Grace Duddy Pomroy ’12 M.A., director of Stewardship Leaders, and Charles R. Lane ’73 M.Div. are co-authors of “Embracing Stewardship: How to Put Stewardship at the Heart of Your Congregation’s Life.” Published in 2016, the book provides biblical and cultural grounding as well as eight pathways a congregation can follow to deepen members’ understanding of themselves as stewards of the bounty of God.
Pomroy, a millennial lay leader, and Lane, a baby boomer pastor, provide a generationally diverse approach to their shared conviction: Stewardship belongs at the heart of each individual and each congregation. They hope individuals and congregations will not only accept but embrace their role as a steward of all God has entrusted to their care. They encourage congregational leaders to pick one of their eight ideas to try—whether it be reaching new audiences, developing a plan for thanking donors, or talking about money when you aren’t asking for any. Spread over 12 chapters, the book is well-suited for groups to read together over the course of a year.
Keith Mundy, ELCA program director, stewardship, said, “Learning to embrace our role as stewards of God’s grace strengthens personal faith and helps to do God’s work in the world today. The processes, practices, and experiences described in the book provide a realistic way for congregations to grow stewards, manage money, and move ahead with a missional plan.”