Money in the Church: How do you know there's not enough?

By Dave Crittenden
Transitional Synod Executive        

I don’t get it. Why don’t we talk about money in the church?

More than half of our pastors don’t know what their members give to their church or where their members yearn to invest their time and money. Yet the same pastors often know everything else there is to know about those same members because it helps with pastoral care.

Sessions, presbyteries, synods, the Presbyterian Mission Council and the Office of the General Assembly don’t talk about money with each other and only talk about money themselves when it is absolutely necessary.

The whole system believes there isn’t enough money to do what we believe God has called us to do.

Didn’t we just finish talking about money? There was that budget thing and salaries. Wasn’t it only the expense side of the budget because we can’t imagine there being more income? Most everyone I know cut ministry because we are convinced there is not enough money and won’t be for the foreseeable future.

How do you know there is not enough? Did the leadership and the congregation look at all of their assets as ways to enable ministry? Did you ask those who give to you what they really want to do with their money – did you invite them to be partners in your mission? Did you ask members to financially join in your vision by inviting them to be long term collaborative partners? Did you show them how it could be done rather than outlining the reasons why failure is inevitable? Do you personally believe there is enough?

If we don’t talk about faith and money we won’t know if there is enough.

We yearn to follow Jesus. Jesus talked more about possessions and money than any other single topic. For the most part we stopped talking about it, what happened to us?

The people of the Exodus got manna every morning as part of God’s promise there would always to enough. They complained bitterly every day, but at least they talked about it. When there were more than five-thousand mouths to feed Jesus said feed them – even after hearing it was impossible with the resources available at first glance.

I choose to believe those gathered shared what they had brought, but intended to hide. They shared everything they first had decided to keep. God in Christ believes we will share what we intend to keep and that there will always, always be enough.

“Everyone should give whatever they have decided in their heart. They shouldn’t give with hesitation or because of pressure. God loves a cheerful giver. God has the power to provide you with more than enough of every kind of grace. That way, you will have everything you need always and in everything to provide more than enough for every kind of good work”  2 Corinthians 9:7-8 (Common English Bible).

 

Let me know if you want to talk about it.

Pertaining to synods

By Duane Sweep
Associate for Communications

Synodical, or pertaining to a synod. Synodical – the word itself – is an inside joke here.

These days, if you’re associated with a synod, or an associate or something for a synod, the ability to accept criticism is vital. Criticism of synods is that common.

You see, we’re in postmodern and perhaps post-Christendom times. But we know it’s a post-something time. We may have even reached a post-post time.

And being post-anything – at least for the synod – means it’s probably time we look at how we got here, what we’ve become and, at a minimum, where we are going and if we even belong.

First, we know how synods are perceived throughout the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.). And it’s not good – if we accept without question the research results of the first Mid-Council Commission that submitted its report to the General Assembly last summer.

The report, often lauded for the research, includes a statement in the research addendum that says much about the findings. On page 112 there’s this line: “Because respondents self-selected, results may not be representative of the larger constituencies of which respondents are a part.”

Think about that for a minute. It’s not in the numbers; it’s in the selection.

Yes, the research was a monumental effort, but those who responded made the decision to participate. They were not part of an appropriately selected sample. Respondents self-selected.

Second, it might not be that synods are superfluous – at least not all the time and in all places. Of all the governing bodies – o.k., councils – presbyteries are necessary to be Presbyterian. If I’m not mistaken, presbyteries at some point made the decision to create synods.

So, I’m thinking it’s probably a good idea for presbyteries to play a really significant role in determining what synods should be doing and where synods end up going.

I don’t think it’s time for presbyteries to be heard; I think it’s time for presbyteries to really be the drivers.

The overture adopted earlier this month by the Presbytery of Prospect Hill is a step in that direction. The overture calls on the General Assembly to “take no action related to the functions of synods, the merger or redrawing of boundaries of synods, or the elimination of synods … without the consent of any synod and a majority of the presbyteries affected.”

The overture goes on to encourage presbyteries “to consider consultation with their synod and surrounding presbyteries … regarding what functions are appropriate within their respective synod.”

 
I think that’s kind of Presbyterian and maybe even synodical in way.