I haven’t discussed solutions so far, and probably won’t for awhile. I think whoever reads this should let it sink in, with regard to their church, their family, their beliefs. It is way too big to solve today or tomorrow, but as we can see currently, churches are going downhill, not uphill.

Tonight, I’ll talk a little about money and church, how it comes in and how it goes out. What has surprised me most, in talking with other church goers, is many don’t know and at least 50% don’t seem to worry where the money goes, because it is their church and all is well. Big mistake, people, big mistake. If you think ‘cooking the books’ only happens in big business, you are sadly mistaken. Your local is big business.

How many of you have served on church boards, or vestries? How many attend all the meetings? How many have served as chairpersons of committees concerning budgets, insurance, holiday decorating, ways/means, choir, day care or preschool, pastor/parish, upkeep, inventory, or church law. If you haven’t
you are not alone.

It seems in all congregations, certain people rise to the occasion and make church work a part of their lives. They might greet, or send out get well cards, or do calling. Others volunteer to become part of the church building committee, dedicating 3 to 5 years in the planning thru construction. Still others decide their contribution is to serve on a board, or chair a committee, using their time and talent to smooth the bumps in any church’s life.

You need them all….from the volunteer janitor to the Chairman of the Board…and a smart church constantly seeks out parishioners to fill the slots….An even smarter church understands what people WANT TO DO, FEEL COMFORTABLE IN DOING, AND FEEL GOOD ABOUT DOING.

This money discussion might go on all night…or at least thru the next one section.

There is always the argument in churches about ‘it’s a church’…no ‘it’s a business’…no it’s both’.. I have come to the conclusion it is both, one is the other. We are not discussing how the money flows in, whether or not it is good giving, or money from heaven…..We are talking about how a church should be held accountable. From the smallest giver, who puts pennies in the Easter Box, to the largest benefactor in the town, our/your little church should account for every last dime it spends…AND MORE IMPORTANTLY……HOW IT IS SPENT.

Do you see an accounting each month? Do you see how many people were at each service and how much money was received last Sunday, or at least once a month? Do you have counters who responsibly dedicate 54 Sundays for a year, to see that the money counted, deposited in the bank, and that a list is left so that givers are credited by the bookkeeper? Dang, this is beginning to sound like a job, isn’t it….

If you don’t see, hear, or read about financial stability in your church, on a regular basis, it would be good to think twice. If your board/vestry doesn’t think it is necessary, don’t settle for it. You don’t need to be ‘a bull in a china shop’, but you do need to guide your church into having some time of accounting information available certain times of the year.

“Why, you ask?” Because good church stewardship is an absolute necessity. On any given day, your local newspaper discusses the outcome of people stealing, whether it is in their business doing inside trading, asking for donations for a sick family who is not sick, or building a pyramid scheme. It used to be shocking…it used to be embarrassing, and there was lots and lots of shame. Why is it so commonplace now? Why…because we are no longer shocked and appalled by another’s actions. Don’t get me wrong here….I’m not comparing the crime, I’m discussing accountability….and because it has to start somewhere, your church might as well be the core. What better place, right!

We’ve just taken one little piece of church life…and see …..We have the answer to one question…..people quit attending their church because they have come to find there is no accountability they can depend on. People don’t throw their money around….they expect it to be used to its best ability and they expect their church board/vestry to see that it is. Little old ladies who contribute 5$ a week because that is all they can afford, are doing so because of the church, the belief, the promise, and the love they must nuture… A church owes each and every member accountability. Purchasing the high priced wine for communion when the value priced wine is just as good; getting the new desk for the minister, when another church has a beautiful one for sale at a lesser price; going for the higher priced insurance because the agent worships there; and leaving the air conditioning on all week, because no one set the thermostat properly, is not good stewardship. Not earthshaking, I agree…but not good either.

People looking for a church have been to more than one rodeo, if ya know what I mean. Each have their own set of requirements. Some you can meet, some you never will meet. But some……as in financial accountabilty, you MUST ALWAYS MEET. We push on…in faith

p.s. don’t think for one moment, I’ve pulled these examples out of thin air…..each one..each one has happened.