By mid-September, most churches have completed their 2014 budgets, or are close to doing so. Weeks, or in some cases months, of analysis and planning have produced a financial plan for spending that will guide ministries and missions in the coming year.
And for many churches these days the new budget provides an opportunity to break free from practices that have not been effective. Since many churches are experiencing financial troubles, something different is clearly called for. As some sage once remarked, “A definition of insanity is to continue doing the same things and expecting different results.” Another said, “If we keep on doing what we’ve always done, we’ll keep on getting what we’ve always got.”
Jim White
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Maybe it’s time for something new in budgeting and stewardship, beginning with the budget itself. In preparing new budgets, most churches look at each item in the previous year’s budget, determine how much has been spent and project a year-end figure, and add to or subtract from accordingly.
A better, but more time-consuming, approach is to plan what the church wants to accomplish and establish the budget as the cost of pulling it off. Sometimes called a ministry-action budget, each of the core ministries of the church is presented with a narrative statement explaining why it is critical to the mission of the church. To the degree this approach successfully weds the budget figures with the vision and mission of the church, members understand the process and support the budget more enthusiastically.
But if your budget is already set, it may be too late to reframe it in terms of ministry actions. Your next opportunity to do something new may be in the presentation itself.
Because the church budget is usually associated with dry-as-dust numbers and figures, budget presentations are often met with little enthusiasm. Some churches, however, are discovering novel ways to present their budgets. While stewardship committees in most churches will continue the practice of handing out paper copies and explaining the budget line by line, some are using creative approaches.
While PowerPoint presentations may be as uninspiring as some others, they can also add a level of excitement. Particularly when using graphs and charts to explain details, PowerPoint slides can add variety and visual impact.
Churches having creative, technologically savvy members can find ways to create new interest and greater member buy-in through the use of skits, interviews and videos. Rather than simply present “missions” as a line item with a certain dollar figure attached, try showing a two-minute video or a brief slide show depicting members of the church on mission. For impact, play a video statement from a person who was directly affected by your church’s mission endeavors.
With a little thought, the budget presentation can be rescued from the clutches of boredom and can take its rightful place as a premier opportunity to explain the vision of your church.
If it has been a few years since your church conducted a stewardship campaign, maybe it’s time for a change. Sometimes churches fear that a stewardship campaign gives the false impression that the church’s primary concern is money. Rightly conducted, however, a stewardship campaign will focus on the ministries of the church that are supported by membership giving. Church members also fear that in a stewardship campaign they will be embarrassed somehow or will feel pressured. Again, rightly done, members sense an opportunity to support the vision of the church rather than pressure. Any pressure they feel will come from within, not from the campaign.
An annual campaign usually yields good results, but even greater effectiveness is seen when stewardship is an on-going biblically-based emphasis. Jesus had a lot to say about possessions and money! The topics are no less important today.
For further information about stewardship campaigns, contact Don Campbell at the Virginia Baptist Mission Board (1-800-ALL BGAV).
But some churches can’t wait until next year! Red ink emphasizes the need to do something about giving THIS year. What can be done?
First of all, remember that most people do not give to a budget. They give to specific causes they feel strongly about. Obviously, we can’t have everybody designate their money to their pet interests or electric bills would never get paid, but people feel good about giving when they believe their sacrifices are making a difference.
Second, create a positive atmosphere. Emphasizing what the church is able to accomplish because of the members’ faithful giving (as opposed to harping on what the church can’t do because the members aren’t giving), church leaders create a positive atmosphere and they encourage giving by linking it to accomplishment.
Third, some churches have scheduled a specific Sunday when members attempt to catch up in their giving. One positive in this approach is that it clearly communicates a level of expectation — and can do so lightheartedly. One church I know of, whose pastor was a natural-born marketer, devised several fun ways to keep the congregation focused, including passing out packets of ketchup in Sunday school for three weeks prior to their big “Ketchup” Sunday.
Fourth, clearly communicate your church’s vision statement. When church members have no doubt about what they are trying to accomplish, they are naturally more highly invested.
Fifth, ask. The Scripture, “You have not because you ask not,” is certainly appropriate when it comes to giving.
Finally, remember that ultimately, offering our sacrifices is a spiritual encounter with God. Certainly there are financial considerations, and motivating methods can be employed, but when all is said and done, Christians give their tithes and offerings because they have a vital and rewarding relationship with God through Christ. Ultimately they are motivated not by packets of ketchup, however enjoyable such an emphasis might be, but by the love.
Jim White ([email protected]) is executive editor of the Religious Herald.