Pastor and author Carol Howard Merritt believes the first rule of stewardship planning is to have fun. “Stewardship should be a time of great celebration, where we can tell the story about the church and have a party,” Merritt says. Read on for ideas on putting the fun in fund-raising. (Photo: Rona Proudfoot, Creative Commons. Thanks!)
Churches know they have to be very careful with finances, but even the sharpest can may fall into these two related traps related to who really wields spending power, says Karl Vaters of ChristianityToday. Does your congregation have a problem? (Photo: Tal Atlas, Creative Commons)
Summer is just around the corner, and so is the possibility of a slump in your congregation’s giving. Check out these eight ideas from Tithe.ly to keep giving trending in the right direction. Don’t stick your head in the sand and hope it won’t happen. Plan now to avoid the summertime blues. (Photo: David Barrie, Creative Commons)
Author and expert in global philanthropy and member of the Lumbee Tribe, Edgar Villanueva believes it is time for churches to reimagine their relationship with money and step out in faith for the sake of the gospel. “Sunday is the most segregated day of the week, [but] by being mindful about money, the church can […]
Poor money management and an unwillingness to talk about money can put a serious damper on ministry, especially in small congregations. Karl Vaters gives three good reasons that money talk is essential in church culture. You’ll also find helpful links to other articles that he’s written. (Photo: Sultry, Creative Commons. Thanks!)
Talking about money in church is hard! And complicated. So you’re going to make mistakes. But don’t let that stop you. Here are the 10 biggest mistakes that leaders make when talking about money — and how to avoid them. From Tithe.ly. (Photo: Daniel Dionne, Creative Commons)
Here’s a wonderful resource written for those preparing for church vocations but equally applicable for anyone who wants to align personal money practices with beliefs and values. This book, written by Bob Massie and produced by Yale Divinity School with support from the Lilly Foundation, is available for PDF download. (Photo: © Alfredo Muller – Fotolia.com)
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.
