Stewardship and Generosity Leadership

About this course

This course explores stewardship and generosity as theological practices that shape congregational identity, mission, and discipleship. Rooted in Scripture and the Reformed tradition, the course examines how financial stewardship is not merely a budgetary concern, but a reflection of gratitude, covenantal responsibility, and participation in God’s work in the world.

Students consider the theological foundations of generosity, including grace, gratitude, justice, and trust in God’s provision. Attention is given to the ways congregational narratives about money, scarcity, and security influence giving patterns and leadership decisions. The course invites students to examine how anxiety around finances often reveals deeper questions about identity, mission, and confidence in God’s call.

Practical components include developing stewardship messaging that is theologically coherent, cultivating year-round practices of gratitude rather than crisis-based appeals, and aligning financial leadership with congregational vision. Students also explore how pastors model generosity through transparency, clarity, and relational leadership, rather than manipulation or pressure.

Designed for Commissioned Ruling Elders serving as congregational pastors, this course prepares leaders to guide congregations toward healthy financial practices grounded in faith, integrity, and shared mission.

Course objectives

• Articulate a theological understanding of stewardship grounded in Scripture and the Reformed tradition.
• Interpret congregational financial behavior through the lenses of narrative, anxiety, and systems awareness.
• Develop stewardship strategies that reflect gratitude, mission alignment, and long-term sustainability.
• Integrate financial leadership with vision casting and discipleship formation.
• Communicate about money in ways that are transparent, pastoral, and theologically responsible.
• Identify patterns of scarcity thinking and describe practices that cultivate trust and generosity.
• Collaborate effectively with finance committees and session leadership in shaping congregational stewardship culture.
• Reflect critically on their own theology of money and how it influences pastoral leadership.

Who may participate?

All church leaders unless a prerequisite or a particular offering states otherwise.