Members of FLAME, a network of African American congregations, participate in an 2023 Everence-sponsored Cultivating Generous Congregations workshop in Virginia.
Over the course of two wintry January days in 2023, seven congregations – including members of FLAME, a network of African American congregations – gathered in Virginia to learn about finances.
It was the first of several such trainings for the year through the Cultivating Generous Congregations (CGC) program. The training was developed by the Lake Institute and has been used by Everence® to train pastors and lay leaders for the last 12 years.
Since 2012, Everence has reached 335 congregations and 1309 participants through the program, said Beryl Jantzi, Director of Stewardship Education at Everence.
The program has helped grow the Everence Stewardship Partners program, and assisted in establishing more vital relationships with the congregations who are a part of the network.
Lana Miller, an Everence Stewardship Consultant based in Harrisonburg, Virginia, led the CGC event with FLAME at the beginning of the year. Miller said the ongoing partnership with the church network is one step toward working at diversity, equity and inclusion – and of countering systems that have placed marginalized communities at a disadvantage in receiving resources and safety nets to allow them to thrive.
“This work put us in the place of true partners where we can learn and grow from the experiences of the African American church while also sharing access to resources,” she said.
Everence continues to participate in the networks’ annual pastor gatherings and providing workshops and resources to church leaders and attenders, as well as connecting with congregations outside of the FLAME network.
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected church participation, as many saw a decline in attendance and are still recovering. Jantzi said Everence has readjusted the format to include virtual trainings, as well as condensed the curriculum so it can be presented in shorter segments.
“We believe this is a robust curriculum with relevant topics that congregations need now, more than ever,” he said.
Everence stewardship consultants can help connect congregations with services and resources to help form and grow their stewardship ministry.
