Posted by EC Andercheck May 23, 2017 5:12 pm
My Most recent publication is now available: Bishops, Authority and Money- A History of Shepherds as Fundraisers
This is a work in Ecclesiology focused on the the notion of fundraising in a very general sense and then its history, it is about mainline churches but also focused on the Roman Catholic Church in America. As a story it proceeds, exploring this history of the episcopacy, there are moments of glory and occasions of sin; it is an engaging story of how throughout Christendom some bishop’s actions have raised great wealth and armies for the Lord’s service and how other bishops have passively or actively bankrupted their churches.
The long decline of mainline American churches, Catholic and Protestant, is traced to a new source, the failure of their leadership to financially provision their church. In this direct practical theological and historical inquiry the scriptural mandate for church leadership to provide funding is carefully evolved and evidenced, as is the link of church leadership’s financial failing to today’s church decline.
This is a work in Ecclesiology focused on the the notion of fundraising in a very general sense and then its history, it is about mainline churches but also focused on the Roman Catholic Church in America. As a story it proceeds, exploring this history of the episcopacy, there are moments of glory and occasions of sin; it is an engaging story of how throughout Christendom some bishop’s actions have raised great wealth and armies for the Lord’s service and how other bishops have passively or actively bankrupted their churches.
The long decline of mainline American churches, Catholic and Protestant, is traced to a new source, the failure of their leadership to financially provision their church. In this direct practical theological and historical inquiry the scriptural mandate for church leadership to provide funding is carefully evolved and evidenced, as is the link of church leadership’s financial failing to today’s church decline.
This book will challenge its reader to consider how the ministry of fundraising can rescue denominations currently facing extinction and bring the gospel message to the many millions who have left American churches. It will raise questions: Does your bishop accept responsibility to financially provision your church, as fully as he or she accepted the authority to lead at consecration?
The Bishop’s acceptance of the authority to lead is inextricably married to the responsibility to serve; every church shepherd must recall how Jesus responded to Peter:
“Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you.”
Jesus said to him, “Feed my sheep”. Jn21:17
