TEE - Stewardship
Saturday, July 25, 2009 at 6:18PM 
Remember how difficult the topic of Christian Servant Leadership was for our TEE (Theological Education by Extension) class? Well, we seem to have found another difficult topic.
Stewardship was the area of focus for TEE this weekend. Ugandans, like many Africans, view money completely different than Americans do. Their approach to money is largely informed by their day-to-day struggle for survival. Among Ugandans, money freely changes hands between friends. If a friend is in need (tuition, rent, medical expenses, food) and you have the money in your pocket, it is expected that you will help your friend out and that when the situation is reversed, they will help you out. For more on how money works in Africa, check out the book African Friends and Money Matters. In Uganda, it doesn't seem to be difficult to hand over money. What seems to be more difficult is seeing the work of the church as an immediate need that warrants a financial gift.
The church also has to fight against the prosperity gospel that abounds here in Uganda (as it does among the televangelists in the States). The almost overwhelming influence of the prosperity gospel message brought us to write this rather shocking sentence on the white-board: "If the reason you give an offering is so that you will receive more money, then when you give the offering you actually sin."
Our teachings this weekend focused on giving as a celebration of what God has given to us. We spoke of stewardship as the returning in grateful appreciation of a portion of the gifts God provides, especially giving so that the Gospel message which was brought to us can be brought to others. We discouraged the idea of a tithe because it seems someone is either unable to meet a tithe and will thus be a reluctant giver or someone will be more generous of heart and feel limited to a tithe, limiting their joy and cheer in giving. Rather, each Christian should decide in their own heart what to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:7).
I have to admit that this was a very difficult TEE session for me. I feel as though I don't understand enough of how money works in this society to really be able to focus my teaching on stewardship to Ugandan culture. I'm certain that as I continue to learn and live here I'll feel more confident in this topic and from the reactions of our students I'm sure I'll have another chance to teach about stewardship in the near future.
-Shauen
Shauen & Krista
Take the Stewardship Test (Word document, 21kB) we administered and see the answer key (pdf document, 685kB).