We Believe… In Caring for the Poor

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In our continuing series of reflections based on the credos, or statements of belief on which we founded The Stewardship Foundation, we explore care for the poor, specifically the hungry…

We believe… that it is our responsibility to care for the poor, the sick and the disadvantaged, and to use our talents for the betterment of mankind through education, opportunity and freedom.

We need not look further than Matthew 25 verses 35-45 to understand the source:

“For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me. … Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.”

According to the Urban Institute, poverty in the U.S. in 2021 is 13.7%, or 1 in 7 Americans. A leading charity, Feeding America puts the number of people experiencing hunger at 35 million. In our hometown of Columbus, Ohio, you can help support a local Food Pantry (see the list) or this coming Thanksgiving plan to provide a holiday meal to a family in need through the Byron Saunders Foundation. 

We understand that values are the driving force in a nonprofit and that the social mission trumps profit in the bottom line. 

Nonprofits and charities, like the Byron Saunders Foundation often seek funding from foundations such as ours. We work with estate planners, financial advisors, accounts and attorneys. Nonprofits and charities can benefit from our relationships within the charitable planning community. We offer:

  • A cost-free resource for charitable planning
  • Donor motivation seminars and events
  • A philanthropic partner that embraces your mission and cause
  • Opportunities to meet colleagues and potential donors and clients

We are willing to formally share what we know about the causes we support with other foundations and funders. Our success rests on our commitment, leadership, energy, enthusiasm and ideas that will emerge when we work together. Contact us now at (614) 800-7985, and please consider forwarding our message to a friend or associate.

Photo credit 222479223 © US Navy Medicine | Dreamstime.com

We Believe… in Transformational Giving.

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Psalm 24:1 tells us, “The earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it, the world, and all who live in it.” 

Last month we looked back on the Fifth Credo of the Stewardship Foundation — belief in the sanctity of human life, marriage between one man and one woman, sexual morality, religious freedom, and the rights of conscience. Our June message focused on the moral liberalism rampant in today’s society and in the press’s coverage of events. If you missed it, read it here.

This month we return to our First Credo, transformational giving. The one guiding question that permeates our thinking at the Stewardship Foundation is “where is your heart?” Within this question several others beg to be asked, such as, “what is the treasure you seek?”; “how much wealth is enough for you and your family?” and, “what does God expect of you?”

We encourage our clients to examine their giving motives, to more deeply explore where their hearts are leading them. It’s been said that what motivates us is revealed when we examine how we spend our time, and where we spend our money. Our purpose is to help connect our clients with the worthy charities and nonprofits that advance these passions and individual motivations.

Stewardship is a theological belief that humans are responsible for the world and should take care and look after it; to use and manage the resources given by God for His glory and the betterments of His creation. So how does it work?

We believe that Stewardship works when you identify where your hearts and passions lead you; when they are willing to seek, and share the treasure God desires for you. Stewardship works when you realistically define what is necessary to provide for your family now and in the future, and, most importantly, stewardship works when you honor what God expects of you.

This journey of financial stewardship involves a process of understanding, acknowledging, accepting, and acting. We embrace the opportunity to partner with you on this journey. Please share this message with like-minded friends and family, and call us at (614) 800-7985.

Our Fifth Credo

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We believe… in the sanctity of human life, marriage and sexual morality, and religious freedom and the rights of conscience.

In 2015 Obergefell v. Hodges held that the 14th Amendment require a State to license a marriage between two people of the same sex and to recognize a marriage between two people of the same sex if their marriage was lawfully licensed and performed.

In recent news headlines, the position of the Catholic Church has been bandied about like a volleyball match. Because The Stewardship Foundation holds the position that marriage between a man and a woman to be the most basic institution in society, we thought we’d clarify our position in light of recent news headlines.

Our Fifth Credo

As reported in the National Catholic Reporter, more than a dozen U.S. Catholic leaders and organizations kicked off Pride month with “blessing services” in clear support of the LGBTQ community. 

In 2016, now President Joe Biden, a Catholic, officiated at the same-sex wedding of two White House staffers, reportedly “going out of his way” to act with contempt for infallible Church teaching in light of Roe v. Wade.

Moral liberalism holds that we have a right to do anything not harmful to others. Was Joe Biden acting morally? Does this action imply giving same sex couples the right to marry? 

Pope Francis, or we should say the 2020 movie “Francesco” was not helpful when Francis was portrayed as ignoring the teachings of his predecessor St. John Paul II who said “respect for homosexual persons cannot lead in any way to approval of homosexual unions.” 

But in reality, Pope Francis was speaking about the right of homosexuals not to be rejected by their own families. He said nothing about homosexuals creating new families of their own through adoption or surrogates.

Catholic doctrine, reflecting natural law, clearly states that homosexual persons should refrain from same-sex activity and relationships that lead to mortal sin.

After so much hoopla in the press, a year later in 2021, Pope Francis approved a message from the Vatican that “the Roman Catholic Church cannot bless same-sex marriages, no matter how stable or positive the couples’ relationships are. To clarify, the Church calls on Catholics to “welcome with respect and sensitivity persons with homosexual inclinations” and does allow giving blessings to homosexual people, but “does not have, and cannot have,” the power to bless same-sex relationships.

The Vatican emphasizes that “God does not and cannot bless sin.”

Only time will tell whether Catholics, having heard conflicting messages, understand and accept Church teaching. In the meantime, we will continue to bless and pray for our brethren with same-sex inclinations and stand firm that marriage is a sacramental union between one man and one woman.