Research shows 33% of donors give memorial gifts to honor the deceased—yet many churches have no policy for stewarding these sacred trusts. When my great-grandmother's memorial gifts paid a heating bill, it revealed a common problem: gracious reception isn't the same as faithful stewardship. Here's how churches can honor both the living and the dead through better policies.

Autumn means stewardship season for mainline churches. But here's the problem: despite different approaches, actual giving across traditions hovers around 3%. What if we need a third way? I explore what churches can learn from each other to create sustainable, faith-filled stewardship practices.