An open, honest conversation can be a powerful tool for clergy and laity when broaching delicate topics with our congregations. The Foundation’s President and CEO, Reverend Dr. Elizabeth Coppedge-Henley, has embraced her role in facilitating dialogue around stewardship and planned giving in the hopes of bringing about transformation in the way we view funding the church and its vital ministries. We know first hand that the conversation around money can be awkward but her approach to an open and free-flowing discussion makes for a tremendously beneficial experience for all attendees. When asked about her passion for teaching the benefits of stewardship, she says, “The challenge and the invitation to follow Jesus come together in scripture and in preaching. And one of the spiritual disciplines that help us to grow in Christ is deciding how we spend our money.”
Having served over 20 years as a lead pastor and five years in Foundation ministry, Elizabeth’s background uniquely positions her as someone who can open up conversation and bring insight to help the local church have meaningful conversations. Her teaching is both information driven and conversational, including a unique blend of Methodist teaching, financial knowledge and internet memes to drive home points that might otherwise go unnoticed.
After attending Rev. Dr. Coppedge-Henley’s seminar on Launching Your Church Council, Lucia Fletcher of Jackson United Methodist Church was excited to have received some tangible insights that would benefit her role on the Church Council. “It was obvious she knew the subject,” said Fletcher. Adding that she was both “very informative and light in her approach” to the topic of planned giving and stewardship, while providing “some great things to think about” as she heads into a new season of council meetings this year.
Elizabeth often quotes United Methodist thought leader Lovett Weems who frames the financial conversation between pastors and their congregations as a necessary discussion about spiritual discipline. According to Weems, “stewardship” is often understood as supporting the annual operating budget while “planned giving” is how we support our church’s future ministry. Both are important to the conversation of making disciples for Jesus Christ now and in the years to come. Weems says, “Biblical generosity and responsible stewardship are more than a fundraising plan for the church. They are instruments that God uses to counter greed and scarcity, to transform and reconcile communities, and to bring forth the abundant life that God intends for all people.
Elizabeth is passionate not only about teaching and preaching biblical generosity but also about empowering local churches with the right resources to facilitate these conversations. She remarked on her experience by saying, “I think it’s a big challenge for the people of God to have conversation around finances and there’s no better way to address those challenges than with scripture.”
The Foundation is much more than just another financial institution. Our purpose is your mission and we want to offer ourselves as a meaningful resource and partner for ministry across the state. In her role as President and CEO of the Foundation, Elizabeth feels called to bring these conversations to the local level and to ultimately assist with growing the church’s resources and ministry. She would love to be invited to preach, lead a class on stewardship and planned giving or meet with church council members to discuss best practices for healthy and meaningful approaches to these topics.
If you feel this could benefit your church, please reach out to us at info@gumf.org
