for November 17, 2024 | November Focus on Financial Stewardship
In November, we are focusing on the financial stewardship of the parish. Our primary resource and guiding philosophy are outlined in Michael White and Tom Corcoran’s book, Church Money: Rebuilding the Way We Fund Our Mission. This book is available on http://Amazon.ca , and those interested in understanding how we fund our mission at St. Alexander are encouraged to consider obtaining a copy: churchmoney: Rev. Michael White, Tom Corcoran: 9781594719127: Books - Amazon.ca. The authors provide insights into “Funding the Mission” and the significance of giving. For instance, they note:
As we have studied healthy, growing churches and their successful leaders, we've learned that financial stability and, indeed, strength are fundamental elements of a church's health and growth. …. consider the largest, fastest-growing churches in the country: Elevation Church in North Carolina, Life Church in Oklahoma, New Spring in South Carolina, North Point in Georgia, and Saddleback in California. They have taught their parishioners how to give and, in the process, have funded the unparalleled growth of their churches. (viii)
We aim to educate our parishioners at St. Alexander on the importance of giving. In Church Money, the authors pose the question, "How do we get the money we need to fund our ministries?" They suggest avoiding short-term fundraising strategies such as golf tournaments, raffles, dinners, and pleas from the pulpit, as these methods may work temporarily but do not foster long-term engagement, often resulting in "increasingly resentful consumers." (32)
Our financial strategy focuses on making disciples and equipping them to grow. Instead of relying on small fundraisers driven by the Church's immediate needs, we aim to demonstrate how contributing to our Church and community can be a meaningful action:
The reality is that the path toward financial health and stability in our parishes is not running away from our mission but toward it. The more we connect money and discipleship, the healthier our church finances will be. Put it this way: if we're successfully attracting the unchurched, getting them on a clear, accessible discipleship path, and equipping them with the steps they need to grow, then we will see an increase in giving from the members of our Church. (37)
And it’s working. Attendance has increased over the past few years. We have recruited new part-time staff, including a director of music, a youth minister, and a director of marketing and communication and they have all made a very positive impact on our congregation. We sent a bus load of kids to Steubenville, paid for a confirmation retreat last year, we don’t have to charge for our confirmation and first communion programs, our coffee Sunday is free, new screens have been installed—all accomplished without the need for special appeals throughout the year. Let’s keep going! As stated in St. Paul's first letter to the Corinthians: “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived, what God has prepared for those who love him” (1 Cor 2:9).
-Fr. Paul
Comments