Growing Healthy Stewards in
Your Diocese – a year-round
stewardship education program for
parishes
Mr. Peter Misiaszek, CFRE
June 6, 2014
TENS Conference
Atlanta, Georgia
About Our Diocese
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The Incorporated Synod of the Diocese of Toronto founded 1839 A.D.
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205 parishes covering 26,000 square kilometers stretching from Mississauga to
Brighton and north to Haliburton.
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Largest Anglican Diocese in Canada (by # of parishes and members) and includes the
City of Toronto (population 2.5 million+) and considered to be most multicultural city
in the world.
About Our Diocese
• Culturally diverse congregations
including: Chinese, Filipino, French,
Hispanic, Japanese, Korean, Tamil.
• Parishioners originate from all parts of
the world including: Africa, the
Caribbean, Europe, India, Middle East,
Pakistan, Sri Lanka.
• Diocese includes 4 episcopal
areas, each with its own suffragan
(assistant) bishop.
• First Canadian Anglican Diocese
to have a female bishop (The Rt.
Rev. Victoria Matthews) and first
and only Asian Bishop in Canada
(The Rt. Rev. Patrick Yu).
Demographics
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Overall ASA declined from 2000-2013
Sunday attendance increased in 29% of parishes in 2013
Number of givers has declined since 2000 –accelerated
since 2009
Offertory giving has crested at just over $32mm
Average annual gift per giver has increased every year
since 2001 – stands at $1,215
Every parish that engaged in some stewardship
program increased their giving in 2013
ASA & Easter Attendance
Decreased Number of Givers
Offertory Growth
Average Gift
FaithWorks Support
Evolution of Stewardship Education
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1988-1990 – Faith in Action Ministry Campaign raised
$18-million
Pre 2003 – No resources or staff support
2004 – “A Plan for Stewardship Education and
Development Through the Year” by David Gordon
(diocese of New York)
 Year-round
 Intensive – lots of work
 Results were not always immediate
 Little variety
Year-round Stewardship – the early
years
Evolution of Stewardship Education
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2005 – “A Program to Encourage Sacrificial Giving in
Your Parish”
 Six weeks in length
 Encourages giving of time, talent and treasure
 Increases offertory 15% in first year
 Emphasis on education of congregation
 Designed to be used annually
 Works best in Fall
 The “go-to” program in the diocese for 8 years
 Used successfully by over 125 parishes
Evolution of Stewardship Education
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2007, 2008, 2009, 2012 – diocesan stewardship
conferences
Intensive period of volunteer identification and
recruitment
Feasibility study for major fundraising campaign
2010-2012 – Our Faith Our Hope: Reimagine Church
Ministry Campaign - $41mm
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Campaign engaged 180 parishes
9,000 donors
4 strategic objectives:
 Strengthening local parishes
 Building for the church of tomorrow
 Revitalizing our inheritance
 Giving to others
Evolution of Stewardship Education
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Campaign was catalyst to begin thinking about doing
stewardship education differently
Consulted the 30 most successful parishes and
consolidated their ideas – we need a program that is
 easy to follow and user friendly
 results oriented
 clear roles and responsibilities for volunteers
 strong theological focus
The result… Growing Healthy Stewards
Program Overview
Three unique features about Growing Healthy
Stewards:
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It is coached
Tried & tested
Measurable and results oriented
It is Coached
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Each parish is teamed with an experienced lay
volunteer
Trained as both facilitator and stewardship leader
Engages in quarterly meetings with parish teams and
round-tables conversations with fellow coaches
Helps to motivate and “push through” road blocks;
answer questions and identify resources
Ensures that parishes follow the program as designed
Doesn’t do the work for them
Tried and Tested
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Each module has been tested in a parish environment
Components has been developed, used, critiqued and
refined by clergy and volunteers in the diocese (and
beyond)
>100 parishes have used some part of the program
with consistent results
GHS consolidates all the parts
Is always changing – new ideas are constantly added
Measureable & Results Oriented
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Use annual parish stats to help identify best practices
and forecast outcomes
At its core is that each parish has capacity to become
healthy, but they need a yardstick
Parishes are evaluated against 14 measureable best
practices – indicate financial, congregational, ministry
and leadership health
Objective to move parishes from C grade to A grade
over three years
How is the program organized?
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Orientation with parish leadership
Covenant
Calendar of monthly objectives
Individual parish charts
Position descriptions
Programs/Manuals
Reflections/Sermon Resources
Forms, etc.
Leadership Team
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Chair
Vice Chair
Secretary
Arrangements Coordinator
Commitment Coordinator
Information Coordinator
Cleric
Coach
Personal Stewardship Audit – why?
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To evaluate your own level of commitment
To better understand stewardship more deeply
To inspire leadership
To help assess what “blocks” you individually from
being a more generous Christian
To help us evaluate our giftedness
To encourage us to give more of our time, talent and
treasure
Why a Covenant?
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Clarify the program
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Outline the unique features of the program
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Expectations – ours and yours
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Help you understand that we take the process very
seriously
GHS Annual Highlights
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Meet with Coaches quarterly
Legacy Giving Sunday – February
FaithWorks/Outreach Campaign – Lent
Time and Talent Focus – April
Prepare Narrative Budget – Summer
Intentional Giving Campaign – October
Emphasize stewardship in all communications
Semi-annual assessment of progress
Regular preaching on the life of a faithful steward (at
least seasonally)
14 Best Practices
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
Active stewardship committee
Committed clergy
Conduct annual intentional giving campaign
Get everybody engaged in some form of ministry
At least 4 stewardship sermons preached each year
Narrative Budget
Proportional Giving
14 Best Practices
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
Individual giving at diocesan average - $1,215
Offertory equals 2.5% of average family income
40% of givers use PAR
70% of operating revenue comes from offertory
10% of revenue goes to outreach
Engaged in new member ministry
Legacy giving promoted annually
C Grade Parish - Average
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clerical enthusiasm but unsure of direction of parish
dated mission statement
some outreach
strong volunteers though in limited supply
inclined toward growth but not clear about what that
means
frequently rotate the same people in leadership
static growth in congregation
would like to do stewardship but concerned about the
reaction from the congregation
givings are barely sufficient to meet operations (and
sometimes have to ask one of our top donors for a little
Christmas gift)
A Grade Parish - Excellent
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strong clerical leaders who are engaged in the life of the
parish
energetic and enthusiastic volunteers
many opportunities for ministry involvement
variety in Eucharistic celebrations
clear vision statement
outreach/in reach is very important, strong support for
diocesan activities
growing congregation with ministries serving diverse
age groups
this is a place people want to be and feel at home
Giving is exceptional with funds invested and/or
redirected to new ministry each year
Parish Case Study – St. Margaret, New
Toronto
St. Margaret, New Toronto, Challenges
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ASA has declined 40% in 4 years
Number of givers fell 30% in 6 years
Offertory is substantial, but fewer giving more
Average gift is above diocesan average
Congregation: 33% between 46-65; 50% is >65
FWs appears to be lost amid the other outreach taking
place here
Sacred presence of the church is missing in the
community
Offertory Growth
St. Margaret, New Toronto - Annual Offertory 2001-2012 ($)
140000
130048
122950
124008
116,500
117194
120000
112224
104851
100000
98553
94194
92347
88082
84717
80000
60000
40000
20000
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Average Gift
St. Margaret, New Toronto Average Annual Gift Per Giver - 2001-2012 ($)
2500
1941
2000
1664
1610
1584
9
10
1518
1500
1320
1037
962
1000
942
1038
941
864
500
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
11
12
Declining Number of Givers
St. Margaret, New Toronto - Identifiable Givers - (2001-2012)
120
100
102
100
101
96
90
95
84
81
80
77
74
67
70
60
40
20
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
Congregational Growth – ASA/Easter
Observations
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There is energy and enthusiasm. Parish reached its
OFOH goal.
There is great potential for Legacy Giving.
Investment in new member ministry is key if the parish
is to grow. People need to know you are here.
Need to convert new attendees to givers.
Of 70 donors, ? use PAR
If parish had the same # of donors today as in 2006, it
could collect $168,064
Fear of volunteer burn-out
Outcomes – Change is happening
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Growth is happening – ASA/Easter growth in 2
successive years
Offertory increased by 14% in 2013
Average gift is >$1,800
PAR donors represent 34% of total donors
Did community walk – dist. 2000 flyers
Preaching, pledging and member participation is up
Legacy giving promoted
The “feel” of the place is different
What are people saying about GHS…
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“Not a hard sell” – Gordon Longman, Stewardship
Coach, St. Timothy, North Toronto
“Spirit of gratitude is abounding in this program” – Jim
Finlay, Stewardship Chair, All Saints, Whitby
“Program consolidates stewardship essentials” Joy
Packham, Stewardship Chair, St. Margaret, Barrie
“The relay doubled our commitment rate” – Eleanor
Stevenson, Stewardship Coach, St. Dunstan, West Hill
“Giving, attendance and participation are all up in one
year, what’s not to like” – Terry Grier, Stewardship
Chair, St. Margaret, New Toronto
Ongoing parish support…
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Semi-annual round-table discussion with Parish Chairs
and Coaches
Semi-annual evaluation of parish progress against
benchmarks
Annual review and upgrade of program as appropriate
New coaches are recruited from participating parishes
Touch-base with parishes after intensive coaching
period
Annual coaches’ seminar to refresh, inspire and thank
volunteers
And the Results Are…
A Vibrant Faith Community