Stewardship Department

Stewardship

Mission

Christian Education

Church and Ministry

Stewardship

Stewardship downloads:

The IRS has recently updated their Tax Guide For Churches. Download a copy for your church by clicking here.
Our friends in the Massachusetts Conference authored a great resource booklet for church treasurers. Thay have given us permission to share it with our Vermont Churches. Download it here.
Vermont Conference OCWM brochure - see it here.

use the menu at the top of the page to view Stewardship Committee pages

What is Stewardship?

For most people, being a steward means giving money for the church and little else, a few might add it also means giving time and talent. Others interpret it as being a good manager of personal and household money - using it wisely, and investing it responsibly, with a view to its social consequences. In this day of increasing concern for the environment, some may add that it means responsible use of the earth and its resources.

The Vermont Conference United Church of Christ views stewardship as a "holistic" concept in that we are as Christians, stewards of all aspects of life as Christ's disciples.

So the Biblical view of a steward is that of a person who is set over a household. As it is developed in the New Testament, however, that household may be the home, the village, the city, the nation or the church. As stewards we are to provide for the well being of all who dwell in their "households".

We then in deep gratitude for the gifts of God bestowed on us we commit ourselves to be stewards of God's grace in all areas of human existence by being:

Stewards of the Gospel

For Christians, being stewards of all life begins with being stewards of the gospel. It is in the gospel that we find the meaning of our lives and the purpose of all our endeavors. The word "gospel" comes from the Greek word meaning "good news". This was the word used by the New Testament writers for the great announcement by Jesus of what God was doing for humanity.

Stewards of Self & Family

Being a steward of one's own life means being responsible in caring for the body and developing the mind. It means being responsible in whatever we do for a living and in how we use money and possessions.

And it means being responsible for cultivating the life of the spirit within our own household and extended family.

Being Stewards of Earth and Space

Caring for earth and space as the basis of life and as the household in which all humanity must live, protecting the environment against all forces that abuse it, exploit, or threaten to destroy it.

Stewards of the Church & Its Mission

The stewarding of the life that comes to us through God's grace is the mission on which we are sent as the church. The abundant life for all is the exciting vision for which the church exists and labors as the stewarding community. The abundant life in the Gospel according to John is equated with the "kingdom of God", and Jesus is presented in the Fourth Gospel as the bearer of that life.

Being Stewards of Society and Humanity

Being stewards of our society means using our time, energies, and money for directly aiding the afflicted and bringing about justice. But it also means keeping stewardly vigilance over the formulation of tax policies and the expenditure of our tax dollars at local, state, and national levels. The money we pay in taxes, as all of our money, is an extension of ourselves and should reflect, as far as we can have any influence, our values and beliefs. Our stewardship of society is to be a caring and a vigilant stewardship.

Being Stewards of History

We are stewards of history when we move into the margin of freedom that we have as individuals and groups to initiate creative acts, foster, reconciliation, generate good, and open up new chapters in history.

Above all, we are stewards of history when we acknowledge that it is God who makes both creation and history possible, that God is in the processes of life and in the order of things providing of things providing new beginnings and new opportunities for bringing good even out of evil.

What does OCWM stand for?

In Vermont it might be, Our Cows Won't Milk?

Or some think, Our Conference Wants Money?

Not really! How about…..Our Church Welcomes Many? or Our Commitment Works Miracles?

Since stewardship is a basic Christian attitude toward all of life. It is recognition of total accountability and responsibility before God. It permeates one's discipleship and spiritual growth. It takes seriously the mission of the congregation and the church and world beyond the local setting. Basic Support of Our Church's Wider Mission (OCWM) is a way of "doing mission" beyond the local community.

We Are Able to Reach Our Goals

By prayers of local church members
By volunteers of the 148 Vermont Conference churches who serve on Conference committees, Board of Directors and task force
By your local church's gifts to OCWM (Our Church's Wider Mission) 55% of gifts are used in the Vermont Conference for the work we do together. 45% is used for the work we do together with the 6145 churches of the United Church of Christ nationwide, and ecumenically with many other churches in the United States and around world.