By: Amanda Willis

No matter the size of a church, asking for money is often difficult. But it need not be such a touchy subject, and there are practical tips that churches can apply to help make the conversation easier.

The Minnesota United Methodist Foundation will welcome Dr. Phil Jamieson, president of the United Methodist Foundation for the Memphis and Tennessee Annual Conferences and co-author of Ministry and Money: A Practical Guide for Pastors, to speak about year-round stewardship on April 10.

“Stewardship doesn’t just imply money; it implies the relationship we have with God, our finances, our time, and the world itself,” Jamieson told the Minnesota Conference when asked about his upcoming visit.

In Jamieson’s “How to Talk About Money When You’re Not Asking For It: Year-Round Stewardship” seminar, he will share some ideas that include “new ways to think about budgeting that take a church beyond the annual campaign toward an ongoing discussion about stewardship.”

Jamieson’s passion for coaching clergy and laity on how to ask for money started when he was teaching theology at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He and his wife, Janet, a professor of accounting, co-taught a course for clergy to help with money issues in the church. The couple has since gone on to write books about money from a practical and theological perspective.

“Phil is the one person I know who presents very practical ways to talk about money that helps pastors and lay people better understand the relationship between faith and money,” said Val Walker, Minnesota United Methodist Foundation executive director. “His message is grounded in what the Bible teaches about money, and he combines this with ideas for day-to-day application in the local church. I am so glad the Minnesota United Methodist Foundation is able to bring him to the conference. He will lead us in a timely and straightforward discussion of modern-day church finances.”

While there is no precise timeline in terms of how quickly a church can see long-term results from implementing Jamieson’s ideas, some shifts can be seen immediately. A culture change in terms of how congregations view and practice stewardship in local churches, however, can take much longer.

Join the Minnesota United Methodist Foundation from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. April 10 at Faith United Methodist Church in West St. Paul to learn more about the relationship between faith and money.

Amanda Willis is communications associate for the Minnesota Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.