Overview of Workshops
Who: All congregations are welcome to participate. Each congregation is encouraged to bring a team of 4-6 leaders, including at least one Rostered Leader from the congregation. Diversity is encouraged for each team by including mix of ages, culture, education, ethnicity and gender. It is recommended to have one person from the congregation council.
What: The common capacities to be developed by participants are:
- Equip leaders to be stronger steward leaders
- Embrace one-on-one conversations about one’s stewardship journey and tithing as a way to grow in faith
- Guide leaders in making a “relational ask” for participation in and support of God’s work
Why: The benefits for a congregation to participate in this workshop series are many:
- Strengthen discipleship and faith practices.
- Create a spirit of gratitude and generosity within the congregation’s culture.
- Build a case for supporting ministry in and beyond the local community
- Empower, equip and encourage steward leaders in your congregation
- Provide effective education and response materials for a stewardship emphasis
- Grow regular giving and mission support in your congregation
Outcomes: Through two workshops there are specific measurable outcomes:
- Completion of a pre- and post-Macedonia benchmark survey to measure changes in specific attitudes, practices and skills
- Train leaders trained to talk more comfortably about faith and money
- Train leaders in the basic skills of making an ask
- Increase the regular giving dollars and percentage to congregation
- Increase Mission Support dollars from the congregation to synod
Workshop I Pre-work
- Read How Much is Enough? Download it HERE:
- Review your Congregational Trend Report and answer the following questions:
- What positive trends do you see?
- What events caused significant changes?
- Where do you see opportunities for stewardship growth?
WORKSHOP I (Second Offering of Part 1 Workshop)
Saturday, June 18, 2012 – 9:00 AM to Noon, All Saints in Wales
Workshop I Agenda (3 hours)
- Welcome & Introductions
- Opening Devotion about Macedonians
- Opening Activity & Plenary Sharing
- Overview for Workshops I & II
- Introduction to the Macedonia Menu
- Macedonia Bible Studies
- Equipping Steward Leaders to Lead
- Competencies of a Well-formed Steward
- Building a Case for Ministry
- Learning to Talk about Money
- Plenary Sharing & Next Steps
- Closing Prayer & Sending
Workshop II Pre-Work
- Personal Stewardship
- Write your personal stewardship goal
- Make a case for giving using personal stewardship principles
- Develop your personal ministry goals
- Congregational Stewardship
- Identify ten reasons to tithe to God’s work in and through your congregation
- List congregational activities for the for the next twelve months on the initial draft of your Congregational Stewardship Ministry Plan
- Identify people in your congregation to make a Relational Ask
WORKSHOP II
Saturday, August 11, 2012 – 9:00 AM to Noon at Ascension Lutheran Church, Milwaukee
Workshop II Agenda (3 hours)
- Opening Activity
- Opening Devotion & Prayer
- Progress Reports & Plenary Debriefing
- Resources for Strengthening Your Work Plan
- Using the Macedonia Congregational Survey
- Biblical Stewardship: Our Duty and Delight by Rev. Mark Allan Powell
- Using Try-A-Tithe Sunday
- Engaging in One-on-One Conversations
- Writing a Personal Money Autobiography
- Writing a Congregational Money Autobiography
- Preparing for a Relational Ask
- Building Relationships
- Training Leaders
- Making the Ask
- Developing a Congregational Stewardship Work Plan
- Plenary Sharing & Future Macedonia Activities
- Closing Prayer & Sending
Cost: Only $25/Congregation
The cost includes take-home materials and the DVD, “Biblical Stewardship: Our Duty and Delight,” by Dr. Mark Allan Powell. Please send a check to The Greater Milwaukee Synod, Attn. Macedonia Project, 1212 S. Layton Blvd., Milwaukee, WI 53215, or make a payment on-line. If you make an on-line payment, use the category “Synod Event” and the sub-category “Macedonia Project.”
REGISTER HERE