People’s eyes generally glaze over when they see a church’s line-item budget. What do all those numbers and categories mean? It’s daunting! A narrative budget helps explain finances in a way people can readily understand … and get behind! From the Center on Faith and Giving.
The good news: Charitable giving is on the rise. The bad news: Giving to faith organizations is on the decline. What can religious leaders do to help? Perhaps more transparency would help. This resource from Luther Seminary explores.
As individuals and families, we can find ways to use our money for the general good, and not just our own. Faith & Money Network talks with a thirtysomething couple that has found fulfillment practicing “Sabbath Economics.” (Photo: Maitree Rimthong, Pexels.com)
Statistics show that overall charitable giving is going up, especially in areas of public benefit and the environment. Yet giving to religious organizations is declining. What are we doing wrong? Author and Yale Divinity teacher Jim Elrod suggests churches adopt greater transparency. (Photo: Claire CJS, Creative Commons)
As if the world’s financial system was not complicated enough, now there’s cryptocurrency. And what if someone makes a donation to your congregation in Bitcoin? Ken Sloane of the United Methodist Church gives a good overview of cryptocurrency for church leaders.
It’s never too early to get your financial ducks in a row for retirement. And the good news is it’s never too late to continue. This article from Today’s Christian Woman tells you how to prepare for retirement no matter what your age. (Photo: Pug50, Creative Commons)
Buying new things we want always gives us an emotional lift, but it becomes “retail therapy” when we pour our sorrows into the shopping experience. “Christian Minimalism” author Becca Ehrlich describes her struggle to climb out of the consumerism sinkhole. (Photo: Tim Pearce, Los Gatos, Creative Commons)
In this engaging article from Harvard Divinity School, theologian Harvey Cox weighs in on the prosperity gospel. ” There’s not a single biblical view of wealth, but underlying all of it … is the bias of God for the left out, the poor, the marginalized, the orphans, and the widows,” Cox says. (Photo: Mark Willis, […]
Talking money in church is often unpopular, but sustaining a vibrant church requires diligent financial management. That’s why it’s important to have a crack finance committee that can handle 11 essential tasks, says Smart Church Management. (Photo: Ken Teegardin, SeniorLiving.Org)
We all want to believe that everyone who volunteers to count the offering at church is above taking from the till, but humans are imperfect. In this blog post startCHURCH lists some ways to reduce temptation and help keep church money safer. (Photo: Acousticgirl, Creative Commons)
