Two Ways to Talk about Money in Your Congregation Pastor Chick Lane.

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


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


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


Two important resources:• The ELCA Treasurer’s website

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

Janet and Philip Jamieson


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


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


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

What should the Rostered Leaders know and what should they do with what they know?

I think Rostered Leaders should know what people give.• Guessing or in the know?• Individual spiritual growth• Congregational money culture• Thanks and encouragement• Leadership selection


Pastoral ministry:• A change in giving habits can result from a

change in life situation or church satisfaction• Very low giving can provide an opportunity for

spiritual growth• High giving can be a sign of spiritual maturity• Reduces possibility of financial blackmail


Ask:• Targeted “asks” in the annual stewardship

response program• Matching donor interest with congregational

opportunities


Thank:• Public thanking• Private thanking


Tell:• Expressing to faithful stewards the difference

their giving is making to the congregation and in the lives of people.

• Specific telling to those who have given to specific causes.

Beyond the Offering Plate

Ways to encourage generosity

Three reasons people give

Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate,Chapter 2

A belief in the mission

• Is the congregation able to clearly articulate its mission?

• Do the members know the mission? • How have the members had the opportunity

to participate in shaping the mission?

Regard for staff leadership

• Like it or not, in a congregation the pastor is crucial here (Senior Pastor if there is one).

• The importance of the basics (“Pay the rent”). • Just do your job!

Financial stability of the institution

• People don’t give to sinking ships. (Ken Callahan)

• Don’t cry wolf. Bad news doesn’t motivate.• Be careful and be transparent.

The Three Pockets of Giving

Not Your Parents’ Offering PlateChapter 5

Earned Income

• Regular income, however it comes• Most often earned income is the source of

regular giving to the congregation.• In many cases it is also the source of giving to

special/capital appeals.• The importance of previous financial decisions

on giving from earned income.

Accumulated Assets

• Savings, stock, cash value of insurance policies, property, etc.

• Tax law and appreciated assets• Most often accumulated assets are the source

of giving to special/capital appeals• The possibilities of giving from accumulated

assets for regular giving

Estate Giving

• Accumulated assets given at a specific time• Often given to a congregation’s endowment

fund.• Usually a problem if it isn’t.• Invite this giving on a regular basis. The

message will be heard only by those thinking about estate planning at that time.

• Seek professional help.

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.”


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.”


ChallengeAccomplishment

AttainmentAchievement

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


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.”


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”


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?

Two Ways to Talk about Money in Your Congregation Pastor Chick Lane.

Documents

public money talk slide

money public

difference slide

congregations mission

jesus christ slide

congregations ministry

congregations story

story of ministry