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The world is changing. 

Stay up to date on the latest research, resources, and reflections exploring how to cultivate Christian faith in the 21st century. 

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Featured image for “Sharing Bicycles, Sharing Waste”
Feb. 05, 2019

Sharing Bicycles, Sharing Waste

The negative impact of experimental projects, especially in business, is typically measured financially. Yet whether there are gains or losses in the view of the stakeholders, the broader community is often left to deal with increased material burdens on transportation and waste management. Reflecting on Jonathan Malesic’s account of citywide bike-sharing, let us consider how stewardship expands our definition of stakeholders. Yours
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Jan. 29, 2019

All Together in One Place

The end of the month is always a good time to reflect on the past. This time we are looking way back, to the culture of the second century Christian Church, as described in the Book of Acts. Fellowship can be spontaneous, but stewardship of community requires dedication. I trust we all seek to improve how to be together in
Featured image for “You Can’t Beat God’s Giving”
Jan. 22, 2019

You Can’t Beat God’s Giving

Inspired by the song “You Can’t Beat God’s Giving,” and her experiences growing up immersed in ministry, Jennifer Kaalund helps us reflect today on stewardship lessons from the African American Church. Other conversations about church stewardship frequently hinge on assumptions about hard money paying for tall walls where congregations gather. Hopefully you can address those assumptions with a grain of salt after
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Jan. 15, 2019

Sharing Control

Child’s play is nothing to be overlooked, since our understanding of developmental psychology continues to inform everything from teaching tactics to what it means to be human in collective society. After enjoying the animated video linked below, consider how this fresh approach to teaching “sharing” challenges your own assumptions about stewardship. We’ll give you time and space to figure it
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Jan. 08, 2019

Stewards of the Promise

Now that fall stewardship campaigns are in the rearview mirror, it’s tempting not to address money in congregations for another six months at least. However, it turns out that when you’re not asking for money is a great time to talk about it. In this week’s piece, Deborah Rexrode reminds us of this potential yearound stewardship conversation grounded in God’s
Featured image for “9 Ways to Enrich Stewardship for 2019”
Jan. 01, 2019

9 Ways to Enrich Stewardship for 2019

Huge thanks to everyone who worked to enrich the newsletter in 2018, including both those who wrote thoughtful articles and those who shared them with new readers. Community is what makes this work worthwhile which is why it was encouraging to encounter so many new leaders at the Rethinking Stewardship conference. With sights now set on the year ahead, we can still relive the
Featured image for “Loving the Least of These”
Dec. 21, 2018

Loving the Least of These

Our call as Christians is to love — not from a distance, but by breaking down boundaries and walking side-by-side with our neighbor.
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Dec. 21, 2018

Let Us End With Prayer

Churches struggle.  Sometimes they are able to move beyond their brokenness.  Sometimes reconciliation is not found.  It is a process that is often complicated.   Yet, in the beginning, middle, and end it is about God.  It is about God and it is about the understanding that God is present right here and right now. Transformation for a church looking for
Featured image for “Compost Bin Stewardship”
Dec. 11, 2018

Compost Bin Stewardship

I love a good metaphor, and today’s post by James Dontje really delivers. Metaphors, when they work well, alert us to new discoveries, sometimes even concerning topics we thought we had all figured out. So, in today’s post, enjoy James’ piece engaging stewardship and a theology of…rot! Yours truly, Adam Copeland, Center for Stewardship Leaders  Compost Bin Stewardship James Dontje
Featured image for “Stewardship at Heart: Children”
Dec. 04, 2018

Stewardship at Heart: Children

In today’s post, my friend and colleague Justin Lind-Ayers shares a story connecting stewardship and parenthood. He expands on the episode, as well as other parenting adventures, in his new book, Is That Poop on My Arm?: Parenting While Christian. Justin would be bashful for me to say it, but his book would sure make a great stocking stuffer for