Book excerpt: Local church members join with the promise to uphold the church with “prayers, presence, gifts, and service.” The ministry of stewardship is concerned with the appropriate employment of the fruits of that pledge throughout the ministries of the church. This guideline is designed to help implement and guide the work of the ministry area. This is one of the twenty-six Guidelines that cover church leadership areas including Church Council and Small Membership Church, the administrative areas of Finance and Trustees, and ministry areas focused on nurture, outreach, and witness including Worship, Evangelism, and Christian Education, age-level ministries, Communications, and more. To see a full list of Guidelines, search by typing keywords: “Guidelines for Leading Your Congregation 2013-2016,” and click “search”.