Using Appreciative Inquiry Tools &
Alternative Formats for Stewardship
Rev. Christina Neilson
Cheryl Kasper
Special Thanks to Joan Van Becelaere
Chalice Lighting
SouthWest Unitarian Universalist’s Story
Appreciative Language
Using Appreciative Inquiry as Part of the
Stewardship Process – a Different Way to
ask questions.
 SouthWest UU and Kent Speed Pledging
 Practice – a chance to get to know each
other!
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 What questions do you want to have
answered by the end of this workshop?
“Please share with me your checkbook,
your credit cards and your tax forms,
then I’ll understand your faith and your
view of stewardship. But money is
rarely discussed in the church and
related to faith.”
Peter Steinke
Giving as a Spiritual Practice
 Changing your attitude
about money from as a
“necessary evil” to an
opportunity to express
your faith.
 Address the pastoral
issues that cause fear
and anxiety about
money.
 Ask-Thank- Tell
(Workshop in January)
Clergy’s Vision
 Clergy need to change
their attitudes too
 Get their own financial
issues in order
 Get used to big
numbers
 Know what to do with
large donations
 Be educated about what
is involved in annual
stewardship campaigns,
Capital Campaigns and
Planned Giving for
endowments.
SouthWest UU’s Story
 We were a church in a
box for 23 years
 We have 69 members, a
quarter time musician
and a full time minister
 Two years ago we
experienced the peak of
the economic meltdown.
(Lost 18 members to
moving away, very low
moral.)
A Glimmer of Hope
 Participated in 3 year
small church growth
project in district.
 Learned how to deal
with congregational
anxiety after major flare
up.
 Wanted to do a capital
campaign to get a down
payment for a church
when…
 Church up for saledecided to check it out
 In every organization, some things work
well.
 We need to know and draw on all of our
positive strengths to build for the future
and weather current storms.
 The language we use helps create our
reality. It shapes attitudes and focuses
energy. If you keep saying you are poor,
you think and act like you are poor.
 What we focus on becomes our reality.
In anxious times, we need to build a
vision of a positive future, not rehash
failures of the past.
 Asking questions influences the way we
think about things.
 It is important to value differences.
 Organizations are heliotropic (They
follow the energy.).
 Steward – a conversation partner, an
ambassador of the congregation and
Unitarian Universalism
 Annual Stewardship Drive – an
opportunity to increase commitment to
the congregation on many levels,
including financial. Can be called
Budget Drive.
 Stewardship Visits – a vehicle for indepth conversations with fellow
congregants, including opportunities for
relationship building, questions,
answers and feedback
 Feedback – positive recommendations
and dreams for the future of the
congregation that is taken to the board
and leadership
 Pledge – You are not asking for money. You
are asking for a commitment to further the
mission and vision of the congregation. You
are inviting them to support something that
they love and care for.
 This goes for new members, too. They care
enough to join and WANT to be asked to
participate fully – including pledging.
 The personal nature of Appreciative Inquiry
requires a face-to-face encounter.
 Visits may be one-on-one or small group.
 Deepens personal relationships and connections
within the congregation!
 Provides for in-depth dialogue and sharing of
hopes and visions and dreams.
 Allows opportunity for questions, answers and
feedback.
 Creates an informal, confidential setting for
frank and transformative dialogue
 Produces a high level of financial commitment;
indirect methods produce much lower levels of
support
 Engages every donor in articulating appreciation
and taking responsibility for financial support of
the congregation
 Takes a relatively short time
 Helps clean up the membership database
 Cost effective
 Facilitates congregational ability to realistically
discuss appreciation, generosity, abundance,
money and giving
A description and discussion of how
Southwest UU used Appreciative Inquiry
questions in their pledge drive.
We had several articles and sermons
leading up to the event, revealing the
plans bit by bit to inspire curiosity.
Speed Pledging Event
 Welcome remarks, Blessing and Potluck
 UU Speed Pledge exercise: five minutes per
question, musical interlude, change places
 The “Pitch” by Canvass chair
 Pair up teams of two- four for the “Ask”
 The envelopes for each family were prepared
with pledge information.
 Dessert was served
 Each person put their pledge in the bowl, a
gong was rung, and a prize was given.
 Closing comments/ Thank-You!
Introductory Question
 Looking back at your involvement in SWUU,
remember a time when you felt most alive, engaged,
and committed to the congregation.
 It’s Sunday morning. The coffee is hot, the dog is by
your feet, and the paper awaits you. Still, you put on
your clothes and come to church. Why?
Values Question
 What do you value most about our congregation?
What activities or foci or ingredients or ways of life
are most important? What are our best features? (or
What do we do best?)
Potentials Question
 How can our congregation make a real difference
in the world? What are our greatest possibilities
and potentials and promise?
Wishes
 What are three courageous dreams you have for
the future of our congregation?
 Feedback from questions need to go to the
board and congregational leadership.
 They contain valuable information that can
inform planning and budgeting and your
stewardship celebration.
 Questions can be asked with different wording
or phrasing.
 We are asking folk to tell us what they really,
really, really care about in the congregation
and dream for its future. And we are very
grateful that they care.
UU Chats: An Example of
Appreciative Inquiry
Used by the Unitarian Universalist
Church of Kent
Winter 2010
Stages of UUCK Stewardship Campaign:
 Set campaign theme:
 Conversation, Community, Commitment
 Prepare brochure, pledge cards, guide to
campaign (a more detailed booklet with
budget, Q&A, etc.)
 Schedule events – the congregation was
invited to attend one of four general events,
called “UU Chats.” Two were on Sundays and
two were evenings during the week.
 Assess progress of campaign
 Campaign wrap up
What was a UU Chat?
 The stewardship committee decided to use
appreciative inquiry
 At the same time, we also wanted to
capitalize on the popularity and familiarity
that many in the congregation had with social
media – i.e., Facebook
 Our idea was UU Chat – a face-to-face, real
time, community building exercise!
 The UU Chat concept also became a unifying
graphic theme for the campaign.
Outline for Conversation
Events
 Welcome remarks (10 minutes)
 UU Chat exercise (35 minutes total)
 Instructions (5 minutes)
 Appreciative inquiry questions (30 minutes: 5 per
question; 3 to answer, 2 to summarize)
 Making a commitment (25 minutes)
 A quick pitch (5 minutes)
 Distribute cards, post comments to “news feed”
(20 minutes)
 Closing comments (5 minutes)
Appreciative Inquiry Questions
 What first led you to get involved in UUCK?
 When have you felt the most engaged at
UUCK?
 What do you value the most about UUCK?
 How do you feel like you contribute to UUCK?
 How can UUCK make a difference in the
world?
 What three wishes do you have for the
UUCK?
By Dorothy Day:
People say, what is the sense of our small
effort? They cannot see that we must lay
one brick at a time, take one step at a time.
A pebble cast into a pond causes ripples that
spread in all directions. Each one of our
thoughts, words and deeds (and dollars) is
like that.
No one has the right to sit down and feel
hopeless. There’s too much work to do.
Beyond Fundraising: A Complete Guide to
Congregational Stewardship, by Wayne
B. Clark, 2007, UUA. This book outlines the
“Forward Through the Ages” (FORTH)
program of year-round congregational
stewardship.
The Abundance of Our Faith, edited by Terry
Sweetser and Susan Milnor. Inspirational
sermons and reflection questions for small
group stewardship conversations and worship
planning.
the UUA website: www.uua.org and Google
search “Giving and Generosity” and
“Congregational Stewardship Services.” Visit
Congregations can use UUA marketing materials
and resources:
www.uua.org/leaders/leaderslibrary/mar
keting/congregational/index.shtml
 OMD Website now contains a lot of material
about stewardship and money and economics.
http://www.ohiomeadville.org/
economy/index.html
Memories, Hopes, and Conversations:
Appreciative Inquiry and
Congregational Change by Mark Lau
Branson. 2004. The Alban Institute, Inc.
Using Appreciative Inquirey tools for long
range planning.
The Power of Appreciative Inquiry: A
Practical Guide to Positive Change by
Amanda Trosten-Bloom and Diana Whitney.
2003. Berrett-Koehler Publ. Appreciative
Inquiry and organizational change.
There are 4 Parts to the Stewardship Vist
 Preliminaries – do your homework and
learn about the congregation and about
the people you will visit.
 Scheduling the visit – personal or small
group or dessert meeting or….etc.
 The Visit – this is where Appreciative
Inquiry is used.
 Follow Up
I. THE PRELIMINARIES
 1.Know the mission and programs of
the
congregation
 2. Please make your own generous
pledge before making stewardship
visits.
 Stewards should be able to say
 a.
I’m giving X, or
3. Become familiar with your materials:
 Contact list with names, info
 Suggested Fair Share Giving Guide
 Annual Campaign Brochure
 Summaries of congregational programs
and ministries if not included in
brochure
 Appreciative Inquiry Forms for feedback
II. SCHEDULING THE VISIT
 1. Introduce yourself ,
 2. Ask if this is a good time to talk,
 3. Briefly explain the purpose of your
call
– stewardship visit and
feedback,
 4. Schedule the visit
 5. Make sure relevant parties will be
there.
III - MAKING THE VISIT
 1. Your story (always important)
 2. Their stories, hopes and dreams (the
appreciative inquiry questions)
 3. The ask (giving guides and forms)
 4. Thanks, gratitude shared
1.Tell your story.
 Share passion for the congregation’s
mission and its stewardship drive.
 Tell a story about something you love
about this congregation.
 Refer to the annual budget drive
documents or use the brochure as a
visual guide.
2. Their story
 Ask the Appreciative Inquiry Questions
and really listen to their story; this is
the invitation to Conversations from the
Heart
 Are there any other questions they
need answered?
 Acknowledge their comments and
concerns.
3. Ask
 In light of their desire to support what
they love, ask for their financial pledge to
the annual budget.
 The Giving Guide is helpful
 Ask if they are willing to take one step up
this year from last year
 Give the pledge form and wait patiently
(and quietly) and give them a chance to
respond.
IV. THE FOLLOW-UP
 1. Write a short, simple thank-you note
 2. If the member(s) had questions that
you promised to research, find the
answers and get back to them asap.
 3. Submit the appreciative inquiry sheets
with the completed pledge forms.
 4. Return each completed pledge form as
soon as possible.
 5. All pledge forms must be returned by a
III. MAKING THE VISIT
 1. Your story,
 2. Their story, hopes and dreams (the
appreciative inquiry questions)
 3. The ask (giving guides and forms)
 4. Thanks
1.Tell your story.
 Begin by referring to the annual budget
drive documents.
 Share passion for the congregation’s
mission and its stewardship drive.
 Use the brochure as a visual guide.
 Tell a story about something you love
about this congregation.
2. Their story
 Ask the Appreciative Inquiry Questions
and really listen to their story; this is
the invitation to Conversations from the
Heart
 Are there any other questions they
need answered?
 Acknowledge their comments and
concerns.
3. Ask
 Ask for their financial pledge to the
annual budget.
 The Giving Guide is helpful
 Ask if they are willing to take one step
up this year from last year
 Give the pledge form and wait patiently
(and quietly) and give them a chance to
respond.
 If the person is not able or willing to
make a pledge within the suggested
range, simply ask what amount would
be more comfortable.
 If needed, step out of the room for a
minute so partners can talk.
 If for some reason they are still not
ready to make a pledge, schedule a
follow-up visit.
Possible Talking Points:
 Before you make your decision,
consider how you value being a
member or friend of our community
and what role our congregation plays in
your life.
 We suggest making some simple
comparisons for raising your pledge. Is
 Why do we have difficulty talking about
money?
 How does this difficulty translate into
the ways we approach stewardship
work?
 People in low-income households don’t
give money. Low-income people give
time instead.
 During economic downturns, people
don’t give to their congregations.
 People suffer information overload and
don’t care to know how their money is
being used.
 If people understand the dire financial
 Out of a sense of gratitude for all that
we have in life.
 To add meaning to our lives.
 Because we believe in the organization’s
mission and want to be a real part of
it.
 Because we like to help people.
 In response to people we trust.
 Feelings of obligation (rarely)
 Appealing Mission Statement—a
dynamic and unique mission appeals to
people’s interest in the value of the
organization and the causes it supports.
 Acknowledge that the economy impacts
the organization’s ability to fulfill its
mission.
 Avoid dramatic cuts or changes in
program or staffing.
 Spread enthusiasm about what the
organization is doing.
 Practice openness and accountability.
 Meet regularly with donors, informing
them of the organization’s needs.
Invite questions.