Product Overview
Everyone knows that stewardship is more than money and finances. Nevertheless, seldom do we give time to explore the profound concept of stewardship in its many dimensions, including stewardship of time, work, body, mind, spirit, community, technology, and more. Beyond the Offering Plate does just that.
Written by ten engaging pastors, seminary professors, and church leaders, this unique resource offers a diverse and holistic approach to stewardship. In ten accessible chapters, readers will learn how they can faithfully and practically discuss and engage with stewardship on a regular basis. Ideal for church leaders, seminary students, and pastors, this book includes questions for reflection and applications for life together at the end of each chapter. Copeland adds a special section with biblical references and preaching themes at the end of the book.
Featured contributors include:
- Margaret P. Aymer, Associate Professor of New Testament at Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary in Austin, Texas
- Kathleen A. Cahalan, Professor of Theology at Saint John's University School of Theology and Seminary in Collegeville, Minnesota
- MaryAnn McKibben Dana, author of Sabbath in the Suburbs
- David Gambrell, Associate for Worship in the Office of Theology and Worship of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- David P. King, Karen Lake Buttrey Director of the Lake Institute on Faith and Giving and Associate Professor of Philanthropic Studies at Indiana University in Bloomington, Indiana
- Neal D. Presa, pastor and former moderator of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
- Ellie Roscher, Director of Youth and Story Development at Bethlehem Lutheran Church Twin Cities in Minneapolis and author of How Coffee Saved My Life
- Mary Hinkle Shore, pastor of Lutheran Church of the Good Shepherd in Brevard, North Carolina
- John W. Vest, Visiting Assistant Professor of Evangelism at Union Presbyterian Seminary in Richmond, Virginia
Reviews
"A refreshing look at a more holistic approach to stewardship in daily life and congregations. This collection can stimulate thinking and conversation about the evolving role of stewardship in a changing church."--Keith A. Mundy, program director, Office of Stewardship, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
"Pastors, stewardship educators, and laypersons alike will appreciate these diverse and thoughtful essays, study questions, and sermon ideas. Prepare to dive deeply into new and rediscovered aspects of this Christian spiritual discipline."--Marcia Shetler, executive director/CEO, Ecumenical Stewardship Center
"Expanding far beyond the limits most of us put around stewardship, this book takes a whole person and whole community approach to focusing our lives around God's priorities. It is nothing less than a call to reimagine stewardship of the church for the twenty-first century and stretch our thinking about how to lead."--Jeff Thiemann, president/CEO, Portico Benefit Services, a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America
"I, like many of my clergy friends, tend to either focus all my stewardship efforts on either time/talent or treasure. Depending on the year, I tip to one side or the other. Adam Copeland's project, Beyond the Offering Plate, offers an extremely helpful corrective. Copeland, along with all the contributors, continuously holds out a much more holistic understanding of stewardship than my more programmatic approach to the church budget. I am thankful for the challenges embedded in the pages of this book, as well as the encouragement and inspiration it offers!"-- Shannon J Kershner, pastor, Fourth Presbyterian Church, Chicago
"Beyond the Offering Plate will expand your understanding of stewardship. Too often the word is used to describe only what a congregation does to get its bills paid. Stewardship is far too rich to be so limited. Thought-provoking writers and excellent discussion questions make the book especially suited for group study. I strongly recommend it to your congregation's leaders."--Charles R. Lane, pastor, Lord of Life Lutheran Church; coauthor of Embracing Stewardship; and author of Ask, Thank, Tell