The Lutheran Church—Missouri Synod adopted eight Stewardship principles at its 1998 national convention. These principles reflect a definition of stewardship commonly used throughout the LCMS. Each principle stands alone as an important guide for the church, yet all eight principles stand together as a summary of how we live our lives of stewardship.

Stewardship Preamble

Christian stewardship is the free and joyous activity of the child of God and God’s family, the church, in managing all of life and life’s resources for God’s purposes.

Principle One—God’s Stewards are God’s Stewards

God’s stewards are stewards by virtue of creation and their recreation in Holy Baptism; therefore, they belong to the Lord.

For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith - and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God - not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do. Ephesians 2:8–10

Principle Two—God’s Stewards Are Managers, Not Owners

God’s stewards have been entrusted with life and life’s resources and given the privilege of responsibly and joyfully managing them for Him.

But who am I, and who are my people, that we should be able to give as generously as this? Everything comes from you, and we have given you only what comes from your hand. 1 Chronicles 29:14

Continued in “Did You Know? (Part 2).”

Saint John’s Stewardship Board promotes the development of good stewardship and giving patterns among the members of Saint John’s.