- Stewardship is the act of managing another's possessions or property. The steward may be responsible for simple maintenance or complex preservation. John Wesley, the founder of Methodism, defined "The Good Steward" as one who kept his master's property, not using it for himself but preserving it for another. One may be a good steward or a poor one; the condition of the owner's possessions or property shows the success or failure of the steward.
- Medieval stewards took care of the household and maintained the living quarters. They brought in provisions and made sure that there was minimum spoilage and pilferage of foodstuffs and supplies. The steward kept an eye on the servants and called the carpenter or stonemason when a step needed mending or wall needed repairs. If a guest needed anything, the steward was there with it; and when the master lay dying, the steward ran for the doctor---or priest. The steward, in short, made sure that everything ran right and did so quietly, competently and without expectation of any reward but continued employment.
As society became more complex, the tasks of the steward became more specialized. By the late 16th century, the steward oversaw the servants and ordered food and wine. The church adopted the term to refer to those members who tended to the kingdom of God. Native Americans took the concept one step further, believing that the land could not be owned but was a sacred element whose upkeep was the responsibility of humanity. Christian Protestant reformers of the 17th century put a great deal of emphasis on stewardship and the term today means to support and nurture the mission of the church. The rise of the middle class and growth of cities in the 19th century saw the establishment of the commercial steward---a staff member in shops and restaurants or on ships who managed food and wine, and supervised those who served it and generally served as a resource for customers.
Today, stewardship is all too often taken to mean that parishioners ought to be giving their church money---at least 10 percent of each individual's income. The real concept of stewardship is much broader than the 10 percent tithe. Stewards look after their master's possessions and the Christian concept of tithing is based on returning an investment made by God.
If we learn to look at the earth the way Native Americans did---as a sacred trust---and consider our role as stewards rather than owners, we are responsible for the welfare of the planet; its atmosphere, habitats, flora and fauna. This need for stewardship is beginning to make sense to more people as resources dwindle, the climate changes and we consider the world we will leave to our descendents. Stewardship becomes a responsibility to future generations to preserve and protect the environment and resources that have nurtured us.
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