Two Ways to Talk about Moneyin Your Congregation

Pastor Chick Lane

Two Ways to Talk about Money

Public• How money is talked

about in public ways in the congregation

• How people are told of the congregation’s ministry

• How people are invited to support that ministry

Behind the Scenes• How money is handled• How money is managed• How income and

spending are tracked• How budgets are

developed and used

Two Ways to Talk about Money

Public and Behind the Scenes• It is important that each is done well• It is important that each is done in its place– Don’t let money talk that should be “behind the

scenes” become public money talk

Public Money Talk

Public money talk in congregations is about the intersection of the congregation’s mission and the individual’s discipleship.

What is your congregation’smission?

• Do you have a mission statement?– Does it guide how you do ministry together?– Does it say anything or is it just a sentence full of nice words?

• What is your congregation’s mission?– What are you doing in Jesus’ name in your community and in

the world?– What are you famous for in your community?– How would you do on a Sunday morning exit poll?

• Maybe clarifying your mission needs to be the first step toward stronger stewardship

Tell the Congregation’s Story

People need and deserve to know how their giving is making a difference in the world.

Tell

• The need to tell something many times using different media before the message is heard

• The knowledge gap between leaders and others

• Tell as you thank• Tie your telling to your mission• “Because of you…”• “Look what you’ve done now…”

Stories to Tell

• The story of ministry “within the walls”• The story of local ministry• The story of designated ministry support• The story of the synod and churchwide

organization

Tell the Congregation’s Story

Some ideas that have worked – • Mission moments/Thanksgiving moments• Projection before worship• Worship bulletin• Stewardship Bulletin Board• Monthly newsletter• Social media• Website

Part one of public money talk - Tell the Congregation’s Story

People need and deserve to know how their giving is making a difference in the world. (…and you can bet that if they don’t know how their giving to your congregation is making a difference, they will be tempted to move their giving to someplace where they know how their giving is making a difference)

Part two of public money talk -each person’s relationship with

Jesus Christ

Invite people to give as a follower of Jesus Christ, not as a member of

the congregation.

Another Intersection – Faith and Finances

Jesus talks about money a lot!

He always talks about the intersection of faith and finances in a person’s life.

He never talks about the importance of getting the bills paid.

#1 - Talk about money when you aren’t asking for any

“Here is what we say through our stewardship practices: 10% belongs to God; the rest belongs to you. Give that 10% to the church, which will use it for God’s purposes. The other 90%? Do whatever you want with it.” - Rolf Jacobson

Since Jesus talks about money all the time and never asks for any, why do we talk about money only occasionally, and, when we do, we are always asking for some?

How might we do this?

• Name that this is what you are doing, then don’t dare ask for any

• The Bible is your friend!• Sermons • Adult education opportunities– “Holding a Money and Values Conversation”

• Fearless Feasts• Read and discuss – “Enough” by Adam Hamilton• “Mind Your Money” at sharesavespend.com• Money Autobiography

#2 – Talk about money when you are asking for some

• Be bold and direct• Tell your mission story and invite people into

that story• Ground your ask in the Bible, not the bills• Never use a budget to ask for giving• Ask for growth

Two Ways to Talk about Money

Public• How money is talked

about in public ways in the congregation

• How people are told of the congregation’s ministry

• How people are invited to support that ministry

Behind the Scenes• How money is handled• How money is managed• How income and

spending are tracked• How budgets are

developed and used

Behind the Scenes Money Talk

• Every bit as important as public money talk• And very different

Behind the Scenes Money Talk

Two important resources:• The ELCA Treasurer’s website

http://www.elca.org/Resources/Financial• “Money and Ministry”

Janet and Philip Jamieson

Behind the Scenes Money Talk

Financial Practices:• The Budget– Mission Document– Spending Plan– Accountability Document

• The Annual Meeting– What about a “Finance Meeting” first?– The one time the whole congregation should look at the

budget– Why I was always nervous and what I did about that

Behind the Scenes Money Talk

Financial Practices:• The role of the Congregation Council– The importance of reports before the council

meeting– Monitor income and expenses compared to

budget– Make mid-course corrections

• What about “panic time”?– Keep the focus on the mission

Behind the Scenes Money Talk

Financial Controls• It is unfair to anyone to put them in a position

where they could easily steal money if they wanted to.

• Don’t let personalities influence financial control decisions

• Ask an outside expert to evaluate your entire financial operation

• An audit is not a luxury, it is a necessity

Crafting YourStewardship Message

Ways to encourage generosity

Why people give, andWhat people give

• Why people give (from Clif Christopher “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate”)– A belief in the mission– Regard for the staff leadership– Fiscal stability of the organization

• Three pockets from which people give– Regular income– Accumulated assets– Estate giving

Five Motivations for Giving

Compassion

Community

Challenge

Reasonability

Commitment

Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan

CompassionSharingCaringGivingLoving

Serving Supporting

“ Many people do what they do because of their love for their children, their love for their family, their love for their country, their love for God’s mission.”

Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan

CommunityFun

Good TimesFellowshipAffectionBelonging

Sense of Home and Family

“ Many people do what they do out of a search for community. The extended family clan used to provide a spirit of community. Many people are drawn to church because they hope that they will discover within a congregation a spirit of community.”

Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan

ChallengeAccomplishment

AttainmentAchievement

“Some people ‘rise to the bait’ of a challenge. For them, life is one challenge after another.”

Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan

ReasonabilityData

AnalysisLogic

Thinking that “it makes sense”

“Some people motivate themselves at various stages of life’s pilgrimage out of motivation of common sense. For them, a course of action must be reasonable before they take it.”

Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan

CommitmentDedication

FaithfulnessDuty

ObligationVows

Loyalty

“Some people motivate themselves out of a sense of dedication and loyalty. They do what they do because they have made deeply felt commitments”

Giving and Stewardship in an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan

Motivations for Giving

• Predominant Motivators for most people in

the pews are Compassion and Community.

• Predominant Motivators for pastors and key

leaders are Commitment and Challenge.

• Working with the Motivational GapGiving and Stewardship in an Effective Church by Kennon Callahan

Generational Gap

“duty and delight”

Commitment

Institutions

mission + making a difference

Community

Causes

Wrapping It Up

1. Are we telling our congregation’s mission story in a clear, compelling way?

2. Are we boldly asking people to support the congregation’s mission?

3. Are we providing a variety of giving opportunities?

4. Are we providing a variety of ways to give?5. Are we taking good care of the money people

give?