Fr. John Shepard Award for Excellence in Stewardship
Fr. John Shepard Stewardship Award
Most parishes are in the midst of their stewardship programs as we meet. No matter how we’ve tried to define it, stewardship always seems to come down to the annual fall fund drive, and, as important as that is, we know it’s wrong. Christ’s many parables on stewardship always meant something more. To be a steward in God’s kingdom is have a share in the caring of God’s creation and the proclamation of God’s Word as ones who live in loving relationship with God and with one another.
Those are the principles that are driving the work of the Stewardship Committee of the Foundation in the development of a full range of materials and consulting services to be made available to every congregation during this next year.
But you and I know that materials and counsel provided by the diocese, no matter how good or well received, cannot replace the Holy Spirit filled energy, imagination and accomplishments of a local congregation that is intent on becoming a community of stewards.
No one knew that better than Fr. John Shepard, and no one was more committed to creating the conditions under which local congregations could do just that. As a member of the Foundation’s Stewardship Committee he was determined to see that happen. The members of the committee are equally determined that Fr. John’s vision will not fade away.
Therefore, and in Fr. John’s memory, I am pleased to announce the creation of an annual John Shepard Award for Excellence in Stewardship.
When we meet again in Convention next year, one parish will be awarded the John Shepard prize, of not less than $1,000, for excellence in stewardship. We are working on the terms for the competition now, and intend to publish them in late January or early February so that each of you will have plenty of time to respond.
In general they will measure congregational applications on the basis of creativity, imagination, and success not simply in regard to fund raising, but more importantly to a comprehensive program of stewardship following the teachings of Jesus and intentional in developing the spiritual health and well being of parishioners.
Additional awards of recognition will also be made for congregations showing outstanding progress in various elements of their own stewardship programs, including fundraising.
I would like to close this announcement by borrowing from Kay Rafferty’s note to the diocesan clergy and offering the following quote, on behalf of the Stewardship Team, to John Shepard….it is one of many good pieces from the book “The Steward”, by Douglas John Hall.”
“…[we need to learn how to] interpret the Christian life as stewardship. The world is crying out for keepers and tenders of its wonderful, frail beauty, and God desires to send us out as stewards into this astonishing, unique creation.”
