I bring you a joyful announcement on this fine Feast of St. Patrick: The IRB for our stewardship study has been approved! This study will be an update of Chuck Zech’s 2006 study of parish stewardship. With e-giving, digital communications, COVID, declines in membership and more, it is time to discover what sorts of practices best correlate with higher rates of volunteering and financial giving in today’s parishes.

Soda bread tastes even better when you can celebrate these official beginnings! 🙂 ☘️

This last graduation was bittersweet in that it was my last as full-time faculty at FST. It was a real joy to have been with such amazing people throughout my eight years there and I am thankful for the many opportunities the school opened for me. As difficult as this discernment was, I am excited to continue to serve the students through occasional teaching, and I am enthusiastic about my coming projects.

My CV has been updated, and you can find my current email there.

I just wanted to offer my services during this time. I, like many other speakers, had several events canceled or postponed due to COVID-19 precautions. Initially I saw this as the only feasible option. However, now that universities, dioceses and other institutions are closing down for unspecified lengths of time and my homestate of California has issued a “shelter in place” order, I think we need to get creative. I’m happy to help keep ideas going–even amid our isolation–through online meetings and presentations. Let me know if this could be a helpful option for your organization at this time.

Be well!