Ruminations from the Rector
There are a number of us here at Christ’s Church who are reading a book called ‘Transforming Stewardship’ by C. K. Robertson, who serves as Canon to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. He speaks about a holistic approach to sacred stewardship where we move from a clenched fist mentality, not simply with money but with people, their gifts and the whole of creation, to an open-handed generosity that reaches out, brings in and builds up all of life. He talks about humility and openness, trust, encouragement and empowerment as gifts to be cultivated so the goal of building up the community of faithful stewards can be affected in such a way as to have a significant impact on the world around them. That would be us.
The characteristics of a Holistic Steward in Luke’s Gospel are demonstrated by Barnabas, who recruited Paul to be a follower of the Way. The holistic steward is a generous donor, a recruiter, trainer and retainer of newcomers, an empowering encourager of new leadership, a team player, a person committed to the power of prayer, an agent for change, and an ambassador to the world of loving kindness and thanksgiving. All these characteristics demonstrate an infinite richness in joy, faith and love, which continue to transform the individual and the society that is lived in. That would be here.
The call here is to let go of all that enslaves you, to unclench your fists, open your hands and look beyond the illusory distinctions that separate us and keep us isolated and closed off. The call is to honor one another and ourselves as gifts of God and share what we have with each other and the world. As we do, everything changes. The more we each give ourselves away, the more the love flows and the riches grow. Let us not be seduced by a focus on possessions alone; rather let us see the interconnectedness of all, and embrace a life rich in care, compassion and thanksgiving. Let us become intentional agents of positive change, warm welcome, and generosity of Spirit. This is our call. This is our challenge. This is moving us out of our comfort zone, and it is good. Are you up for it? That would be now!
