Economic reality likely will frustrate the optimistic outlook many churches have about pay raises and staff growth next year, according to a new financial analysis of U.S. congregations. “This fall, churches are extremely aligned on a cost-of-living adjustment for their…
Facing financial investigation, embattled Fort Lauderdale pastor exits
The embattled pastor of a once-prominent Florida Baptist church resigned suddenly last week, just days after public reports that the church was being investigated by the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability. The congregation of First Baptist Church of Fort Lauderdale…
Untold numbers of churches have unclaimed funds sitting in state treasuries
Hundreds of thousands of dollars, perhaps millions, due to churches across the land are sitting in unclaimed property accounts with government agencies. It’s all part of the millions upon millions of dollars in cash that belongs to individuals, companies, nonprofits…
After three years of turmoil, Fort Lauderdale church’s finances under ECFA scrutiny
A Florida Baptist church that has been embroiled in three years of internal controversy has been suspended from membership in the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability pending a review of compliance with membership standards. ECFA is a nonprofit organization open…
Year in review: Practical helps for clergy and lay leaders
Clergy and church lay leaders make up an important subset of BNG’s regular readers, and our content reflects this as we often present articles addressing the inner workings of church life. These include both news articles and opinion pieces written…
Despite financial hardships, Americans upped their giving to congregations during pandemic
The financial hardships many Americans faced during the COVID-19 pandemic did not result in the predicted revenue declines for U.S. churches, according to new research into congregational giving trends. In fact, the study conducted by the Lake Institute on Faith…
In second year of pandemic uncertainty, church leaders are watching year-end giving closely
With just three Sundays left in the year, it’s once again make-or-break time for most church budgets. And in the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, amid noteworthy signs of inflation nationally, there are more questions than answers about how…
Despite COVID, ‘worst-case scenario’ did not emerge for church finances
Eleven months after the global COVID-19 pandemic forced the closing of churches and synagogues nationwide, faith communities of all stripes have stepped into the new year with new goals and expectations for how to fund and conduct their ministries and…
With five weeks remaining in this bizarre year, churches hope to finish well fiscally
While stuffed Americans put away the Thanksgiving leftovers and turn to the online Black Friday shopping ritual, houses of worship are hoping their members will drop by their websites as well. As the year of COVID approaches its first end,…