What Every Church Board Should Know About Stewardship

Let’s clear something up: stewardship is not just about money.

It’s about people.

Behind every line on a financial report is a person—someone wrestling with trust, priorities, and spiritual growth.

That’s why stewardship isn’t just a staff issue.

It’s a board-level issue.

Because how your church teaches, tracks, and talks about generosity has everything to do with its health, its mission, and its future.

Here’s what every church board should know—and ask—about stewardship in this season.

Giving Metrics That Matter (and What They Actually Mean)

Churches often track total giving.

But the healthiest churches go deeper.

Here are three metrics your board should see—and why they matter:

1. New Givers

• What it reveals: Discipleship momentum. New givers often represent new spiritual decisions—people beginning to trust God with their finances.
  
  
• Key board question: How are we welcoming and encouraging first-time givers to take their next step?

2. Lapsed Givers

• What it reveals: Disconnection or disruption. These aren’t “bad Christians.” Often, they’re hurting, overlooked, or drifting.
  
  
• Key board question: What’s our follow-up plan when giving stops? Is it pastoral, not just procedural?

3. Net Difference in Givers

• What it reveals: The long game. Are we building a culture of consistent giving, or are we relying on a shrinking base of faithful few?
  
  
• Key board question: Over the past 12 months, have we gained or lost engaged givers?

When you pay attention to people—not just the dollars—you see opportunities, not just outcomes.

Stewardship Is Discipleship, Not Just a Budget Line

Let’s say it out loud:

Generosity is a spiritual discipline.

Which means giving isn’t something we “get” from people. It’s something we grow in people.

So as a board, it’s fair to ask:

• What’s our church’s systematic approach to helping people grow in generosity?
  
  
• What language do we use to disciple—not just inspire—our congregation?
  
  
• What pathway exists for a person to go from non-giver to faithful tither?
  
  

If the answer is: “Well, we do a sermon on giving once a year,”

That’s not a system. That’s a hope.

Every Church Needs a Generosity Growth Path

Here’s a simple framework we use at Generis. It helps churches disciple people toward greater faithfulness:

1. Awareness → Education

People don’t give when they don’t know why it matters.

We must teach why generosity reflects the heart of God—and how it grows our faith.

2. Participation → Celebration

Every first-time gift matters. Make it visible. Celebrate the step. Thank and equip the giver.

3. Consistency → Challenge

Help people automate giving not just for convenience—but to prioritize it. Then gently challenge them to take bold next steps.

4. Sacrifice → Legacy

Ultimately, generosity becomes part of someone’s story—not just a transaction, but a transformation.

What’s Your Church Doing to Help People Make Progress Toward Tithing?

We often assume people know what a tithe is. Many don’t.

We assume they’re resisting. Often, they’re just unclear.

Tithing feels like a massive leap for someone new to church.

That’s why we need to talk about progress, not just perfection.

As a board, consider asking:

• Do we have a next-step framework for generosity?
  
  
• Are we offering discipleship opportunities—classes, devotionals, videos—around stewardship?
  
  
• Do we regularly highlight stories of life change through generosity?
  
  

Your Board’s Stewardship Checklist

Here are five questions every church board should regularly ask:

1. How are we tracking the growth of givers, not just the growth of giving?
   
   
2. What’s our follow-up process for lapsed givers—and is it pastoral?
   
   
3. Do we have a plan to disciple people in generosity, beyond a sermon series?
   
   
4. Are we equipping the staff and volunteers with tools to normalize giving conversations?
   
   
5. What systems are in place to move people toward consistent, sacrificial generosity over time?

Remember: what gets measured gets managed.

But what gets celebrated gets multiplied.

Stewardship Is Spiritual Leadership

As a board member, you carry more than fiduciary responsibility.

You carry spiritual responsibility.

You’re not just managing a budget—you’re stewarding a vision.

You’re not just safeguarding resources—you’re shepherding a culture.

And the culture you shape now will determine whether your church is sustained by the few… or mobilized by the many.