Browsing Congregational Finance
The Basics of Launching a Legacy Gift Program
Here’s a basic guide to launching a planned giving program in your congregation. In this handy guide published by the United Church of Canada, you’ll find basic tools, a handy checklist, and more. (Photo: Steven Depolo, Creative Commons)
Understanding Motivational Reasons for Giving
One of the primary reasons pastors and church leaders either fail to emphasize stewardship, or emphasize it inappropriately is: They do not understand the different motivational reasons for giving. Here are five of them, says a writer in EnrichmentJournal.
Basic Instructions for Asset Mapping
In our culture of scarcity, many folks focus on what they lack. Asset mapping starts by focusing on what you have! Here are some tips for leading a workshop to help a church determine its assets. From Pastor Dave Daubert of Day 8 Strategies.
How to Improve Financial Stewardship
This resource outlines the six most popular financial response models used by ELCA congregations. An easy-to-follow guide for new stewardship leaders. Available in PDF as a free download.
Local Church Planned Giving Manual
This is your quintessential Planned Giving resource! This is free, online guide for congregations is designed to aid pastors and lay leaders in developing a congregational Planned Giving ministry. Includes sections devoted to establishing and promoting a Planned Giving program, congregational endowments, wills emphasis, how life-income gifts work, and more. (Photo by Ken Mayer, used by Creative Commons license)
5 Golden Rules of Church Finance
Church scandals involving mismanagement of money not only generate headlines, they also erode trust among the people needed to support our ministries. Here are some tips for building and maintaining trust. From LifeWay resources. (Photo by Mark Willylis, used by Creative Commons license)
Changing Your Stewardship Culture
Most of our congregations function with a single team of people who are responsible for all conversations, leadership, implementation, and oversight about everything financial. This is a mistake. Here are some tips on how to do better, from the Center for Faith & Giving. (Photo by d-olwen-dee, used by Creative Commons license)
Should a Pastor Know Who Gives What?
Although many churches shutter to think that their pastor peeks at the offering records, there are some solid reasons why a good congregational leader should be aware of the level of giving that people make. Here are some guidelines, from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership. (Photo © Michael Nivelet – Fotolia.com)
Fostering an Attitude of Gratitude
As we grow beyond the narrow understanding of stewardship as an annual fundraising exercise – or as the late Terry Parsons used to call it, the “annual beg-a-thon†– God begins to reshape our concept of what “gift†and “giving†actually mean. From the Episcopal Church Foundation. (Photo by Tiger Girl, used by Creative Commons license.)
Best Practices for Year-Round Stewardship
It takes effort to make stewardship a part of your church culture 365 days a year, but here are some wonderful simple tips from the United Church of Canada. (Photo by Philip Chapman-Bell, used by Creative Commons license)
