Stewards
Stewards serve as the Pastor's cabinet and personal advisors, addressing both spiritual and temporal duties within the church.
Being A Steward
Stewards are spiritual leaders, promoting harmony and providing comfort to the distressed. Appointed by the Pastor and confirmed by the Quarterly Conference, Stewards assist the Pastor and ministerial staff in their duties, ensuring they have the necessary resources. The Stewardess Board supports the Pastor in facilitating Holy Communion and Baptisms, as well as maintaining the pulpit's needs and proper coverings.
General Duties
Stewards are responsible for meticulous financial accounting, including all funds collected for the Pastor's support.
They negotiate the Pastor's full-time salary and benefits package, ensuring it aligns with the local cost of living.
Stewards make accurate reports of all expenditures and attend Quarterly Conferences to offer advice on church planning.
They also attend committee meetings for fund disbursement and provide counsel in arbitration matters.
Stewards actively seek out and assist the needy and distressed.
Additionally, they handle administrative tasks such as registering baptisms, marriages, and deaths, as well as providing elements for Holy Communion.
Each local church's Steward Board conducts a survey to assess members' financial support and participation in church activities. Stewards investigate all members on the roll, submit findings to the Official Board for approval, and forward Certified Membership Rolls to higher church authorities.
All descriptions regarding the Stewards are a part of our AME literature. These references come from The Doctrine and Discipline of the AME Church, 2012, pages 62-63.