Inside Luther Seminary

Stewardship Leaders Program

Events and Webinars

Upcoming Events and Webinars

2024-25 Financial Wellness Events/Webinars (Available at no cost to the Luther Seminary community)

5:30-7 p.m. Central November 18, 2024: Financial Discipline – INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS ONLY –

What does the Bible say about financial discipline? How is a disciple called to manage their finances? In the first financial wellness offering specifically for international students, Grace Pomroy will be exploring what financial discipline looks like beginning with a spiritual practice, moving into practical financial management tips, and ending with time for questions and conversation. We’ll begin at 5:30pm with a meal in Gullixson Hall 103 and then move into a presentation from 6-7pm. The presentation will be offered via Zoom so attendees are welcome to attend online or in-person in Gullixson.

Spring RFS (Date TBD): Clergy Taxes Crash Course IN-PERSON

Base Salary? Housing allowance?  Deductions? Defined Compensation? Reimbursement Plans? Qualifying Expenses? Taxable and Non-Taxable Income? Professional Expenses? WHAT IS ALL THIS??? Come for one hour, and we will define all these terms for you, answer questions, and point you to additional support as you need it. This will be offered live during the Spring RFS sessions; we invite those who cannot join in-person to watch the recording of last year’s online event. 

12-12:45 p.m. Central March 7: Clergy Tax Online Q&A Session

Ready to move beyond the basics of clergy taxes? Bring your questions to a live Q&A session with Clergy Tax professional, Rev. Dr. David Cleaver-Bartholemew. Please attend the Clergy Tax Crash Course during the Spring RFS or watch the recording of last year’s online event before attending.

6:30 – 8:00 p.m. Central March 20 and 27, 2025: Salary and Benefit Negotiation Webinar Series

Curious what you can expect to earn in ministry after seminary? Nervous about negotiating your salary and benefits? This webinar series is for you! We will equip you with the tools you need to discuss and negotiate salary and benefits with confidence. We will also touch on the challenges some Christian Public Leaders may face when negotiating because of their gender-identity, race, sexuality, or any other identity they hold.  There are two distinct parts to this webinar – one for all Christian Public Leaders (March 20) and a second one geared specifically for pastors and deacons (March 27). We ask that anyone joining the webinar on March 27 also join the one on March 20 or watch the recording.

Other Helpful Information for Students

Christian Public Leader Compensation Guidelines

Previous Offerings

From the 2021-24 Archives

How to Find and Apply for Grants

Have you considered looking for grants to help fund your ministry? Grants can be a great way to get new ministry projects off the ground, but they come with their own benefits and drawbacks. Join Grace Pomroy for an interview with expert grant writer and reviewer, Kristal Frazier, as we consider when grants are most helpful, where to look for grants, and how to write them. 

Salary and Benefits Negotiation Series – Part 1: The Basics

How do you discuss salary and benefits when you have a job offer? The goal of this offering is to provide two things.

  1. An overview of salary and benefits negotiation for Christian Public Leaders
  2. Tools to respectfully discuss and negotiate salary and benefits.
  3. Video recording of Salary and Benefits Negotiation – Part 1: The Basics

Salary and Benefits Negotiation Series – Part 2: Specifics for ELCA Rostered Leaders

Part 2 of the Salary & Benefit Negotiation webinar series is specifically designed for students in the ELCA candidacy process. We’ll provide an overview of compensation guidelines, the first call process, and Portico Benefits, then host a conversation with a panel of ELCA Rostered leaders to touch on challenges specific to the ELCA.

Clergy Taxes Crash Course – first call basics, housing, deductions, how to file

Base Salary? Housing allowance? Deductions? Defined Compensation? Reimbursement Plans? Qualifying Expenses? Taxable and Non-Taxable Income? Professional Expenses? WHAT IS ALL THIS??? Come for one hour, and we will define all these terms for you, answer questions, and point you to additional support as you need it.

Where Did All the Money Go? The Art of Mindful Spending

Have you ever looked at your bank account and wondered where on earth all the money went? Join us for a conversation with Grace Pomroy, Director of the Stewardship Leaders Program and Kim Miller, Certified Financial Counselor at Lutheran Social Service as together we explore mindful spending and budgeting basics that help!

(NOTE: Grace’s favorite budgeting app, Mint, is going away at the end of 2023. If you’re still interested in finding the right budgeting app, here are some alternatives you may want to try: www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/best-budget-apps Want some help finding the right app for you? Sign up to meet with Grace.)

Stewardship Campaign Tips and Tricks with Chick Lane and Grace Pomroy

Many congregations have annual stewardship campaigns. Join a seasoned pastor and national stewardship leader to learn more about how to set up a successful stewardship campaign. You’ll learn tips and tricks that will help you be successful in your ministry context.

Couples and Money

Arguments about money are continually cited as the leading cause of divorce and separation. What you might now know, however, is that couples who talk about money report being happier than those that don’t. The message? Communicating about money in a healthy way deepens couples’ connections and is another form of intimacy. In this hour-long workshop, you’ll learn why talking about money as a couple is so hard, ways to view your partner’s relationship with money with compassion, and a values-based way to plan out your finances together. Each participant will also get a digital worksheet to use and refer back to long after the workshop ends.

About the presenter: Lindsay Bryan-Podvin (she/her) is a biracial financial wellness expert, speaker, and author of the book “The Financial Anxiety Solution.” A practicing social worker since 2012, she uses a shame-free approach to help people get their minds and money in balance by focusing on the intersection of money and mental health using financial therapy.

Clergy Taxes Crash Course

Base Salary? Housing allowance? Deductions? Defined Compensation? Reimbursement Plans? Qualifying Expenses? Taxable and Non-Taxable Income? Professional Expenses? WHAT IS ALL THIS??? Come for one hour, and we will define all these terms for you, answer questions, and point you to additional support as you need it.

Salary and Benefit Negotiations

How do you discuss salary and benefits when you have a job offer? The goal of this offering is to give students looking ahead to a career in Christian Public Leadership the tools they need to respectfully discuss and negotiate their salary and benefits. This webinar will also touch on the challenges some Christian Public Leaders may face when negotiating because of their gender-identity, race, sexuality, or any other identity they hold.

Spend Less (and even save money) When Everything Costs More

The Stewardship Leaders Program is thrilled to welcome Kim Miller, Certified Financial Counselor for Lutheran Social Service (who has been featured on MPR!), to Luther Seminary for a Financial Wellness workshop. A deep breath, a measure of flexibility, and a commitment to approach the world of rapidly changing finances with a calm spirit will help you navigate the ever-changing world of finances in this post-pandemic world. You will learn strategies and practices to help you in this ever-changing time with Kim Miller, Lutheran Social Services, Certified Financial Counselor. 

Christian Minimalism

The Stewardship Leaders Program is thrilled to welcome Becca Ehrlich, AKA the Christian Minimalist (also an author and an ELCA pastor), to Luther Seminary. As Christians, we are called to be counter-cultural and strive to be minimalists in a consumer society—because we know that our life’s meaning is not wrapped up in material things.  Minimalism helps cut through the clutter and the busy-ness to refocus on God and the aspects of life that truly matter. Join us for a conversation with Becca Ehrlich to focus on what matters most and intentionally remove the rest. 

Financial Anxiety?

How someone rates their financial situation, in most cases, has less to do with their financial situation and more with their emotional relationship with money. Financial anxiety is a part of this. The Stewardship Leaders Program will be exploring this topic with financial therapist Lindsay Bryan-Podvin who specializes in the area of financial anxiety.

ELCA Portico Benefits Introduction

Portico has provided a six-minute video introducing their benefits as well as a Portico Basic Benefits flyer with a high-level overview of the benefits package you might receive during your first call.