Sharing our abundance: Stewardship at Grace Cathedral

Stewardship, for a cathedral, takes many forms. There is a spiritual side to supporting one’s church that can be thought of as a profound expression of gratitude - the belief that everything that we have received in our lives is a gift from God. This belief, coupled with the desire to be a good steward of these gifts and to share our abundance with others, is the foundation of Stewardship.

Dr. Ronald Johnson has been involved with Stewardship campaigns at Grace Cathedral for ten years. He is co-chairing this year’s campaign, with Nick d’Angelo, and brings a deep understanding of the meaning of Stewardship.

“I love this place so much,” he says. “I want to make sure we have staff, pastoral care, teachers and leaders here. I have seen many instances where the clergy staff has changed the lives of people in need, and the people who were changed have become active workers at the Cathedral and in the community. In order to sustain this work, it requires financial resources.”

Dr. Johnson is committed to helping Grace Cathedral minister to the people in the community. “We have an amazing array of blessings here, from the many ministry groups we have to the community outreach we do. Being on the Stewardship Commission is being part of a group who’ll be enabling these groups to continue their good work. That in itself gives me a sense of satisfaction.”

Being involved in the Stewardship Campaign also gives Dr. Johnson an opportunity to connect with congregation members on a profound level. “I’ve been blessed with a lot in my life, with my relationships and what church has given me. There were two important times where this was the most clear. The first was when my grandmother died and the second when my partner died. The response of the church to care for my soul is something I will always remember.”

He continues, “One of the blessings in being a person of faith is the joy of being able to give something away to make someone else’s life a little better. To be aware of all the abundance I might have taken for granted. I share my story of how I’ve found abundance in my life, and my story may make someone see the gifts in their life that they haven’t realized. Just by opening up, you may light a spark in someone else.”

To find out how you can get involved with supporting the Stewardship campaign, contact Eric Alexander at (415) 749-6319 or eric@gracecathedral.org