By Lisa Smith Fiegel, Alaska Synod (ELCA) director for evangelical mission When I heard the knock, I expected to be asked to give a large sum of money to a ministry I love. What I didn’t expect was the way it would make me feel. Two representatives from the ministry sat down with me and… Read more »
By Rev. Ka Hon Tony Wong As a pastor of small bicultural (English/Chinese) church, I notice that lack of resources is one of the discussions I have with the lay leaders in my church council. When I discuss this phenomenon with my Associate English ministry pastor, we recognize the concern of our church members and… Read more »
In 2018, giving to religion by individuals, corporations, and foundations declined, decreasing by 1.5 percent (3.9 percent when adjusted for inflation) to $124.52 billion, or 29 percent of total charitable contributions. While concern has been raised that declining donations to religious congregations and a decrease in religiosity in the U.S. could lead to fewer charitable… Read more »
At the crux of most faith traditions lies service to others. As Dr. David King wrote in a 2017 Insights issue, “While different faiths may address giving in various ways, at their core, there is most often a shared sense of the necessity of giving, to care for one another and in particular the poor,… Read more »
Last year, I was awarded a grant through Leadership Education at Duke Divinity to support an innovative approach to leadership within my institution, Lake Institute on Faith & Giving. Lake Institute offers a variety of educational and public programs on a regular basis; however, we’ve never offered a renewal day or retreat for our constituents…. Read more »