Money Talk and the Congregation

Posted on March 26, 2012 by Giving Speaks

Some people think that annual stewardship campaigns are about money; they are wrong. Stewardship campaigns are about commitment.

~Jerald L. King, Stewardship Consultant

Our relationship with money is complex. The relationship evolves throughout our lifetime. We are born into a culture of money–our family’s culture–and are influenced by the money cultures of our local communities, congregations, and society at large.

Whether we have a lot of it, or very little, money holds power in our lives. Money is wrapped up in our values, beliefs, and attitudes. It affects our relationships with others, particularly in the realms of family, work settings, and religious communities. Money is a form of energy that both moves through our lives and moves us through our lives. Our perceptions about money can be positive or negative, depending on our experience with it.

When it comes to money in the congregation, there are layers of complexity, because each person encountered carries a unique blend of experiences, attitudes, and feelings about money. Talking about money can trigger intense emotional reactions in some. As a result, the topic can be awkward–even taboo–to discuss openly and authentically in faith communities.

Asking people to give their money to support the congregation requires understanding and sensitivity on the part of those doing the asking. Those enlisted to engage the conversations about money and giving in the congregation benefit from training and support. This involves the opportunity to first explore one’s own relationship with money and commitment to financially supporting the congregation and its mission before asking another to give. As confidence builds and talking about money becomes more comfortable, a new culture of generosity and stewardship can emerge and prosper.

Stewardship is important and essential work of the congregation. It is a spiritual practice of careful tending to the needs and resources of the community. At its best, stewardship is a ministry that promotes healthy relationships with money and with one another.

This link will take you to the presentation slides used for training stewardship teams: Annual_Stewardship_Campaign_team_training_2012

A recent Alban article by Craig A. Satterlee, Preaching is Not Fund-raising from the Pulpit, poses some interesting challenges for stewardship leaders focused on raising funds to support their congregations’ annual operating budgets: http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=9901

Filling the Tank: Fueling the Congregation’s Budget

Posted on March 18, 2012 by Giving Speaks

Congregations must be as creative and diligent as ever in their stewardship efforts as we navigate the long and winding road to economic recovery.

Our annual funding is the fuel that fills the tank of the vehicle we call the annual operating budget. And despite our efforts at fuel efficiency, it seems like the costs keep on increasing!

Annual operating budgets are one way congregations estimate and track their income and expenditures from one year to the next. At best, budgets are road maps that guide the congregation on its financial journey, aligning its priorities, core values, and mission. Budgets provide a framework for organizing and viewing the congregation’s financial picture. Budgets tell our story and teach us about our shared mission, values, and identity as a faith community. Good budget planning and financial management procedures are essential aspects of effective stewardship and healthy congregations.

However, as many experienced stewardship and congregation consultants tell us, budgets do not create generous people. Often “budget language” includes terms that undermine good stewardship and health: budget crunch, shortages, cuts, shortfalls, decreases, scarce resources, or we can’t afford. People give to those organizations and programs they perceive to be successful and telling a story using generative language: mission, ministry, vision, aspiration, possibilities, we can reach our goal and change lives for the better!\

Who wants to put fuel in a vehicle that is broken down on the side of the road?

We need to be strategic about our budgeting and this means that the congregation must have a crystal-clear vision about what it stands for, where its going, and how it’s going to get there. Leaders should carefully analyze their congregation’s giving history (three-year span) and per capita giving to accurately and realistically project income and expenditures. Consultants recommend that congregations conduct their annual pledge drive before the budget is formulated. This helps to differentiate the practice of giving as a faithful response and spiritual discipline from the numbers in the minds of the congregants. People are more generous in their support of their congregation if they are:

Inspired by the mission and ministry,
Grateful for their relationships with others in a caring community, and
Trust in their leaders to be good stewards of the congregation’s resources.

If our congregations are to flourish, deepen in faith, and grow in maturity and membership, we must fuel our budgets adequately. High octane ministries and programs are not inexpensive. They are well worth the investment of careful planning and resources.

The following are some recommended percentages of income and expenditures for healthy budgeting:

Program Areas

50% Personnel–the people and the professionals (see links for staffing and compensation guidelines below)
20% Programs–Worship, Religious Education, program expenses
20% Facilities–mortgage, dept service, insurance, utilities
10% Mission–outreach, social justice, wider faith community

Income Sources

75% (+/-) Income from pledges
20% or less Rental Income
20% or less Endowment funding

Expenditures

40% – 60% Staff Compensation, including clergy (higher percentage in smaller congregations; compensation guidelines below)
25% or less– Building Mortgage Payments (debt service)
25% or less–Facilities/Building Maintenance
10% or less for Denominational Support and Outreach/Mission/Service

Reserves

Six to Twelve weeks of operating costs

A while back Giving Speaks conducted a poll about Congregation Budgets. You are invited to view the results and participate in the poll at the following link. A summary and interpretation of these results will be shared in a future blog post.

For more information about congregation budgeting by Alban Institute consultant Dan Hotchkiss, go to: http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=8884 and http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=9893

Congregation budget self-test: http://www.alban.org/uploadedFiles/Alban/Conversation/pdf/CongBudgetSelfTest.pdf

UUA Website and Congregational Stewardship Services: http://www.uua.org/finance/fundraising/budget/index.shtml

Congregation Staff & Compensation Information: http://www.uua.org/office/staffing/index.shtml http://www.uua.org/careers/compensation/fair/index.shtml

“The Budget Really Isn’t That Important” an article by Michael Durall for Alban Institute: http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=9893

Recommended Books:

Christopher, J. Clif. Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate. 2008. Abingdon Press.

Clark, Wayne. Beyond Fundraising. 2006. Unitarian Universalist Association.

Durall, Michael. The Almost Church Revitalized. 2009. CommonWealth Consulting Group. (Durall’s other books include: The Almost Church, Creating Congregations of Generous People, and Beyond the Collection Plate.)

Malphurs, Aubrey and Stroope, Steve. Money Matters in the Church. 2007. Baker Books.

How Much is Enough?

Posted on February 16, 2012 by Giving Speaks

This is My Symphony

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common –this is my symphony.

–William Henry Channing (1810-1884)

As we wade our way through the many and varied demands of daily living, it is often not something we think of to let the spiritual part of our being “grow up through the common,” as Channing describes. Life feels too busy and complex to pause long enough to experience the contentment that comes from tuning into all the simple blessings that present themselves, moment to moment. The mindset of scarcity can easily take over: there is not enough time, money, energy, respect, assistance, freedom, fill in the blank.

Not enough.

For those of us who seek a religious community, we may participate in worship and other deepening activities as opportunities for appreciating what sustains and satisfies us:

Reflect on the relationships that fill our hearts with love and friendship.
Experience reverence for life, with its rainbow of emotions and challenges.
Encounter enough when we reorder our priorities and simplify our daily existence.
Connect deeply with our passions and sense of purpose.

Author Adam Hamilton suggests five steps for simplifying our lives as a means of cultivating contentment, reducing stress and clutter that may begin to dominate our existence, and open up new opportunities for generosity:

1. Reduce our consumption and choose to live below our means.

2. Check our intentions before purchasing–Do I really need this? Why do I want this?

3. Use up what we have before acquiring something else.

4. Plan enriching activities that are low-cost or no-cost.

5. Identify the major changes that could be made to simplify your life and still bring satisfaction–houses, vehicles, possessions, jobs, time commitments.

As the late Rev. Forrest Church, expressed so succinctly and powerfully…

Do what you can. Want what you have. Be who you are. Love fearlessly.

Inspiration for this blog post:

Church, Forrest. A variety of books and audio resources are found at the UUA Bookstore, www.uua.org/bookstore and an archive of sermons online at the All Souls New York City: http://www.allsoulsnyc.org/site/c.atJQL8NRJqL8H/b.6216993/apps/s/content.asp?ct=8937505

Hamilton, Adam. Enough: Discovering Joy Through Simplicity and Generosity. Abingdon press. 2009.