The Dancing Steward: Exploring Christian Stewardship Lifestyles

Reviewed Book: Levan, Christopher. The Dancing Steward: Exploring Christian Stewardship Lifestyles. Toronto: United Church Pub House, 1993

The Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario: Integrating Christian Principles with the Practicality of Farming

This thesis examines the Christian identity and characteristics of the Christian Farmers Federation of Ontario (CFFO), a general farm organization active in the diverse agricultural sector of Ontario, Canada. It highlights the intersection of religion and farming that emerged from interviews and participant observation within this group. The thesis probes what it means for them to be responsible Christian farmers in contemporary agriculture. Christian and secular scholars from three key areas of scholarship—Dutch immigration to Canada, agriculture of the middle or family farming, and Christian stewardship—help to contextualize their responses. The CFFO was founded as a Dutch neo-Calvinist organization within the sphere of agriculture in Ontario, based on the theology of sphere sovereignty. It has since grown to include members and leaders from many Christian denominations. In their advocacy for Christian principles in agriculture, the CFFO has turned to two important concepts commonly used in North America—family farming and stewardship—both tied to discussions of values and the broader impacts of agriculture. Family farming expresses the importance for them of owner-operated farms that support strong family and community relationships, as well as familiarity with and stewardship of the land, plants and animals being farmed. Fair competition and fair prices in the marketplace supports the vocation of farming as important work, worth doing well. Farmers’ ethic of Christian stewardship expresses their deep sense of responsibility to others through their work. The formulation of Christian stewardship within the CFFO is connected to but also distinct from other formulations of stewardship. The thesis argues that there is a spectrum of opinion within the CFFO on how best to put Christian stewardship into practice in contemporary farming. This extends between farmers who advocate imitating and maintaining the integrity of creation, and farmers who advocate developing and responsibly using creation

The Way of the Gift

(Excerpt) In his classic work on stewardship Helge Brattgard said that it is only as the Spirit of God, working through Word and Sacrament, leads [people] to be grateful for spiritual and material gifts received, and to see their responsibility for the administration of these gifts, that congregational life can result. 1 Unfortunately, after making this wonderful assertion, he like most other writers on stewardship remained surprisingly silent about how liturgical action a~d the broader life of the Christian shape one another

A Strategy For The Presentation Of The Principles Of Christian Stewardship To The Seventh-day Adventist Churches In South America

Problem In the SDA Church in South America there are deficiencies in three clearly defined aspects of the educative phase of stewardship campaigns: (1) in the unilateral presentation of the doctrine of stewardship, (2) in the methods and procedures used in that presentation, and (3) in the persons that receive the benefits of said presentation. In this project, the problem of how to improve the efficiency of stewardship education is discussed. Method The purpose of this research is to develop and evaluate a series of Christian stewardship meetings that differs from the series now in use in South America in its educational focus. The project is organized in two main parts. The first is a search for socio-economic, cultural-religious, and biblical-theological foundations for Christian stewardship in the South American context. The second part deals with the strategies, methods, and techniques used in the proposed stewardship meetings. Results The results obtained from three instruments applied to the members of the three churches exposed to the new method, indicated that a positive change in intellectual comprehension, in feelings and attitudes toward stewardship, and in the practice of Christian stewardship followed the meetings. At the same time, several suggestions are considered that might contribute to the further improvement of the meetings. While this study does not provide the answer to all the deficiencies of Christian stewardship education in the SDA Churches of South America, it does open additional areas of study for further research

Environmental stewardship as a dimension of a Christian stewardship ethic: views of seminary students, lecturers and ministers

It is not uncommon to find that Christians are blamed for contributing to the destruction of the environment – a view that derives from the Biblical precept that ‘man was given dominion over the earth’ (cf Gen. 1:28). The current state of the environment indicates that humankind has indeed ravaged the earth, but it could be argued that this has occurred through greed, covetousness, materialism, competitiveness and short-sightedness which are specific human traits in conflict with God and Christianity. Furthermore, the true significance of the ‘dominion over the earth’ tenet is invariably overlooked. Having dominion over the earth means that man has the responsibility of representing God on earth; of ruling as His co-regents or, put differently, acting as His stewards or custodians of His creation. It is argued that environmental stewardship is a dimension of the Christian stewardship ethic that is inherent in the Christian faith.This article reports on research undertaken with ministers, lecturers and students of the United Reformed Church in Southern Africa who were asked to provide their views on Christian stewardship as a requisite component of their role as leaders and aspirant leaders in the Church. Perspectives on environmental stewardship as a dimension of the Christian stewardship ethic were also probed. The research showed that respondents were unanimous in their understanding that Christian stewardship is Biblically founded and mandated and that environmental stewardship is part of that ethic. However, environmental stewardship is inadequately provided for in Church teaching and seminary training programmes. This article examines respondents’ views on the above and puts forward ways in which environmental stewardship could be enhanced and promoted.https://doi.org/10.19108/KOERS.81.2.226

Virtues and Exchange: A Biblical Reframing of Adam Smith’s Vision of Marketplace Ethics

This paper explores ways in which Christian business educators can integrate Adam Smith’s views on marketplace ethics into a biblical framework. Often Smith’s thoughts on self-interest are highlighted without reference to his insights regarding the role of virtue in commercial life. After outlining two dominant interpretations of Smith, his ideas are integrated with a biblical conception of commercial life as stewardship. The goal of this integration is to aid Christian business faculty in their continued efforts to go beyond career preparation in their courses to include the higher telos of Christ-like character

Another look at education from a Christian stewardship perspective

Despite the current postmodern aversion to large-scale philosophies, another look at Christian stewardship education has become necessary. Christian educators need a reminder in the prevailing socio-political conditions in South Africa about the intricacies of their calling and duties towards the upcoming generation. The article commences with a discussion of education in general and then goes on to argue that the ‘thin’, minimalist and universalist language of modern day secular pedagogical theory should be augmented, or preferably replaced, by the ‘thick’, maximalist and particularist language of education theory rooted in the Bible. The article highlights a number of key concepts associated with Christian stewardship education and concludes by observing that, whilst an entire book (once again) could have been written on the subject, the discussion of a few key issues with regard to Christian stewardship education can serve as a reminder to Christian educators about their pedagogical responsibilities

Stewardship Educational Program Based on the Lukan Pericopes (Pentecost Season - Series C)

This Major Applied Project seeks to enable the members of the congregation to grow in the stewardship of all that the Lord has entrusted to their care. Through regular and ongoing scriptural education the members of the congregation will mature in their faith. As faith grows, Christian stewardship grows. The scope of this Major Applied Project is limited, yet the principles utilized here will serve as a model for any pastor or congregation to better implement a program of year-round stewardship education. By its connection to the weekly Gospel readings, the program addresses the Christian\u27s role as steward in the ebb and flow of worship, witness and life