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?
Prince Rivers
Editor, Alban at Duke Divinity
Resources
Church income isn’t keeping pace with inflation — but here’s how faith leaders can encourage giving and growth
As a recent report sheds light on the postpandemic state of faith and finances, experts offer suggestions for increasing church income by prioritizing ease of giving and financial literacy.
By Leslie Quander Wooldridge
A church offers training in faith and finance
Kingdom Fellowship AME Church helps its members thrive through financial literacy classes that help build economic stability and faithful generosity.
By Leslie Quander Wooldridge
Catalytic organizations inspire
The executive director of Leadership Education at Duke Divinity writes about the significance of ministries that renew neighborhoods and congregations and how such catalysts inspire him to live more faithfully.
By David L. Odom
The church is not broke
Yes, the church is in decline in some ways — but religious institutions control billions of dollars of assets. What if we invested that money in mission?
Interview with Mark Elsdon
Before you go
One of the most exciting projects I’ve participated in is paying off a church mortgage.
We were a medium-sized church in a relatively slow-growing city. We needed to eliminate the remaining debt — about $2.8 million — to invest in missions, ministry and staff. If you’ve ever done a church capital campaign, you know it’s challenging to raise money for a building that’s already built. We believed we could meet the challenge if we didn’t focus on the debt. Instead, we set out to inspire the congregation to see the possibilities that might emerge if the church were free to invest in new ministries.
For three years, we made a big deal of envisioning an exciting future. It was humbling to see people shift their financial priorities to be part of the campaign. One person delayed adding a room to her house. Another family postponed purchasing new furniture. Why did these people choose to give? I think they did it because they felt inspired by the vision of what God was doing.
What are you going to say to your congregation during the offering next week? How are you going to inspire them?
You can always reach me and the Alban Weekly team at alban@duke.edu. Until next week, keep leading!