Most of the financial resources we use for ministry come from weekly contributions. People give offerings and tithes and the congregation allocates those funds to support the church’s mission and operations. We fund feeding ministries and pay mortgages. We support salaries and offer benevolence to neighbors in need. Even if some churches receive grant funds or have large endowments, at the average church in the United States, operating expenses are covered by voluntary gifts.
This financial model works well until it doesn’t. According to a report from the Hartford Institute for Religion Research, church revenue is not keeping up with inflation. What’s the plan when expenses are outpacing income? Unlike a for-profit company that makes a product, churches can’t simply sell more widgets. We don’t excommunicate needy parishioners to conserve valuable time and limited resources. We also know that begging for money from members does not work either.
Churches that seek to move the needle on financial stewardship need to be mindful that giving patterns are increasingly influenced by inspiration more than obligation. People don’t give unless they want to give and, increasingly, they don’t want to give unless they feel inspired to give. As trust in institutions overall is on the decline, people are less inclined to give from a sense of duty. When they do decide to give, they focus on the causes that resonate with them personally.
Crucial questions leaders need to ask are:
- What are the stories or vision in our contexts that can inspire people to see the value of contributing time, talent and treasure?
- How do you connect the church’s spending plan with people’s desire for meaning and purpose?
- How is God calling the congregation to act boldly and creatively to be the body of Christ in the world?
