Churches all across the Old Dominion are facing some difficult decisions. As the impact of an economy in full recession begins to affect financial decisions, churches are understandably cautious.
In many cases, churches already feeling the financial pinch are facing the tough choices of deciding what stays in and what gets cut out of their budgets. As a former pastor, I understand the process very well.
I also understand that prudence and faith sometimes seem to be at odds. Church stewardship committees face the daunting task of walking the fine line between fiscal faith and financial foolhardiness.
Obviously, the church belongs to the Lord. We are doing his work and the Holy Spirit leads in our mission endeavors. Faith is the order of the day. Scripture, itself, declares, “But without faith it is impossible to please him” (Heb. 11:6).
Church budgets should reflect faith and hope, should they not? Certainly.
Jim White
But to ignore financial facts is foolhardy. Jesus asked, “Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn't first sit down and figure the cost so you'll know if you can complete it?” (The Message). It is unwise to do so, most will agree.
Since a church budget is simply a price tag, a wise church will ask, “Will enough money come in to allow us to do what we have budgeted?”
So, to churches and committees caught on the horns of the great dilemma of exercising faith while remaining financially responsible, what words of encouragement can be offered?
First, church leaders should not surrender to the negative. Just because times are hard doesn't necessarily mean church incomes are destined to fall. In fact, church incomes can increase even during tough economic times. But if it happens, it will be by intention not by accident.
Not surprisingly, how much church members give is directly related to how much money they have. In hard times especially, churches need to assist their members in stretching their dollars. For some, this will mean classes in managing credit card debt or in bill consolidation. For others it will mean a job fair or employment counseling. Others might benefit from a “managing your portfolio” conference. In the Richmond area, Entrust Federal Credit Union offers financial seminars for churches. In other areas, churches can work with local credit unions and banks.
Still other churches will face the question on a more basic level providing a food pantry or aiding in other very practical ways. In rural areas where it is still the practice to can food, an abundance can be given without costing the church anything.
The principle is simple: if their incomes are already committed to paying bills, church members will feel little freedom to give generously and sacrificially to their churches.
Churches can also make it easier for their people to give by demonstrating that tithes and offering are not being wasted. Nothing closes the checkbook or the pocketbook like the suspicion that offerings are being used frivolously. This applies not just to the local church but at the associational, state and national levels, too. People need to be educated about how their money is being spent. But this takes more work than many churches are accustomed to putting into stewardship development.
Another factor affecting the level of giving is whether they are challenged to give faithfully in a way that makes sense to them. Scripture says, “You do not have because you do not ask. You ask and do not receive, because you ask amiss …” (James 4:2-3).
Obviously, James was not writing about church offerings, but the principle holds. We do not receive if we do not ask, or if we ask in a way that offends the giver. If we preach to our people that God expects them to tithe without being sympathetic to their overall financial picture, all we do is create greater guilt. Don Campbell, who directs stewardship development for the Virginia Baptist Mission Board, can be of great help.
Membership growth is also an antidote to a decline in giving. While it usually takes time for new Christians to mature into tithers, some begin giving faithfully from the time they are baptized. Other potential new church members are Christians who move into the community. While it is wrong for churches to seek new members only to support their budgets, the fact is new members do just that.
But to focus on developing greater giving may not be the only strategy needed during these times of economic uncertainty. When financial resources are limited or even reduced, church leaders quite naturally tend to focus on local ministry. After all, these needs are seen every day. But a danger exists that more distant ministries, equally essential but not equally apparent, will be cut because the consequences are not obvious.
Church members see the results immediately if local ministries are not funded, but it is much more difficult to see the affects of not funding new church starts on the state level, for example. From a “kingdom” perspective, however, the church starts may be more essential than the local church ministry — or not.
Church leaders must take special care to honestly evaluate local church needs with regional, state and national needs met by our associations, the BGAV and the SBC and CBF.
It is a good idea to invite BGAV leaders to your church to reinforce the kingdom work being done through state ministries. And, of course, it is a good idea to provide the Religious Herald so church members can see the value of the work they are helping to accomplish through their giving.
Because the times are uncertain, I suggest that churches adopt a plan to review their budgets periodically. That way, if conditions improve adjustments can be made without affecting ministries for an entire year unnecessarily.
Finally, church leaders need to remember that while giving to the Lord certainly has a dollar dimension, it is not only about finances. Some would go so far as to say it is not about finances at all. It is about faith and obedience. Without doubt, the spiritual maturity of church members will prompt their obedience and sacrificial giving. Still, we must begin with people where they are.
Church leaders will want to focus on the spiritual growth of their congregation not just because mature Christians give more, but because growing Christians do the work of Christ in all types of ministries and experience the abundance of Christ as well.
Budget cuts and curtailed ministries are not all bad, of course. During these times we are all forced to examine the actual kingdom benefits of what we are doing. May Virginia Baptists prayerfully walk that fine line between fiscal faith and foolhardiness. And may the kingdom benefit from our efforts!