ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS #2

 

            Last week, I talked about three important factors for donors and two important ideas about money.

            What if we talked about money at a time during the year when we weren’t asking for it? I know, I know, no one wants to talk about money. But have you considered that might be because we are so scared that we only talk about money when the church needs it?

            I think we’re doing a grave disservice to the folks in our church (whether they worship inside the building or virtually), by not helping them with their own personal money concerns.

• ·         Are they in debt?
• ·         Do they have too many credit cards?
• ·         Do their expenses exceed their income?
• ·         Did they learn how to budget?

 

             Have you shared information about the importance of planning giving? By this, I mean, considering naming the church in their will, or making the church the beneficiary of an asset?

• ·         If the church was important enough to give you while they’re alive, why not consider the importance after?
• ·         Have you done a wills workshop, talking about powers of attorney and health care proxies?

            Let’s talk about generosity, not money! Generosity is part of being a disciple, and if we ignore it, so our folks ignore it, then our disciples aren’t maturing in their discipleship!

            Giving and generosity is intertwined into our mission and who we are as Christians!

            

Please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org if you’d like to talk about mission and money in your local church. I have some great ideas to help you understand where you are and where you’re going, and how to help your folks discuss and embrace generosity!

 

 

                        ANNUAL CAMPAIGNS #1

 

            It’s that time of year, as we approach Thanksgiving, that most churches have celebrated commitment Sunday. Tying that celebration to Thanksgiving makes a lot of sense. We should be grateful to God for what we’ve received (which, hint, hint, is everything.) Giving back just a portion of what God has blessed us with should be the foundation for our commitment Sundays.

            I want to reinforce, again, the foundation for our giving campaigns. I’ve spoken of it before, but I want to share it again. Some of what I’m sharing came from a workshop by Rev. Ken Sloane, of UMC Discipleship, on Making Annual Campaign Your Own.

            Three Important Basics for Donors:

1.    Believe in mission

2.    Faith and respect for the leader

3.    Transparency in finances

            People give because these three basics are in place. If they’re not, that might explain why your church may be struggling with finances. You should have these in place throughout the year. Be transparent about your finances. And by that, I don’t mean just talk about how you need more money and you can’t pay your bills. I’m talking about where your resources come from and how you spend them. I can guarantee that most people sitting in your pews don’t know and/or don’t understand. Do not share a line item budget; tell the stories of lives changed, or missions served, of compassion, of justice.

            Two Most Important Ideas About Money:

1.    Never talk about people’s money apart from their discipleship

2.    Never talk about church’s money apart from its mission

            Part of our intentional discipleship plans must include generosity. Mature disciples show and experience discipleship through their generosity. We’re not asking people to pay our bills; we’re asking them to be disciples that make disciples and transform the world. Because we’re not asking people to pay the church’s bills, we have to stress that we are asking people to be generous and give to God through the church.

            What is your church called to BE and DO? What is your WHY? Your budget, your generosity, your money should all be centered on the answers to those questions. And once they are, you will be impressed by what God does!

            Next week, I’ll share some additional thoughts on this same topic.

Please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org if you’d like to talk about mission and money in your local church. I have some great ideas to help you understand where you are and were you’re going!

 

 

                                                         WAYS TO GIVE

 

            In churches, we often rely primarily on tithes and offerings. But there are many different ways to give. This doesn’t mean, by putting cash in the offering plate, or writing a check or paying electronically. I mean, why do people give?

            There are three basics to an effective giving system at a church:

• ·         Operating
• ·         Capital
• ·         Planned Giving

            All three of these must be utilized and in effect for a church to have a good system in place.

            I’ve talked about this before, but people give because lives are transformed. People give, not to the church, but to the work of God. If your church isn’t transforming lives or doing the work of God, people won’t give. Consider over the next four Sundays, telling a story each Sunday of a life transformed. If you struggle to come up with these, then you should revisit the mission and vision of your church. Are lives actually being transformed?

            How people give is also important. For some, they give from what they receive in their payroll or other income. Others give from assets that they’ve saved up. Don’t assume that people on a fixed income can’t give. They may have assets put aside. Talk with people about giving to the church upon their death. If the church was important to give to while they were alive, is it important to give beyond? Have planned giving discussions. Communicate information about it.

            Don’t assume that someone with a large salary has disposable income sufficient for substantial gifts. Perhaps conversation about debt control, financial planning and budgeting would be helpful.

            For anyone who has ever volunteered or worked at a church, you know there are times when something physical is going to go wrong. A boiler can cease working, tile comes off the roof, there’s a water leak. So many things can go wrong, and, many times, there isn’t enough money in the checking account to be able to have it fixed right away. That leads to capital giving. Usually, we think about capital campaigns related to new buildings or something substantial. But it should be more than that; there should be a way to raise funds that can be set aside for these types of needs.

            But there are other ways to give, even now.

            For many of our retired folks, there are required minimum distributions (RMD), where they are required to take a minimum amount from their retirement every year. For some, they don’t really need the money, but they have to take it out anyway. Tax law allows them to transfer directly from their retirement account to a non-profit, a/k/a church. The income doesn’t appear on their tax return (reducing taxable income which can help deductions and other tax results). Of course, the charitable deduction isn’t claimed either, but, for many, itemized deductions isn’t beneficial.

            It is so important to consider all of these things, WHY, HOW, WHERE, etc.

            The need shouldn’t be the need of the church to receive, but the need of the giver to giver. If we don’t give them the ability and ways to give, we are doing them a great disservice.

             ---

Please feel free to contact me at (315) 427-3668 or susanranous@unyumc.org if you’d like to talk about doing a financial or giving analysis of your church or about setting up a planned giving plan.

 

 

           ARE YOU INTERESTED IN A CLERGY TAX WORKSHOP?

I am planning on offering a two-hour workshop during the afternoon of December 8th or the evening of December 8th.

If you are interested, please email me at susanranous@unyumc.org. It will be held via Zoom. Once I hear from you, I will send you a link!

• ·         Clergy are treated differently under the tax code than virtually anybody else in the country.
• ·         Are clergy employees or self-employed? Hint: the answer isn’t obvious or easy!
• ·         Clergy have advantages and disadvantages that no one else has.
• ·         Often, confusion exists concerning clergy compensation, deductions and expenses.

This workshop will help you gain a better understanding of the current tax laws that affect clergy today.

At the end of this workshop, you will have a better understanding of the unique issues faced by a United Methodist Clergy Person.  Topics will include: Defining the Dual-Status Tax Classification of Clergy, Defining What a Clergy Person Is, What Responsibilities the Church Has, What Responsibilities Clergy Have, Describing the Housing Allowance and Exclusion, Discussing Exemptions and Deductions, and Completing Your Tax Filing Forms.

I am an ordained Deacon, specializing in clergy tax, church finance and stewardship. In addition, I am a Certified Public Accountant, specializing in clergy taxes.

Please contact me with any questions or concerns, letting me know whether you wish to attend the afternoon or evening. I'll send you the appropriate Zoom link.