Winter 2021

We are entering year two of our second grant funded by Lilly Endowment’s national initiative around the Economic Challenges Facing Our Pastoral Leaders, along with the generous donors of our Dakotas and Minnesota Annual Conferences. The Steering Team guiding our grant spent time earlier this month talking about future plans but also reflecting upon what we are learning.

How can our grant better support our three strategic areas: to improve the financial well-being of our clergy, strengthen the financial health of our churches, and cultivate a culture of generosity?

We need your feedback and involvement to inform this work. If you and/or a lay person in your church have insights for our work around financial health and generosity, please consider the following:

Join the Steering Team. The Steering Team guiding this work has a need for at least three more members— clergy or lay. The team meets virtually four times per year. The commitment for a member of the team is for 2021 and 2022. The team provides insights and wisdom needed to guide the work of the grant.
Offer your feedback and perspective. Would you be willing to share your experiences with the Steering Team at a meeting?
- How have the initiative’s programs been helpful or not? Consider: the Nonprofit Church Leadership certificate program, Investing in Leaders Resource Grant (student debt reduction grant), Clergy Leadership Academy education and training around financial well-being and generosity, New Clergy Orientation, and resource support around your personal financial health or education.
- Additionally, we are interested in learning about what you need to be better equipped in the three strategic areas. What is missing from the initiative’s efforts from your perspective? What would be most helpful to you and your church now?

We know you are focused on navigating the mission and ministries of your church. Please consider how you can shape the work of financial health and generosity ministries to provide better support to those efforts. Contact me, Diane Owen, with your willingness and interest to participate.

Blessings on your ministry and this new year!
Diane Owen
Program Director
Financial Health and Generosity Ministries
(Funded by Lilly Endowment and our Area’s generous donors)

Partnership Makes Student Debt Reduction Grants Easier to Access

The Investing in Leaders resource grant program is combining with the student debt reduction granting programs available through the Board of Ordained Ministries from both Annual Conferences to expand the grant opportunities for clergy.

Under this expanded program, clergy with student debt can receive up to $5,000 per year for up to five years (instead of three years). Clergy will have the ease of accessing all student debt reduction grant funds through one application process, the Investing in Leaders Resource Grant program. There will be minor changes in the program. Previous financial education and follow-through on 2020 financial goals will be part of the review process. Details will be available in the upcoming months. Until then, you can view last year’s criteria and process.

New Opportunities

Join Sarah Swantner, financial counselor, as she presents “Our Relationship with Money”, a four-part webinar series you may watch at your convenience. Each session is 20-30 minutes long and is a great way to take stock of your financial health as you kick off 2021. Session one is available now. The remaining three sessions will be posted by Feb. 1. The series covers a variety of topics including:

Integration of finances into self-care
The meaning of a “relationship with money”
Nuts and bolts of personal finance
Beliefs and emotions around money

An eight-week financial well-being group for clergy led by Sarah Swantner was launched on Jan.12. Early feedback from participating pastors is very positive. Sarah is a professional financial counselor, Certified Financial Planner (CFP), and owner of Black Hills Integrative Counseling and Coaching. She has been working with our Area clergy in groups and individually over the last two years. If you are interested in participating in the next group, get your name on the waiting list now by contacting Diane Owen.

Specific topics that will be addressed:

Cash flow
Money mechanics
Insurance and asset protection
Wills and legacy planning
Setting and adhering to financial goals and plans
Money beliefs
Money in relationships
Financial alignment with personal values and life purpose
Ways to reduce financial stress and increase financial satisfaction

Celebration!

Over $40,000 was donated to the Investing in Leaders Resource Grant in response to the 2020 Christmas appeal letter sent to potential donors by the Dakotas and Minnesota Foundations.

These incoming donations reinforce the sustainability of the grant for the future and demonstrate support for your financial well-being. We are so grateful for our partnership with the Foundations!

Upcoming Event

Wespath Benefits and Investments – Delivered to You takes place in the afternoon for two days, Feb. 8-9, 2021, 1-4:30 p.m. CST. The $49 registration fee includes an event care kit shipped to you in advance. Your registration fee will be reimbursed by sending the receipt to Diane Owen. The deadline for registration is Friday, Jan. 29, 2021. You will:

Get tips to manage your mental-emotional, financial, spiritual, social and physical health and the benefits and services available to you.
Be inspired to do things differently.
Learn tips and tricks for using Benefits Access.
Hear more about the Savings Grace financial curriculum available for you and your congregation.
Receive an exciting event care kit—delivered right to your door—so you can participate fully.