A Letter From Our Pastor: Don’t Allow Stewardship to Be Fenced In

Dear Parishioners,

In 1934, one of the great American songwriters of the 20th century, Cole Porter, wrote one of his greatest songs, “Don’t Fence Me In.” The lyrics suggest that it is in the open spaces where a person will have endless possibilities. In other words, “don’t fence me in” and limit what life is calling me to do.

Unfortunately, limiting stewardship to an act of just giving or raising money fences in discipleship, puts a price tag on it, and restricts the true possibilities it holds. Too many times, I have seen parishes around the country and organizations online misusing the term “stewardship,” attaching it to the fundraising tactics they are trying to endorse. All I can say is, how unfortunate. They fenced it in, restricting the potential and the spiritual reality of authentic, genuine biblical stewardship. What others have done with a restricted understanding of stewardship is presented as a closedminded view of the potential that awaits true stewards.

It isn’t that I don’t recognize the value of sharing my treasure with the Church and the needs of others. I will always do so, not only because they need it, but because I need to give back a portion of what I have been blessed with by God. I need to connect myself through my treasure to the world around me. But, more importantly, I need to give my time and use the talents I have been given even more so. I think it’s too easy to just drop a check in the collection basket and call it stewardship. I will continue to do it, but I know there is much more to my stewardship way of life. Stewardship involves all three — time, talent and treasure. Restricting its understanding and practice to only one “fences it in” and limits the possibilities of where our lives can go.

Stewardship is about raising faith to a level where being a disciple of Jesus Christ is one’s life and one’s relationship with the life of others in the Church and world. It doesn’t have a price tag unless you attach one to it. Before we are tempted to do so, remember Jesus never did, nor should we. You can’t limit stewardship any more than you can discipleship.

Discipleship can’t be fenced in. Otherwise, the first disciples would have remained locked in the upper room on that day of Pentecost. Instead, fueled with the gifts of the Holy Spirit, their stewardship would be lived in such a way that a Christian Church would be born, the Good News of Jesus Christ would be proclaimed and, most importantly, the family of God would spend their time, talent and even their material resources to change and inspire the world. It would not have happened if their stewardship had been “fenced in” or limited to one aspect. We carry on the mission they began with our way of life. We are not “fenced in” by any means.

The term “stewardship” is still misunderstood by many, unfortunately. And it is unfortunate because the potential for stewardship is limitless. When understood correctly, it changes a person’s life. It changes the way one uses time, for the value of our time is extremely critical and should never be used in such a way that it is wasted. Our time given to us is too precious. It changes the way one connects and participates in the Church, family, and community through our God-given talents. We use our talents for the right reasons and noble and worthwhile purposes. It changes our understanding and use of our treasure. When one gives time and talent, usually there is also a natural need to give of our material resources as a kind of investment in the good of the Church.

Although I find myself frustrated when stewardship is used in a very limited way, I will not give up proclaiming and encouraging what lies beyond what the “fence” keeps in. What lies beyond are all the possibilities true stewardship can provide. It awaits all of us. It is all good, for it is from God and He would never want us to limit ourselves when what He gives us is limitless. Therefore, God wouldn’t want us to limit our stewardship. God won’t fence us in.

Sincerely yours in Christ,

Fr. Tom Donovan, Pastor