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A look at the Bishop's Stewardship Appeal By JIM MYERS "We are all obliged to be stewards of the church, collaborators and cooperators in the continuing redemptive work of Jesus Christ, which is the church's essential mission. This mission — proclaiming and teaching, serving and sanctifying — is our task. It is the personal responsibility of each one of us as stewards of the church." |
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"To Be a Christian
Steward" The Gospel of St. Mark gives us a description of the call of Jesus to his first disciples. Passing the Sea of Galilee, Jesus saw Simon and Andrew casting their nets into the sea. "Come after me," Jesus said to them, "and I will make you fishers of men" (Mark 1, 16-17). Thus, as the bishops tell us, we are all still called today. The men personally called by Jesus to be disciples have long since gone to their rewards in heaven, but the work of the church remains to be done. And, as the bishops remind us, it is now our task, "the personal responsibility of each one of us," to continue the work to which Jesus called his disciples. Those of us living today, as members of the Body of Christ, are the church. If we fail to answer the call, who will do so? This is the time of year when Bishop Robert J. Baker has asked us to consider our support of the Bishop's Stewardship Appeal (BSA, formerly DDF). The funds collected through this appeal are used for a variety of diocesan ministries, which transcend the ministries supported by individual parishes. Monies are used for a number of essential ministries: • Evangelization — Through the Office of Ethnic Ministry, the diocese ministers to Hispanic, Black and Vietnamese populations. The diocese also assists parishes in the work of rural evangelization through support of parish life facilitators. • Social Outreach — The diocese supports people in need and promotes social justice through Catholic Charities, which has regional centers throughout the state. • Religious Education — The diocese supports the Office of Catholic Schools and Christian Formation, which provide leadership, training and assistance to our Catholic schools and parish religious education programs. The diocese also supports campus ministries at nine colleges and universities throughout the state. BSA funds also go for the support of inner-city Catholic schools such as St. John in North Charleston, St. Anthony in Greenville and St. Martin de Porres in Columbia. • Right to Life — Through the BSA, the diocese supports Birthright of Charleston and of Greenville, Family Honor, S.C. Citizens for Life and other organizations that advocate and protect the sanctity of human life. In addition to these and a number of other worthy causes and activities, BSA funds also support seminary education and the permanent diaconate, none of which would be possible without the generous support of the faithful of the diocese. But the needs of these ministries are always greater than the resources available to meet them. Last year the BSA raised nearly $2 million, but that represented the support of only about 10 percent of the Catholics in the diocese. This year so far, slightly more than 7,300 of the more than 130,000 Catholics in the Diocese of Charleston have contributed to the BSA, and Bishop Baker has recently mailed a second letter of appeal. In the spirit of full Christian stewardship, the bishop has asked each household prayerfully to consider giving one percent of household income to the BSA. If this is not possible at the present time, we are asked to consider this a goal to be reached. But all are asked to take the first step and make a commitment to support the BSA with a contribution, however small. As Bishop Baker writes in his letter, "The amount you give is of your own choosing. The key is to identify ourselves as Catholic, recognize our responsibility to support the ministries and activities of the broader church, as well as those ministries taking place in our own parishes." In these pages we have tried to stress that true Christian stewardship is not "only about money." Christian stewardship is a call to conversion and discipleship, a call to follow Jesus and become "fishers of men." But Christian stewardship does exist in a real world, and in the real world money is an instrument, which allows us to care for those in need and to carry out the essential ministries of the church. In the end, it is up to us as members of the Body of Christ to support our church. Perhaps as we prayerfully consider Bishop Baker's appeal for support, we might reflect on the words of his brother Bishop Theodore F. Schneider in his Seven Principles of Biblical Stewardship: "Generous giving is a joyous opportunity, not a burdened obligation. It is a gift of the Spirit and a mark of maturing faith." Jim Myers, Ph.D., is director of stewardship for the Diocese of Charleston. Published March 28, 2002 |