With so many moving parts to ministry — worship planning, visitation, keeping up the building and grounds, youth programs, Christian education, and on and on — it’s easy to lose track of the financial machinery that keeps everything moving. Here are some great tips on how your congregation can be money savvy. From Crosswalk.com. (Photo: […]
Here’s a brainy, challenging read from The Guardian about how economics has become a new faith — promising adherents a path to security, comfort and material salvation. Why not tackle this as a study group, sharing your own experiences of the marketplace’s hold over your soul. (Photo: epSos.de, Creative Commons)
Should a pastor know how much people give? Some call it a “third rail” of ministry — touch it get zapped! Others say the knowledge is essential to good ministry. This United Methodist Church article discusses up the pros and cons while also lifting up ways to encourage healthy talk about money in church.
Nobody said it would be easy to talk about money in the congregation, but it need not be impossible. Here, from tithe.ly.com, is a concise rundown of some of the most common mistakes when it comes to talking about money — and how to overcome them! (Photo: Tal Atlas, Creative Commons)
Money talk may be the biggest taboo in the church today—even more than sexuality. It seems that the principalities and powers of our age have stuffed a gag into the mouths of our preachers, prophets and sages. Lack of transparency and conversation may mask a deeper spiritual issue. From the Mennonite Church USA. (Photo: Brandon […]
The end of the accounting year always means lots of work and headaches for the church finance team, but this article can help them get through it in accordance with legal and bookkeeping proficiency. From FreeChurchAccounting.com. (Photo: www.SeniorLiving.Org, used by permission)
Almost every day the news tells of another financial scandal, and the church is not lost in this situation. In today’s culture, the church cannot afford to be reactive, but remain proactive in managing its finances above reproach. The following golden rules, from LifeWay, can help churches maintain integrity and trust. (Photo: Anssi Koskinen, Creative […]
Thanksgiving is a delightful holiday with a simple premise of counting our blessings. How unfortunate that it’s become sort of starting gun for a frenzy of shopping and consumerism. In this thoughtful essay Lori Sanders reflects on how to keep the spirit of thanks alive even as the world goes shopping. (Photo: Marco Verch, Creative […]
With the possibilities for small-church budgeting being so flexible, are there guidelines that are universal? Writing in ChristianityToday.com, Karl Vaters says there are. He lists nine principles that can help leaders develop a budget that will serve the ministry needs and keep the church’s financial train on track. (Photo: taxcredits.net, Creative Commons)
Here’s a brainy, in-depth look at the ethics of big-dollar philanthropy. The New Yorker‘s Elizabeth Kolbert looks at the issue from the days of Andrew Carnegie to the present and questions whether ultra-rich donors achieve the positive results they purport to desire. (Photo: Mykl Roventine, Creative Commons)
