gil Rendle (Alban Institute, 2002) This book touches on issues important to how we do stewardship in today’s church, though it doesn’t specifically address stewardship in the church. Whether we established leaders or our church members like it or not, the cultural landscape has changed, and it affects how we do church and stewardship. Rendle’s book, The Multigenerational Congregation, focuses on this generational division and speaks to how a multigenerational membership is possible in a church. Rendle takes conflict between the generations as a given and helps leaders manage it. His introduction gives us a graphic picture of the generational battle: Say, for example, you are responsible for training and supervising the acolytes at your church. The older members pull you aside to point out that the teenagers who…

12Jun 2007 by Joe Tolton No Comments

Justice in a Global Economy: Strategies for Home, Community, and World

Resource Review, Stewardship

Pamela K. Brubaker, Rebecca Todd, Peters, and Laura A. Stivers, editors (Westminster John Knox Press, 2006) Review by David F. Johnson, retired associate for stewardship resources for the Presbyterian Church (U S.A.) Globalization has a great effect on the economic world in general, but also on things that affect one’s daily life. Globalization should not be ignored by the Christian community. Justice in a Global Economy gives us, as stewards of God’s world, insights for how individuals and churches can understand and respond to this growing phenomenon. The book contains essays from experts who address globalization from the perspective of the household, the community, and the public policy arena. The essays address effects of globalization on the economy, employment, community, and the environment. There is information about what is being…