Why Steward Rather Than Member?
Churches often use the term “membership” to describe this step of faith. The IRS also uses “membership” to describe what it requires of nonprofit churches. NCC is a nonprofit church and a member-based organization, which enables our tax-exempt status. Membership at churches has sometimes led to a culture of insiders and outsiders, and has even created a culture of privilege and power rather than ownership and responsibility.
However, the community we are building is more accurately described by the word “stewardship.” In the church, stewards are people who look after, serve, and take care of the church. The very first church was given specific instructions for its stewardship role. Luke writes: Keep watch over yourselves and all the flock of which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers. Be shepherds of the church of God, which he bought with his own blood. Acts 20:28-29
Luke uses words like overseers and shepherds to describe a Christ follower’s relationship to the church. Stewardship is a misunderstood word for the faith community, often reduced to financial contributions and resource management. A biblical view of stewardship is so much more.
Stewardship of the church is a spiritual step of faith in which we surrender our way to the way of Christ to shepherd and manage with wisdom, humility, and responsibility all that God has entrusted to us to fulfill the mission and kingdom vision God has for NCC.
A Community of Stewards is rooted in the story of NCC. Ten faithful congregants of the original First Baptist Church Menlo Park “stewarded” the campus property to remain a church through difficult and faith-challenging times. Their mission-focused stewardship enabled New Community Church to be created. We inherit the blessing of that first community of stewards.