The Financial Leadership Series for Churches is designed to equip congregational leaders with financial tools and knowledge to grow greater financial wisdom, integrity and sustainability, regardless of your ministry context, fiscal position or financial health. Investing in your leadership will grow your capacity and your ministry!
The Series will cover three modules of financial stewardship content for churches. Participants can sign up for all three or individual modules to meet their ministry goals and vocational needs. Each module, held in an online format, will explore one of three recognized qualities which correlate with growth in generosity:
Belief in the mission
Trust in leadership
Sound financial practices
Registration cost includes one pastoral leader and the ability to bring along one lay leader for free!
If you are interested in registering more than one lay person from your congregation for an additional cost, please contact the Lifelong Formation Office.
Cost: $300 | Deadline to Register: August 8th
Cost: $125 | Deadline to Register: August 8th
Cost: $125 | Deadline to Register: October 8th
Cost: $125 | Deadline to Register: December 26th
Bonnie Ives Marden is a stewardship practitioner, specializing in leadership empowerment and financial accountability. Author of “Church Finances for Missional Leaders: Best Practices in Financial Stewardship,” she brings technical experience and cultural awareness to the spiritual and temporal aspects of church financial stewardship.
The Reverend Cary James, Jr., is an Elder in the Baltimore-Washington Conference and has served in full-time ministry for 20 years. He is certified as a DISC Facilitator, Leading from Your Strengths Coach, ICF Certified Coach and Situational Leadership II Facilitator.
Module 1: August 15 – September 26
In Module One, participants will explore the relationship between financial stewardship and a ministry vision and how they are interconnected. Strengthening our vision and belief in our call and mission impacts our financial well-being. We will look at how planning, time horizon, change management, and clarity of communications, as well as integrity and credibility, influence the generosity your ministry experiences. Financial stewardship is spiritual work!
Module 2: October 17 – November 28
Financial generosity highly correlates with trust in leadership. In Module Two participants will explore leadership roles and responsibilities within congregations and basic financial systems that build trust and transparency. Pastors, counters, trustees, and others all have vital roles in financial stewardship. In addition, this module introduces donor cultivation and development activities that equip leaders to grow ministry in any setting.
Module 3: January 2 – February 13
Module Three will provide a deeper dive into the sound financial stewardship practices that build trust in your mission and encourage generosity. Financial reporting, policies, and record-keeping systems all impact our relationship with donors, staff, our communities and the world. We are accountable as non-profit organizations for financial audits, payroll taxes and other federal, state and denominational expectations. This knowledge will empower you to grow the financial integrity of your ministry.
All three modules will be held online, meaning that all of it will be presented on your computer. Prior to your course, you will receive information for where to find the course website and how to access it. Don’t worry if this is your first time taking a class online! The instructor has extensive experience teaching online and can help you all the way along.
Each module consists of four 90-minute live interactive webinar, one every two weeks for eight weeks. They will always be on a Monday evening from 6:00 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. (Central Time)
Sessions will involve reading in the text and interacting with information and exercises on the course website. The live webinars will give you an opportunity to speak directly with the instructor, ask questions, and make certain you are understanding everything you are learning during the other weeks.
If you are unable to attend the live webinar, a link to the recorded webinar will be posted within 24 hours to the course’s online learning portal.
The following books are required for all modules:
The following book is recommended (but not required):
Each session will include a 90-minute interactive webinar, held on the following dates:
Each session will include a 90-minute interactive webinar, held on the following dates:
Each session will include a 90-minute interactive webinar, held on the following dates:
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Course Cancellation Policy
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary reserves the right to cancel the course if a minimum participation level is not reached. If we cancel this offering, participants will be notified of the cancellation 7 business days before the offering’s start date and will receive a full refund.
Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary Policy for Participant Cancellation
Participants can withdraw from the course in writing via e-mail to lifelong.formation@garrett.edu.
Refunds will be provided according to this schedule:
