Introducing “Where Your Heart Is … A Weekly Offerings Stewardship Blog”

PMA’s Mission Engagement & Support will launch online financial stewardship forum on Sept. 1

by Emily Enders Odom | Presbyterian News Service

the Rev. Rosemary C. Mitchell

LOUISVILLE — Finding practical stewardship resources and theological reflections on the practice of generosity has just become easier with the launch of “Where Your Heart Is … A Weekly Offerings Stewardship Blog.”

The blog, formerly known simply as “Weekly Offerings,” will expand its existing content to regularly provide its readers and subscribers with stories, minutes for mission, interpretive materials and ideas that inspire and educate congregations in responsible stewardship practices. It will also continue to provide support and resources for the four Special Offerings of the PC(USA).

“It is through our acts of kindness and generosity that we demonstrate our love of God and our love of neighbor,” says the Rev. Rosemary C. Mitchell, Senior Director for the Presbyterian Mission Agency’s Mission Engagement and Support (MES). “It is my privilege — as well as the joy of our churchwide team of Mission Engagement Advisors — to share our insights, experiences and best practices with the PC(USA) as we help to encourage the Church toward ever more faithful stewardship of the gifts that God has entrusted to us.”

Along with Mitchell, each of MES’s seven Mission Engagement Advisors — who are each assigned to a specific, geographic region — will be regular contributors to the blog. All seven ministry professionals are uniquely equipped to share the good news of the various ministries of the Presbyterian Mission Agency — including the Matthew 25 invitation — and to guide mid councils, congregations and individuals through ways to support these ministries financially. They can also identify resources to help Presbyterians to engage in other ways.

A plan is in currently place to add blog contributors from among additional PMA ministry area staff as well as congregational, mid council, and other leaders in 2021 in order to ensure a variety of diverse voices and perspectives.

According to the late Presbyterian historian, James H. Smylie, Presbyterians have historically defined stewardship “in terms of responsible life and vocation as well as the use of financial resources.” In Presbyterian Mission, the passion and resources of Presbyterians at all levels of the church — individual, congregation, mid council and Mission Agency — combine to advance the love and justice of Jesus Christ toward realizing the vision of the Matthew 25 invitation: eradicating systemic poverty, dismantling structural racism, and building congregational vitality.

“What happens when we’re no longer gathering or volunteering in person because of COVID-19,” asks Mitchell. “Do we stop talking about financial stewardship? Do we stop seeking justice? Do we pause our response to the Matthew 25 invitation? What, during such strange, stressful and unprecedented times as these, are some creative approaches to the stewardship of time, talent and treasure? We are here to help with these questions and more — especially with ideas and resources to support your congregation’s financial stewardship.”

Click here to visit and/or subscribe to “Where Your Heart Is … A Weekly Offerings Stewardship Blog.”