Services for Churches - Stewardship
Meet Our Stewardship Consultants
Our stewardship consultants possess a strong background in church leadership and a deep commitment to creating cultures of generosity in United Methodist churches throughout Texas. Contact them through email or by calling toll free 1-800-933-5502.
Melvin Amerson - Stewardship Consultant
The Rev. Melvin Amerson brings a wealth of knowledge gleaned from his experience as a United Methodist pastor in the Texas Annual Conference and his work as a stewardship consultant for the Texas Methodist Foundation.
Amerson is the author of Celebrating the Offering and Stewardship in African-American Churches, both published by Discipleship Resources. A nationally recognized consultant, Amerson has led numerous training events around the country, including a stewardship workshop at Bishop’s Week. He was a member of the design team as well as a presenter for Southern Methodist University’s Perkins School of Theology Minister’s Week in 2007.
While serving as pastor of St. Lo United Methodist Church (now Norris Chapel UMC) in Houston, he was honored with the Small Membership Church Pastor of the Year Award for his leadership in increasing membership and the development of exemplary social programs benefiting the surrounding community. Amerson has served as chair of the Extravagant Generosity Ministry of the Texas Annual Conference and on the board of directors of the Wesley Foundation at the University of Texas in Austin. As an Ordained Elder, he served on the Evangelism Committee as District Chairperson, on the Board of Ordained Ministry, and the District Council on Ministry. Prior to becoming a minister, Amerson worked in the banking industry and as a tax examiner for the federal government.
Amerson obtained a Bachelor of Business Administration degree with a concentration in finance from Texas A&M University Corpus Christi and a Master of Divinity degree concentrating in Christian education from Gammon Theological Seminary in Atlanta, Georgia.
Richard Caperton - Stewardship Consultant
Richard Caperton joined the Texas Methodist Foundation with 20 years of local church ministry experience and 17 years as a stewardship consultant. Richard honed strategic planning and analytic skills as he aided congregations in achieving long term growth. Adept at vision casting, Richard guided several capital campaigns for the purpose of property acquisition, facilities development, and ministry expansion.
Richard’s passion is to assist churches in reaching their ministry potential. He has led more than 120 successful capital programs, generating in excess of $600 million for local ministry. His personable approach and motivational style make him an effective consultant in a multitude of traditions and ministry contexts. Richard helped the Willow Creek Community Church in South Barrington, Illinois, raise in excess of $80 million. He has provided leadership in capital programs for some of United Methodist’s fastest growing churches, such as the Church of the Resurrection in Leawood, Kansas, where he led four different capital programs.
Richard earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Religion from Louisiana College and a Masters degree from Southwestern Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas.
Richard and his wife Judy reside in Dallas.
Ed Engleking - Senior Stewardship Consultant
Ed Engleking’s ten-year ministry with the Foundation has earned him the respect of his colleagues and the churches he has served. He has conducted over 68 capital campaigns raising more than $35 million, with several exceeding one million dollars, and a commendable average of two times annual income in pledge total.
Engleking was instrumental in developing the Foundation’s annual and year-round workshop, as well as the Building Disciples capital campaign service for small churches. Ed is an experienced trainer for Good $ense, the Willow Creek Association’s personal Christian finance program. In stewardship ministry, Ed helps churches visualize the possibilities that can be achieved through stewardship education and then discover creative and effective ways in growing faithful givers.
A prior business career equipped Engleking with skills in negotiation, personnel administration, operations and financial management/analysis. As a layperson, his local church recognized his “gifts and graces” with leadership roles in Stewardship, Finance, Staff-Parish Relations, Administrative Board, Worship Committee, Youth Ministry, Stephen Ministry and Walk to Emmaus.
Engleking received a B.A. from Northwestern Oklahoma State University with graduate studies at Kansas State. He is a member of the Christian Stewardship Association and the Willow Creek Association.
Dick Young - Senior Stewardship Consultant
More than 30 years of combined experience in business and lay leadership make Dick Young a valuable advisor to United Methodist churches. He possesses the ability and knowledge to help congregations identify their funding needs and design stewardship strategies to fulfill their missions.
Young’s career in the private sector as a business owner equipped him with skills in financial management, operations, personnel administration and negotiation. As a layperson, he served as chair of the finance, property and building committees at First United Methodist Church in Austin, where he has been a member for more than 30 years. Young served as the church’s stewardship director for their 1999 capital campaign in which $2.2 million was raised.
Young views his work with the Texas Methodist Foundation as an opportunity to make a difference in people’s lives by promoting the greater good of the denomination and advancing Christian ministry. He believes stewardship education strengthens churches by encouraging self-reflection and congregational discernment.
Young earned his Master of Business Administration from Texas State University in San Marcos and his undergraduate degree from Texas Tech University. He was the lay director for Walk to Emmaus 537. He is also active in the Christian Stewardship Association.
Growing Faithful Givers