Budget Time! Does Your Church Have Money for Ministry?
It is unfortunate that church budgets are often prepared at the busiest time of the church year — Advent and Christmas — in preparation for congregational meetings in the early part of the following year.
Often they look at the current year’s spending and tweak the numbers here and there and wrap it up into a package for the congregation’s approval.
That’s why we are putting in a word now for congregations to think about budgeting for MINISTRY. That’s different than budgeting for a MINISTER. The minister and your lay leaders need money to do the work. Failure to provide money for ministry leaves your church leadership with three common conditions:
- Reliance on the paid pastor for all leadership, creating whatever ministry is within his/her interests and skill set.
- Constantly soliciting volunteers and trying to grow your church with whatever skills you can muster (which are ever-changing and likely becoming more difficult to find).
- Existing in the status quo, enjoying the talents that your current team has for as long as they can provide them. (Then what?)
The failure of church budgets to provide money for ministry is probably the foundation of a lot of church conflict!
This common budgeting scenario has many churches hog-tied. Whenever a ministry opportunity arises that requires funding of even a small amount of money or requires skills the congregation cannot find within its membership, church leaders shake their heads and say, “It’s not in the budget. Maybe next year.” or “We don’t have the people.” But next year the same thing happens and they still don’t have the people.
Consequently, congregations are forced to say “no” to the very activities which would would help them grow and fulfill their mission.
In a fast-changing world it is impossible to forecast every need and opportunity.
Congregations must look beyond satisfying their minister’s compensation package and the hungry demands of brick and mortar if they are going to have the flexibility and skills to provide ministry.
Churches should create a Ministry Fund that gets regular care and feeding. This Fund should be available to fund unexpected opportunities for mission. A good goal to be achieved over time would be to have an equal amount of money for ministry as you have for a minister. Start where you are and find a way to get there! If you are successful in reaching that goal, resist the temptation to use the money to hire a second minister. A church needs working capital and many skills. Hiring one person will use your resources and limit your ministry to his or her skills. You want as many hands working at ministry as possible!
Perhaps the congregation can start such a fund with seed money and then fund it with a percentage of offerings. Create guidelines for requests and use. By all means, work within the governing rules of your congregation, but find a way to fund the work of the church.
Knowing there are resources to work with could energize your ministry! When someone in the congregation learns of a promising program, training session, or ministry opportunity, your leaders can nod their heads and say “We can help.”