Consecration Sunday is, in my humble opinion, the finest stewardship program ever developed. It gets an average of 15 to 30% increase in congregations. The highest I've seen was a 142% increase in a Mission Congregation. I've personally served as an Guest Leader for this program over 350 times.

In brief, the Outside Guest Leader meets with the Consecration Sunday Committee six weeks before the program to go over the Time line in the manual and be certain everyone understand their role and how it fits into the big picture. The emphasis of this program is on the need of the giver to give, not on the monetary needs of the congregation.

During the three Sunday prior to Consecration Sunday, stewardship talks set the day firmly in members minds. The week before, reservations are received for a CATERED Celebration Luncheon after worship on Consecration Sunday. Why catered? It does little good to receive reservations for a potluck, but when the luncheon is catered, it helps the church get an extra large attendance on Consecration Sunday. When there is more than one service, I recommend a brunch following the earlier services, and a lunch following the later service. People will rarely return to the church if they've attended earlier.

On the Sunday evening before Consecration Sunday, the Guest Leader meets with the leadership (the Committee, the Governing Body and their spouses) at a local restaurant. The guest leader speaks to the leadership about their role in the program, and the biblical dimensions of stewardship. Cards with the names of those who have yet to make reservations are passed out in order to make personal visits one them to invite them to the Celebration Luncheon. If more than once service, you need to know what brunch or lunch they will attend. Note: the importance of personal visits cannot be overemphasized. When the phone is used as a substitute, it will greatly reduce your attendance and adversely affect your program. Phone calls get an average of 10-20% more in reservations. Personal calls get an average of 40-60% more reservations. Which would you rather have?

On Consecration Sunday, the Guest Leader returns again, and preaches in the morning Worship Services. A tally takes place after the worship service, and the results are announced at the Celebration Luncheon.

If you'd like to discuss Consecration Sunday more fully, contact me at grimm@stewardshipconnection.comA word of caution. When you use Consecration Sunday follow the manual precisely. Also, with a program that works this well, there is a natural tendency to overuse it. There are exceptions, but I still recommend a maximum of three consecutive years.

Consecration Sunday is published by Cokesbury. To order the program kit, click here.

Links to Outside Guest Leaders in:
Northwestern Ohio
Northeastern Ohio
Southern Ohio