Money, Faith and Lifestyle – serie

Asking parishioners for money is very different from creating congregations of generous people. In this provocative book, stewardship consultant Michael Durall argues convincingly that annual pledge drives inadvertently perpetuate low-level and same-level giving in congregations. Written with the voice of experience, this book will help clergy and lay leaders initiate and sustain effective stewardship programs. Durall believes that asking for money eventually becomes routine, even tedious-but creating a congregation of generous people becomes ever more meaningful with passing time.

A constructive theology and ethics of money in the Christian life, this series addition is by James Hudnut-Beumler, dean and associate professor of religion and culture at Columbia Theological Seminary, and deals with vital questions. "What does the Lord require? what is the true meaning of the term ''commonwealth?'' and how does the church build a stable base for its members to live ethical lives?" A positive approach to forming the basis for new thought and discussion.

More than Money is a wondrous journey to 11 congregations across the United States that have been transformed by living out stewardship that is more than fundraising. Important factors emerge from the lively descriptions and records of dialogue between McNamara and the pastors and lay leaders he visited: The pastor''s leadership is a linchpin of stewardship endeavor; they are willing to talk directly with their members about money. The churches take seriously a biblical and theological vision of their mission and are willing to be counter cultural in reaching toward that vision. In these churches, membership is viewed as carrying a high level of meaning and responsibility.