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Consecrated Stewards
Ties the Commitment Process to Sunday Morning Worship
Our Consecrated Stewards Program reaches the maximum number of people in the most spiritual setting with minimal organization. This is based on the need of the giver to give, not the need of the church to receive and is not tied to the church budget.
Usually increasing annual commitments 15% - 35%.*
Consecrated Stewards is made available through LCEF’s Capital Funding Services.
Highlights of Consecrated Stewards Program
The Consecrated Stewards program builds on the popular “New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program” (Herb Miller, Abingdon Press). The program:
- Ties the commitment process to the Sunday morning act of worship.
- Reaches the maximum number of people in the most spiritual setting with minimal organization.
- Requires four weeks of preparation and four weeks of emphasis.
- Requires a working committee of eight.
- Usually requires only four committee meetings plus attention to ongoing stewardship.
- Does not have members asking other members one-on-one for a financial commitment.
- Can be used any time during the year.
Our program goes beyond the New Consecration Sunday Stewardship Program by providing:
- Solid Lutheran Bible study materials
- Sermon outlines
- Guidance for stewardship witness talks
- A process to celebrate congregation ministries
- Publicity and communication aids
- An optional workshop for leaders
- An LCEF trained and certified Guest Leader
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Become a Consecrated Stewards Leader
- Want to help congregations in your LCMS district stop talking about money and start talking about ministry while experiencing a significant increase* in annual envelope giving? Be a part of a LCMS-wide effort.
- Lead a mini-workshop or Bible Study on the Sunday before Commitment Sunday.
- As a certified Consecrated Stewards Guest Leader, you would receive satisfaction in growing stewardship and ministry and a possible honorarium from each congregation you assist. (Honorarium is determined by the district office.)
Consecrated Stewards Video with Rev. Dr. Art Scherer.
Learn more about the videos.
Certified Guest Leaders
See a list of LCMS Districts with Certified Guest Leaders of our Consecrated Stewards program.
Guest Leader Training
Guest Leader Training Registration
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* Individual results vary. Increases in amounts committed to annual envelope giving typically range between 15% and 35%. A congregation’s results could be more or less. LCEF cannot guarantee results in a Consecrated Stewards program or the fulfillment of the commitments. Success depends upon the cooperation and participation of congregation members.
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Missionaries Adamant About StewardAccount®
Whenever financial blessings flowed into Carol and Jerry Loewe’s lives, they returned them to the Lord by investing in an LCEF StewardAccount®. “We wanted to make sure that our savings were being used to build Lutheran churches and schools,” said Carol. She is adamant that even if they could earn more in a different kind of investment, they would still invest through LCEF. “There’s no choice. We want our money used for the Lord.” The Loewes are now retired, but volunteer for Mission Central, which helped support them while they served as missionaries in Africa. |
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Beautiful Scenery, Support for New Montana Church
Enthusiastic support from Laborers For Christ, members of The Church at Creston-Lutheran, and two neighboring Lutheran congregations help a young mission congregation build its first church home. |
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Harvest Comes in for Jackson, Wisc., Congregation
The work we do today can bring joy that lasts forever, and that’s what has motivated members of Living Word Lutheran Church in Jackson, Wisc., to participate in the Consecrated Stewards program for the past two years.
“We’re thankful to God for bringing the harvest in,” Pastor Bernie Huesmann said. “But what’s really neat is that our members have become more involved in Bible studies, they better understand the concept of proportional giving, and have followed through on their pledges.” Congregation members pledged 54% more the first year, an amount Huesmann considered “off the charts.” That was followed the next year by an equally impressive increase of more than 28%. |
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Design Expresses Congregation’s Purpose
The congregation at St. John, Kimball, Minn., used Capital Funding Services and an LCEF loan to build a new contemporary country church. This new structure reminds congregation members of their purpose every time they enter. |
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Reaching the disabled in North Dakota
Helped by an LCEF loan, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, a mission congregation in Bismarck, N.D., opened its doors to the community this past summer in a former retail store. Members are making good use of the space and members are actively reaching out to the developmentally disabled with its Faith and Friends weekly service. It is also a ministry partner to Bethesda Lutheran Communities, with the goal of providing a Lutheran, faith-based group home for people with the disabilities. |
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Post-Construction Tip: Be Ready for More Outreach in New Ministry Space
Laborers For Christ can bring your members together in worship and volunteerism, and very often their witnessing mobilizes congregations to accomplish more outreach once construction is complete. Be ready by reviewing your supplies and furnishings; go to the CPH Church Renovations Web site for pew accessories, offering plates, new altar adornments, etc. |
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Vibrant Schools, Kids Heart of New Programs
LCEF knows how important Lutheran education is to the future of the Synod. Helping schools flourish and grow are LCEF’s School Marketing Resources and K.I.D.S. Count curriculum. For more information about either of these programs, call 1-800-843-5233 or visit www.lcefmarketing.com or www.lcefkids.org. |
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Ensure a Joyful Response® Even During Vacations
If a significant share of your congregation members is still placing cash and checks into the offering plate, your church may be missing valuable offerings when families leave town for holidays and vacations. Offer members an automated way to fulfill their financial stewardship commitments: LCEF's Joyful Response®. It’s free for LCMS organizations and easy to use for both congregation members and office staff. |
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Partners Provide Funds, Steeples, Lutheran Symbols
With a church renovation or new construction project, there is a long list of details. For help with everything from start (campaign readiness study) to finish (furnishing the altar and worship space), Concordia Publishing House (CPH) and LCEF are your partners for creating the space needed and reverent atmosphere expected. See the CPH Church Renovations Web site, or the loan or Ministry Services areas of LCEF’s Web site to find out about all of the resources we have to offer your congregation. |
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