Funding Forward Resource Library
Funding Forward: Tips for accessing books: Many of the titles included on these pages are books found in Luther Seminary Library and only available to seminary students. However, you may be able to borrow these same titles from your local public library. Make note of the title, author and ISBN of the desired book and ask your local library to request the book by "Interlibrary Loan" (ILL). Otherwise, of course, you may choose to buy certain titles from your favorite bookstore or online book source.
God and Mammon by
Despite Jesus' teaching regarding God and money, the paradox remains that churches need money to serve God. Ministers need salaries, bills must be paid, and benevolence programs require financing. By examining what the early Christian documents of the New Testament have to say about asking for money and the circumstances in which they did this, Jouette Bassler provokes reflection on the theological, ethical, and social dimensions of the practices of today's church. Suggestions for further reading and study questions complement each chapter and enhance the usefulness of this book.
We Aren't Broke : Uncovering Hidden Resources for Mission and Ministry by
What if everything you need is already there? Many Christian churches and related institutions in the United States are struggling or, in some cases, facing imminent crisis, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Attendance is down. Funding is harder to come by. People are no longer drawn to traditional church services and programming in the ways that they once were. Often, we feel broke and powerless to do much about it. We settle for doing more with less: Less money. Fewer people. Fewer churches. But if we reexamine our perceived limits and our assumptions about how resources are supposed to be used, then something remarkable and beautiful comes into view: we aren't broke at all but have enormous resources at our disposal. Church and missional organizations nationwide own billions of dollars of prime property and investment assets, which, when combined with social enterprise and new expressions of mission, can be put to work for innovation and transformation. And these resources are often available to us right now. This book is an invitation to envision a different way of putting God's gifts to work in the world. It draws upon a remarkable story of rebirth at a Presbyterian affiliated campus ministry center at the University of Wisconsin, along with profiles of other creative social enterprises, to describe how church property and investment assets can be put to work for innovation, transformation, and financial sustainability. Theologically rooted but practically minded, it provides guidance and tools for church and nonprofit leaders, entrepreneurs, and investors of all kinds who are seeking new ways to fund and participate in God's work in the world.
Liberating the Future: God, Mammon, and Theology by
What are the prospects for liberation theology and the social change it espouses? What can liberation theologies learn from each other?Writing from a variety of social locationsthe African American community, the feminist struggle, and tensions within Europe, North America, and Latin Americathese exciting and enlightening thinkers reflect on the vastly changed context of and challenges to liberation. Yet they find common concerns and cause. They espouse religious reflection that attends closely to those pushed to the margins (even though on the surface things seem to be improving), to shifting structures of oppression, and especially to global economic structures as they affect specific locales. For all those interested in the survival and growth of justice-oriented religious commitment, this volume signals concrete and exciting new directions for thought and action. Participants include:John B. Cobb, Jr., Claremont School of TheologyGustavo Gutierrez, Instituto Bartalome de Las Casas, Rimac, PeruM. Douglas Meeks, Wesley Theological SeminaryJurgen Moltmann, University of TubingenJoerg M. Rieger, Perkins School of TheologySusan Brooks Thistlethwaite, Chicago Theological SeminaryGayraud S. Wilmore, Interdenominational Theological Center, Atlanta
Jesus and the Politics of Mammon by
In Jesus and the Politics of Mammon, Phelps uses contemporary critical theory, continental philosophy, and theology to develop a radical reading of Jesus. Phelps argues that theological traditions have on the whole blunted Jesus' teachings, particularly in regard to money and related concerns of political economy. Focusing on the distinction between God and Mammon, Phelps suggests instead that Jesus' teachings result in a politics that is anti-money, anti-work, and anti-family. Although Jesus does not provide a specific program for this politics, his teachings incite readers to think otherwise with respect to these institutions.
God and Mammon : Protestants, Money, and the Market, 1790-1860 by
This collection of essays by leading historians offers a close look at the connections between American Protestants and money in the Antebellum period. During the first decades of the new American nation, money was everywhere on the minds of church leaders and many of their followers. Economicquestions figured regularly in preaching and pamphleteering, and convictions about money contributed greatly to perceptions of morality both public and private. In fact, money was always a religious question. For this reason, argue the authors of these essays, it is impossible to understand broadercultural developments of the period--including political developments--without considering religion and economics together. In God and Mammon, several essays examine the ways in which the churches raised money after the end of establishment put a stop to state funding, such as the collection of pewrents and lotteries. Free-will offerings only came later and at first were used only for special causes, not operating expenses. Other essays look at the role of money and markets in the rise of Christian voluntary societies. Still others examine inter-denominational strife, documenting frequentaccusations that theological error led to the misuse of money and the arrogance of wealth. Taken together, the essays provide essential background to a relationship that continues to loom large and generate controversy in American religious communities.
Generosity, Stewardship, and Abundance : A Transformational Guide to Church Finance by
God's purpose in calling us to lives of faithful stewardship and generosity isn't merely to sustain the church. Rather, the continued existence of the church is essential to sustain the powerful, transformative message of our faith. Lovett H. Weems Jr. and Ann A. Michel present the Bible's redeeming and transforming message of generosity, stewardship, and abundance in this comprehensive guide to Christian financial responsibility. The book provides practical advice to pastors and church leaders tasked with funding ministry and inspiring others toward responsible stewardship and greater generosity. It addresses church fundraising, stewardship campaigns, budgets, financing capital needs, endowments, and innovative approaches to economic sustainability. The book integrates the theological and practical dimensions of finance to empower congregational leaders to think critically about stewardship from a Christian perspective, help them use their personal and congregational possessions in the light of faith.
The Old Testament for a Complex World: How the Bible's Dynamic Testimony Points to New Life for the Church by
"This impressive analysis will resonate with any Christian interested in the evolution of biblical criticism."--Publishers Weekly What if the Bible, which has come to us through a complex process, is just the resource we need to speak to the challenges of living as Christians in a complex world? In today's era of significant cultural upheaval, studying the Old Testament can seem impractical or irrelevant. This book reclaims the Old Testament as a vital resource for today's church, showing how critical study of these texts helps us understand the Bible as a dynamic testimony for our changing future.
Funding Forward: A Pathway to More Sustainable Models for Ministry by 
Leading Faithful Innovation: Following God into a Hopeful Future by
What might God be up to amid the seismic changes the church and our culture are undergoing? What opportunities will congregations encounter if they rediscover and follow God's leading? Leading Faithful Innovation offers a practical, hands-on approach to addressing this challenge, a process that culminates in the hope that comes from following the Spirit. Dwight Zscheile, Michael Binder, and Tessa Pinkstaff build on Scripture, theology, and the latest leadership and change theories to guide church leaders on a journey toward grassroots, participatory spiritual growth. This faithful innovation begins with a three-step process: listening to God and to each other, acting so we can learn, and sharing our stories in community. Real-life stories and supportive spiritual practices make each step toward effective change accessible and actionable. The book then examines how these steps change the culture of a church, establishing a new, biblically grounded way of being church. The authors present leadership practices that invite readers to redefine their leadership identity, accept the loss of their role as the primary driver of their congregation, and discover new hope and possibility. These topics are again fleshed out with real-life stories and undergirded by suggested practices. Throughout the book, the authors demonstrate that faithful innovation is not another program or an add-on to what readers are already doing. It is a path to a new normal. It is an ongoing way of following God that allows the Spirit of God to drive the energy among the people of the church.
Select journal articles on "tithes and offerings:
"Toward a Theology of Giving in the New Covenant Era." Dissertation by David Croteau, Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary , 2005.
Interested in learning more about this topic? Check out the course that accompanies this resource guide: Funding Forward: A Pathway to More Sustainable Models for Ministry