The Heart of Stewardship

The Passionate Steward is an insightful, well-researched resource for anyone interested in the theological and spiritual principles of stewardship in general and as it should inform the Church's fund-raising activities. O'Hurley-Pitts demonstrates a thorough knowledge of the topic and challenges the reader to reshape and revision current understandings and practices. He gets to the heart of what stewardship is truly about as he presents a holistic vision of Christian stewardship. I give this book to stewardship leaders in our Diocese and recommend it to anyone who is serious about discipleship and the life and mission of the Church. -Robert Cammarata Office of Parish Stewardship - Roman Catholic Diocese of Rockville Centre, NY

A More Excellent Way

There are few books which can make a well-read, highly educated and experienced Church leader stop and reconsider so much of what they have accepted and embraced in the past. This is one of those iconic and timeless books.

O'Hurley-Pitts writes in uniquely clear, compelling and persuasive manner. The Passionate Steward is suitable for individual reading; a parish training and education manual; professional guide; and academic text all at the same time and equally well. Written from years of experience and academic training, this book cuts through years of accepted practices driven by errant conventional wisdom and re-grounds stewardship in the reality of parish life, sound theological precepts and biblical tradition with a view towards the theology and spirituality of stewardship.

The Passionate Steward brakes the mold of books that are mere step-by-step "stewardship" guides and truly parses the issues that create impediments for both parish leaders and the faithful in embracing true Christian stewardship. Concise writing, easy to understand graphs and charts, historic comparisons and helpful critiques allow the reader to get to the heart of the issues. Significant reasearch, good footnoting and a brilliant index makes the book highly accessible.

Although a Roman Catholic, O'Hurley-Pitts' book has been selected by the Episcopal Book Club as one of their four 2003 selections. Promotional cover quotes from Evangelicals to Greek Orthodox religious leaders alike demonstrates that The Passionate Steward crosses all barriers and focuses on the essential truths of Christian stewardship.

The Passionate Steward is an essential tool for everyone in the practice of ministry, parish and diocesan leadership at a very inviting price.

Indispensably Honest and Challenging

Few books have been honest enough to challenge the conventional wisdom that we have embraced in the name of raising money for ministry. The Passionate Steward does exactly that in a concise and forthright manner, and goes even further, treating the gift of time and talent as equally essential to Christian stewardship. The use of reliable sources and the true depth of the book marks it as far above what passes for the run-of-the-mill stewardship or fundraising works now in print. Before you read a "how to" book - read a "why" to book faithful to our biblical and traditional values and gives practical advise for implementation as well.

O'Hurley-Pitts' fine book, full of gravitas for people in ministry today, is pleasingly easily read, clear and inviting. There are few books on the practice of ministry that will reach this level of excellence or relevence for any Church and for the development of the faithful's wholistic understanding that our lives as stewards is intrinsically part of our vocation as Christians! Whether a minister or member of the laity, or a person involved in charitable work at the volunteer or professional level, this book can change your life and therefore the Church's by helping us better explore how secular fundraising has deprived us all of our more worthy Christian and philanthropic values of generosity and caring.