Dollhopf said congregations need resource developers to plant seeds and work with stewardship directors. Pastors and bishops are chief fund-raisers for their church organizations, he said. Focus on mission and vision in the church is critical, he said. Successful churches focus on the mission for the benefit of people outside the congregation, Dollhopf said. This is ongoing work.
People succeed when there is creative, energizing conversation with people in the pew.
Key speakers also focused on stewardship in its biblical, historical and everyday contexts. People expect the love of Jesus in the feeding and being fed. That's what we're talking about in this conference. Stewardship is the work of Christ in the world outside the institution of the church, said Dr. Claire Wolfteich, assistant professor of practical theology and spiritual formation, Boston University. A person's identity and his or her vocation are closely related, she added.