Stewardship workshop focuses on ‘whys’ behind giving

Ken Sloane teaches on intentional discipleship. Photo by Matt Brodie.

By Allison Trussell

GREENVILLE—South Carolina United Methodists got the chance to learn more about why stewardship is important at Annual Conference.

Ken Sloane, director of stewardship and generosity at Discipleship Ministries, led a stewardship workshop during the lunch break June 9 and 10.

“Intentional discipleship should build generosity,” Sloane said, noting the Great Commission is the last word from our chief operating officer. It is on us to fulfill it.

“We are called to be fishers of men, not keepers of the aquarium.”

For many years, the church has focused on membership numbers. Sloane believes that has worked against the church. Membership numbers should be a beginning not a finish line.

As people grow in discipleship, generosity should be a part of that process. He asked the audience to think what they could do with 20 mature disciples: You’d have more than the same three people doing the work of the church, young people would have a broader group of mentors and offerings would increase, among other things.

“Investment in discipling means a future of the church.”

Sloane noted that Junious Dotson, former executive of Discipleship Ministries, set three priorities that continue serving the church: 1. Every church should have an intentional discipleship system; 2. Help people develop a mission; and 3. Go to churches outside the U.S. and repeat steps 1 and 2.

Churches need to figure out their “why.”

Sloane recalled an event that his church held annually: the Ladies Tea. His wife got to host a table, which meant making sure people outside the congregation were invited, setting up the table with proper china and making sure all was well. What this meant for him was their dining room table became the test table and he became a server. He spent the months leading up to the tea complaining and cranky.

When he got to the tea, he was told all proceeds went to buy food for the church’s backpack program and because non-church members were invited, the church perhaps would gain some members. Both of those were excellent “whys” for the tea.

He suspects that had he known the “whys” he might have been less grumpy.

“When you understand the whys, it all makes sense,” he said. “Unfortunately, churches too often focus on the ‘shoulds’ instead.”

As disciples own more of the ministry, they become more invested. As they grow, the church is strengthened, both economically and missionally.

Discipleship is both a personal and a corporate ideal. The people in the pews, Sloane said, are responsible for their growth. But it’s up to the church to offer opportunities to equip and empower the people in the pews.

Sloane offered several models of intentional discipleship systems, but emphasized that each church should create their own suited to their needs.

Discipleship Ministries has multiple resources available for local churches: https://www.umcdiscipleship.org.