Serving Money, Serving God
Aligning Radical Justice, Christian Practice, and Church Life
- Ethics, Culture & Social Issues
- Publisher: Fortress Press (Augsburg Fortress)
- Published: 2023
FritzSearch.com earns a commission on purchases made through Bookshop.org links.
Publisher's Description
Justice commitments can and must be integrated into all of a church's financial practices, including fundraising, budgeting, managing property and personnel, investing, and participating in community partnerships. So argues Sheryl Johnson in Serving Money, Serving God: Aligning Radical Justice, Christian Practice, and Church Life. This is the first Christian stewardship and finance book written from an explicitly anti-racist, decolonial, feminist, ecological, and class-critical standpoint. Many churches espouse these commitments--as individual members, as congregations, and through their denominations--but pursue them as discrete initiatives, such as themes for study and worship, rather than as core organizing principles for congregational life. Alignment between Christian beliefs and commitments and church practice is both ethically and practically necessary, however. A 2009 Pew Research Center study that found that about half of those who had become unaffiliated from religion had done so because they found religious people "hypocritical, judgmental, or insincere." Alignment between beliefs and church practice therefore matters deeply both for those who are active in churches and for those who are not--but who might be if faith and action are consistent. This book offers a positive and constructive approach to the topic and is filled with inspiring examples for churches of all sizes. Case studies provide practical guidance and make the analysis concrete, relatable, and accessible. The book highlights the importance of creativity, imagination, and a sense of hope-filled adventure in engaging this work.
Endorsements (9)
“Too often the topic of stewardship is avoided in the church. And too rarely is stewardship addressed as a topic of justice. Dr. Sheryl Johnson makes the case that an intertwined theology of stewardship and justice is essential for the future of the church. And she’s right. Religious leaders should take note. The future of our faith communities depends on it.”
“This book stands in the tragic gap between our gospel values and our financial practices as churches. Speaking both pastorally and prophetically, Johnson offers practical and theologically grounded wisdom for how congregations can make financial decisions that reflect their deepest values and commitments. A must-read for pastors, finance committees, and church boards.”
“Sheryl Johnson’s book is a shining gift to the North American church of our day. It is a prophetic, pragmatic guiding light for faith communities who hunger to align their practices—including financial practices—with their faith in a God who is bringing life in its fullness to all. With crystal clarity and compassionate wisdom, Johnson invites congregations and denominations to root practices regarding money—raising, spending, saving, redistributing it—in faith. She guides the reader through a journey into church finance through a lens of spiritual integrity and liberation. The journey is theologically rooted and spiritually inspired, and it profiles congregations that are working to align finances with their faith commitments. This delightfully conversational book will enable the church to move more fully into its vocation, practice the gospel, and live incarnationally. Read this book! It is invaluable.”
“When money is seen as a theological matter, faith communities can address much of the shallowness and frustration that plague religious life today. In this book, Sheryl Johnson provides valuable suggestions for deepening faith and life with an eye toward what truly matters, initiating courageous conversations that are still in short supply.”
“Sheryl Johnson bravely addresses the current Lazarus-like chasm between justice commitments and church finances. With an encouraging tone of humility and hope, Johnson offers both analysis and principles, but pushes beyond to make practical suggestions as to how churches can begin to incarnate justice-based Christian stewardship in a time such as this.”
“Johnson offers an accessible roadmap and focalizing handbook for how (and why) mainstream churches can prioritize the gospel over the dominant economic story, and find new life amid hard times through personal and institutional practices of economic solidarity and justice.”
“Examples abound in this book. The theology is sound and simple. Sheryl Johnson’s book is a deep but easy read. It is concise while comprehensive. Here is multidimensional, multicultural generosity generosity that is applicable to churches small and large. It is moving and motivating.”
“Drawing from her church experience, Johnson challenges today’s congregations to assess how they raise, spend, invest, give away, and make decisions regarding money. She prods them to build practices grounded in Christian theology, ethics, and faith, rather than in secular fundraising, neoliberal capitalism, and contemporary US cultural beliefs and practices, to align their faith with their financial behavior. She illuminates both the past and present while giving examples to help imagine a different future. She writes not from on high but with humility and in a relational style. Viewing the decline witnessed in many churches as an opportunity for creative transformation, she invites ‘us to recognize and embrace the new life God is offering us.’ Serving Money, Serving God is a thought-provoking and groundbreaking contribution.”
“Despite vigorous and prophetic challenges to neoliberalism made by religious leaders, by ecumenical and interfaith organizations, and within many congregations, most stewardship campaigns continue to reflect market-oriented approaches to wealth creation and the distribution of financial gifts. Sheryl Johnson’s book provides a desperately needed, creative, and justice-oriented approach that will challenge you to think about stewardship as far more than a campaign or program—it is a way of life and reflects the distinctive witness and identity of Christian ministry and mission. Serving Money, Serving God is an accessible accessible and essential read for religious leaders hoping to put their ethical commitments into action.”
See something wrong on this page? Report a problem