Browsing Congregational Finance
Principles and Practices of Year-Round Stewardship
Creating and keeping a dynamic stewardship focus can be a daunting challenge for the church staff, especially if the staff is one bivocational pastor. Where do you start and how do you maintain? The California Southern Baptist Convention has some ideas. ((Photo © a_korn – Fotolia.com)
10 Reasons for Online Giving
Churches are jumping on the online giving trend in record numbers. Most find it a safe and efficient way to help their members with consistent stewardship. Has your church started offering it yet? From Lifeway.com. (Photo by Jhaymesisviphotography, used by Creative Commons license
What if Everybody Tithed?
As a whole, American Christians give about 2.5 percent of their income to churches — lower than even during the Great Depression, when they gave 3.3 percent. And yet churches are still able to teach the ignorant, feed the hungry and care for the least among us. Imagine what we could do if every churchgoer […]
A Lens of Generosity
Four simple questions — incorporated into your everyday life — can give you “A Lens of Generosity” through which to recognize God at work all around you all the time. From the United Church of Canada, which includes a handy sheet to photocopy and help you spread the practice to everyone. (Photo © David2223, used […]
Abundant Living – Re-thinking Stewardship
Perfect for “stewardship season,” Here’s a meaty five-session study course that digs into the connection between generous living and a faithful discipleship walk. Included are a study guide and links to video introductions (hosted on YouTube) for each session. The study guide contains suggestions as to how to lead each session and additional resources that you may wish to obtain to encourage further discussion. (Photo by AlicePopkorn, Creative Commons License)
The Tithe and Leadership
What plan do you have, or does your parish have, for beginning to tithe? By its nature, because of its costliness, tithing cannot begin accidentally. You begin intentionally if you begin. Here, from the Episcopal Diocese of Bethlehem [Pa.] are three good reasons to tithe. (Photo © thitimontoyai22 – Fotolia.com)
Developing a Planned Giving Program
Click here to explore “Elements of a Successful Planned Giving Program” on the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations website. This guide covers the basics and provides solid resources to begin a conversation in your context about gift planning. (Photo: David Morris, Creative Commons License. Thanks!)
Faith Raising, Not Fund Raising
Saddleback Church, Rick Warren’s amazing congregation, doesn’t have a problem with finances. In fact, they’ve launched plenty of ministries and satellites. How do they do it? As Saddleback’s Forrest Reinhardt explains, the approach is to focus on discipleship, not dollars. (Photo by Chelsea, used by Creative Commons license. Thanks!)
Count the Cost: Securing Cash Assets
How secure are your congregation’s procedures and policies for handling cash assets? Click here for a comprehensive white paper from Evangelical Christian Credit Union. This guide is easily downloadable as a PDF document and would be good reading for Church Councils, Finance Committee members, and anyone responsible for handling cash assets. (Photo by Luke & […]
Church Finance Resources from the UCC
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)
