Here’s a collection of free, downloadable church finance resources provided by the Massachusetts Conference of the United Church of Christ. You’ll find many helpful tools here. (Photo: kenteegardin, Creative Commons)
Budgeting for Irregular Expenses
Budgeting for life’s irregular expenses is a real discipline and part of good personal financial stewardship. Click here for some timely tips from Joan Otto at Man Vs Debt. (Photo: taxcredits.net)
Building a Narrative Budget
Many congregations have discovered the narrative budget as a way of talking about the needs of the church to carry out its mission. Rather than a spreadsheet that lists columns and columns of numbers, the narrative budget tells the story of the congregation’s mission and service and how the budget components contribute. (Photo by Howard […]
A Budget is a Statement of Faith
What does your church’s annual budget represent? Is it a proud menu of the hopes, dreams and missionary ministries your congregation wants to accomplish in the year to come? Or is it a life-support prescription for how the congregation expects to pay the staff, keep the lights burning, the sanctuary heated and the grass mowed?
Congregational Discernment and Stewardship
The spiritual practice of discernment may be a useful tool for congregations when it comes to matters of stewardship of money. Check out this article by spiritual director Teresa Blythe on the Patheos website. (Photo by hickory hardscrabble used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
The Seven Deadly Sins of Personal Finance
Here’s an engaging (and entertaining) look at the seven deadly sins of personal finance from award-winning financial blogger Len Penzo. In addition to linking these sins to personal finance, Penzo suggests “penance” for the repentant in the form of additional articles on financial management. (Photo by Muffet used under Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Endowment Funds: Hidden Miracle or Hidden Peril
By Duane Englehardt
How well do congregational endowment funds serve God? Can an endowment fund lead to “empowerment”? Many congregations have participated in wills emphasis programs, and the insurance industry has undertaken heavy promotions of gifts through life insurance.
Stewardship University
Here is a nice assortment of stewardship materials to equip and educate your congregation for a pledge campaign. It includes sample documents, PowerPoint Presentations and promotional materials. From the Episcopal Diocese of Arizona. (Photo by JOnBon, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Pastor: Fund Raiser for Mission
To a present culture of materialism, selfishness, and consumerism, we are called to model in our own lives and teach others Christian financial stewardship. Each of us clergy and lay leaders can be trained in our discipling to not only make good stewards of our people, but also to talk the language of fund raising and do so with the conviction that it is an important part of our Christian ministry. (Photo by Fallonyates, used by Creative Commons license.)
‘Follow Your Heart’ Stewardship Program
Worried that “stewardship season” is fast approaching and you don’t know what to do? Here’s an annual appeal that Faith Lutheran Church, Fargo, ND, is sharing with everyone. Access everything from letters to members to brochures that you can customize for your own congregation. (Photo by HolgerE, used under Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
