PREPARE
FINANCIALLY FOR THE FUTURE - PART 1
If you’re
like many churches that I have spoken with or heard from, you’re worried about
your finances. Is there enough? How will the changing economy affect what you
receive in donations and what your expenses will be?
I don’t
think anyone has missed the impact of a global pandemic, of having church
buildings have to close, or of having to “do church” differently. But there’s
more that you can do besides just worry!
I’ve spoken
many times in these blogs about working on your mission and vision. Remember,
that’s more than simply having the right pretty words that mean that you can
cross it off your “to do list.” Look at your mission statement. Look at the
vision of your church. Do they both incorporate what your church is called to
be and to do? No church can be everything to everyone, or do everything. Once
your mission and vision are well-defined and measurable and appropriate, then
you can work on your Ministry Funding Plan a/k/a budget.
Noone looks
forward to a budget or likes to read them, especially in church. However, what
if you looked at the budget for what it “does”? It is a plan to fund the
ministry of your church. Let’s call it that: Ministry Funding Plan. Don’t project
income and then create a budget from that or from what you hope your income
will be. Instead work on a Ministry Funding Plan that is a result of God’s
leading for your church. It stops you focusing on expense control and instead
of growing generosity. It helps you focus on the need of people to give rather
than on the need of the church to get.
Grow disciples,
not dollars. Grow generosity, not budgets.
Please
feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org if you’d like to
discuss your Ministry Funding Plan.
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