Stewardship During Virtual Sundays

By Mark V. Ewert, Stewardship for Us

Roadside sign at Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, CO

The focus of this week’s Zoom Symposium was Stewardship During Virtual Sundays. We hope our slides and video, as well as the sharing of ideas among congregations, are helpful as you continue to build a Sunday online experience, and other virtual programs for your congregation.

The symposium covered the opportunities for asking for pledges and contributions on Sunday mornings (or whenever people are accessing your virtual worship!).

This included the “gateways” for people to find your worship service including the “wayside pulpit” (street sign) at your building, and also virtual gateways like your website, Facebook page, YouTube channel, Vimeo page, or whatever you are using. It also included ideas about messaging and language you might use. We gave some samples of people speaking via video clips.

We are grateful to Rev. Rob Hardies of All Souls Unitarian, DC; Rev. Nancy McDonald Ladd of River Road UU Congregation in Bethesda, MD; and Rev. Tricia Hart of the First UU Society in Burlington, VT for allowing us to sample their video messages.

In breakout rooms, participants talked about how their congregation is bringing, or are hoping to bring, stewardship to their Sunday experience and shared this:

  • Testimonials; Personal five-minute reflections during services while our stewardship drive is on
  • Our minister who drives the message in services
  • Promote giving prior to the service so people do not have to find credit card during the service collection
  • A donate button on the website
  • Included in upfront announcements before the service
  • Email order of service to all members and include stewardship messages in it
  • Video testimonials on website
  • A board member introduces giving each week
  • Sharing the plate – and let congregation know how it is received
  • A virtual tracking mechanism – pie chart that they update to show how much and how many have given

Read More...

About the Authors

Mark V. Ewert

Mark Ewert works to grow skillful financial generosity within families and communities. He is a certified leadership and philanthropic coach, as well as a consultant for faith-based and nonprofit organizations. He is the founder of Generosity Path.

Stewardship for Us

The Stewardship For Us (s4us) Team, is based on a simple principle and a long history. The principle is that stewardship is important to all of us....

For more information contact .