Members of faith communities are already feeling the financial pinch from the disruptions caused by responses to COVID-19. Providing access to resources that outline where and how to get help and offering safe digital space to talk can help lessen anxiety and fears. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau is a great place to start. (Photo: […]
This spring, while you’re cleaning the winter cobwebs and clutter from your home, why not give the same treatment to your bank account and wallet? A “spending cleanse’ can help you recognize and put a halt to bad spending habits. From ShareSaveSpend.com. (Photo: TaxRebate.org.uk, Creative Commons)
Does your congregation have a gift acceptance policy? If not, check out this article from the National Council of Nonprofits and get a leadership team together to craft one. Clear communication and good gift boundaries make generosity more effective for your ministry and rewarding for donors. (Photo: Asenat29, Creative Commons)
Do your congregants know that their tithes and offerings are handled responsibly? If trust slips, so do donations. Smart churches help assure their donors by conducting a financial audit once every year. Think of it as a “check up” to make sure the congregation is financially healthy. This ELCA guide can help. (Photo: 401(K) 2012, […]
When a congregation decides to close its doors, it doesn’t have to fade away. A United Methodist plan helps closing congregations enrich the continuing ministry of God by leaving a gift. The Church Legacy program is offering a graceful and a grace-full way for congregations to end their life. From Faith & Leadership. (Photo: Winston […]
If 2019 was not a good year financially for your church, you are not alone. Churches across the land are facing tough times. When church income takes a dip, it’s important to be asking the right questions in order to devise the right strategy. This article from Horizons Stewardship offers some great pointers to direct […]
You’ve probably heard talk about the importance of emotional resilience, but how about financial resilience? Managing one’s money faithfully is a profound act of stewardship. How can you help others in your faith community cultivate more resilience when it comes to money? This article offers suggestions. (Photo: Neil Cummings, Creative Commons)
It’s the season for joy and revelry for all of God’s people, but for the church accountants and treasurers it’s also the season to close out the church’s financial year. So much to do, but this handy checklist from freechurchaccounting.com can help make sure you get everything done, and done right. (Photo: Anssi Koskinen, Creative […]
As the year’s end approaches, many churches worry, “Will we end the year in the black?” Columnist Karl Vaters suggests doing this one simple thing that both expresses gratitude and lets congregants know what the church needs to avoid an unintentional short fall. It’s not too late to get thank you letters in the mail. […]
According to The Rt. Rev. Diane M. Jardine Bruce, “A congregation without a budget is like a car without GPS – you can’t tell where you’ve been or where you are going.” In this article she provides information about joining zero-based and narrative budgeting to focus on mission and ministry while still allowing flexibility for changing circumstances. […]
