CHARLESTON — Whether a parish is starting to promote stewardship as a way of life or has been actively involved in it for years, the fifth annual Regional Stewardship Day Conference will feature something for all. The conference will be April 29 at the Embassy Suites in Cary, N.C., and is sponsored by the dioceses of Charleston, Charlotte, Raleigh, Savannah and the Archdiocese of Atlanta.
Jim Myers, Ph.D., director of stewardship for the Diocese of Charleston, said that the United States bishops’ pastoral letter, “Stewardship: A Disciple’s Response,” is the document that defines stewardship, inspires Catholics and challenges them to embrace a way of life that includes the giving of time, talent and treasure out of gratitude for God’s gifts to them.
“Our keynote speaker, Dan Conway, will use the pastoral letter as well as the apostolic letter of Pope John Paul II, ‘The Church in America,’ as he highlights ways that a commitment to stewardship can be countercultural in American society today,” Myers said. “Dan comes to us from a rich background in stewardship.” Conway has served on the faculty of the International Catholic Stewardship Council’s winter and summer institutes in addition to directing stewardship and development efforts in the Archdioceses of Louisville, Indianapolis and Chicago.
Myers said that Conway’s talk, “Stewardship in America: A Countercultural Way of Life,” will be both challenging and inspiring for conference participants. Conway will also offer a breakout session on the “Spirituality of Stewardship,” which will include practical suggestions on living stewardship as a way of life for individuals, families and parish communities.
Other speakers will be Enrique Gomez-Palacio of St. Thomas More Church in Chapel Hill, N.C., who will address stewardship in a multicultural parish; Joel Gray of St. Brigid Church in Alpharetta, Ga., who will speak about his experience with the ministry; pastoral associates Pat Spivey and Tracy Welliver and stewardship committee chairperson Patti Dunning, who will present a profile of stewardship from St. Pius X Church in Greensboro, N.C.; Margo Truett of St. Anne in Columbus, Ga., who will present “Developing Leaders of Stewardship”; and Very Rev. John McGee, OSFS, vicar forane, pastor of Holy Infant in Durham, N.C., who will speak about his role in promoting stewardship in the parish.
“It is the hope of conference planners that participants will return to their own parishes with a renewed emphasis on living and promoting stewardship as a way of life — a life of real Christian discipleship,” Myers said.
For more information or to receive a registration brochure, contact Edrina Hamilton at edrina@catholic-doc.org, or call the Stewardship Office at (843) 853-2130 ext. 211.