21 Dec
Should churches only rely on tithes and offerings?
My immediate response is…
NO!
Are you KIDDING ME!
Really? Do you HAVE to ask?
Let me explain.
Why would an organization dedicated to such an important task willingly place themselves in such a risky position as to rely completely on the weekly tithes and offerings of those in attendance? (Notice I didn’t say membership. The regularity of member attendance is shifting. Gone are the days when you can expect even your “best” members to be present every week.)
No one builds a sustainable business on one good customer. Why? Because circumstances change. Executive Management changes. Competitors change. There are numerous reasons why it’s better to spread your business income over multiple clients instead of one. You shouldn’t need an MBA to know that. It’s obvious.
That being the case, I’m absolutely amazed at the lack of concern many church leaders have when it comes to funding the churches they lead. Any leader who derives his income from the generous giving of church members ought to consider multiple streams of income to, at the very least, ensure he is able to feed his family, pay his bills, and survive in the midst of any change in church giving habits. Any leader who understands that others who benefit from social ministries such as food or clothing ministries, addiction support services, etc. out to seek out multiple streams of income to ensure those who deeply depend on the church for help aren’t left to fend for themselves in the event the church “runs out of money.” (Can you imagine how difficult it would be to tell a hungry family – face to face – that the church doesn’t have money to stock the food pantry any more?)
As the demand for more complex ministry solutions increases, more money will be required to fund the ministries that will meet those needs. There comes a point in the life cycle of every organization when it becomes fiscally responsible to add additional streams of revenue to support the growing ministry of the church.
How much ministry is left on the table simply because we limit our ministry capacity to one stream of revenue?
And do you have a follow-up blog on what those additional income streams might be? Your challenge is certainly correct.
Here is a link to an article I wrote for the November 09 edition of Church Solutions Magazine called “Beyond the Offering Plate”: http://broadcast.vpimail.com/broadcast.aspx?blast_id=3493
There is no one formula for every church. Context is everything. After you read the article, I’d be happy to talk with you more specifically about your church.
Merry Christmas!
Ben, good post, good points. My only caution is that as I spend time with ministries who have spent significant time and attention developing these alternate funding sources, the church can become increasingly focused on the management and development of things that aren’t central to the mission of evangelizing and discipling the lost. While I think much of the current trend of applying business principles to church is healthy and beneficial, we risk becoming more about the business of church and less about the mission of church…
Jeremy,
Excellent point. There is a balance between the two. The ultimate goal is to provide for sustainable, long-term, transformational ministry. This is why we have to cultivate and maximize the time, talent, and treausre God has provided in the people who sit in our pews.
The church has a very specific purpose and mission. It is the only entity divinely empowered to accomplish the Great Commission and carry forward the earthly ministry of Christ until His ultimate return. Therefore, the church CAN’T fail.
The temptation is not in allowing business principles to overcome our ministry objectives. Rather, the temptation is to allow ourselves to no longer feel responsible or accountable to funding the work God has called us to do. It is not by accident that Jesus spent more time talking about money than he did sin and salvation.
Merry Christmas!
Blessings, Ben.