Not for Me but for Us

Fiduciary responsibility. Until a few years ago, this was a phrase I had never heard. When I became a trustee for Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary, suddenly, I had some "fiduciary responsibility" for the institution. Along with the other trustees of the seminary, I was responsible for making decisions that supported the financial stability of the school. While some people understand finances and money very well, this made me nervous.

Money and budgeting have never been my specialty. Thank you, Pastor Claude, for being the staff liaison for the Finance Work Area and Board of Gifts and Bequests! I would not thrive in this setting. Knowing this, my first year here, I took a class on finances for non-profits alongside Carolyn Donnelly, our financial secretary. While I learned a lot and feel that I can responsibly serve on staff with the knowledge that I do have, money is still a topic of some anxiety for me.

My guess is that I am not alone in this. Whether managing a budget for an institution, a family, or yourself, at different points in life, money can be a complicated thing. What are some of the messages you've received about money? What have you learned over time?

Growing up during the recession of the early 2000s, and watching a parent navigate unemployment a few different times, fear of not having enough is something I struggle with. I imagine many others are now as well as we experience inflation and soaring gas prices often unpaired with increased salaries.

As Christians, we find ourselves in an interesting place. Often what we are taught and encouraged to do with money from our families, financial wellness courses, and advisors, is at odds with what Jesus has to say to us about money. This week we'll explore another one of those texts that has something to say about money and what we do with it.