The First and Finest

A true Orthodox approach to stewardship will integrate elements of an Orthodox understanding of the subject as gleaned from the liturgical life of the Church, canonical guidelines, patristic teachings, iconography, architectural structures, etc. which reveal biblical truths over the course of their development in Church history. While the scope of theoretical resources is admittedly broad, many aspects of Church life give witness to the practice of stewardship in Church history. For example, the witness of Church architecture and iconography, which is visual in nature, may be more effective for certain people who are visually oriented, in contrast to those who are more verbally attuned to the discussions of Scripture and patristic teaching. This project has explored, in a cursory way, some of these theoretical elements in order to construct a pastoral approach to Orthodox stewardship as it is lived in mission parishes of twenty-first century United States. For this writing, the theme of liturgical offering as the basis of stewardship will serve as the theological thread which knits together the ongoing praxis of the Orthodox Church in history. In Orthodoxy, the notion of offering is linked to the Church's participation in the offering of Christ “in behalf of all [humans] and for all [things]" in the context of the Eucharistic liturgy. However, offering is also reflected by the tangible contributions of the faithful, exemplified in freewill financial offerings, offerings of bread, wine, oil, etc. for liturgical use, special need offerings including charity for the poor, first fruits offerings (particularly those presented on the Feast of the Transfiguration), personal offerings to the priest, and countless other examples. Some offerings, like the offering of one's time and talent, encompass other aspects of giving. The importance of worship in Orthodoxy is obvious as the very term `Orthodoxy' means `right worship'. Hence offering is linked integrally to worship/liturgy and the proper glorification of God with one's being - body and soul. In Orthodoxy, this will manifest itself primarily through corporate liturgical worship of the Church as a body. Through the examination of the theory and practice of Orthodox stewardship in mission parishes, the basis for Orthodox Christian stewardship can be better understood. Developing a method to present Orthodox stewardship in a parish context can then be an effective tool for pastoral ministry - leading God's people to a deeper life of Christian holiness.