I am a simple, uncomplicated person. But there’s one area in my life where my wife cannot reconcile my behavior – driving. I spent almost 20 years commuting 100 miles a day. After spending all those hours over all those years stuck in traffic, I hate commuting. But I love a good road trip. There is something about a road trip that brings me joy and peace. About a month before our last adventure, our vehicle needed new tires. While it always hurts to shell out about $500 for tires, when you break it down, the price per mile of a tire is very reasonable – anywhere from $.05 to $.08 per mile. But having new tires doesn’t mean you can ignore them for the next 60,000 miles. You need to rotate the tires every three to five thousand miles and check the air pressure periodically, especially as the weather changes.
The church budget is a lot like buying new tires. There’s a cost to completing it (hours and emotions), and when it’s complete, ongoing maintenance is still required. Here are three reminders once you finish the church budget for the upcoming fiscal year.
The Church Budget is a Means, not the End
From the moment a church begins the budgeting process, it can take months before the final product is complete. Depending upon the size and complexity of the church, the budget process can quickly take on a life of its own. It’s important to remember that the budget is a means to an end; it’s not the goal. The purpose of the budget is to allocate every dollar donated toward accomplishing the church’s mission, not a math exercise. When the budget season is over, take a step back and view it with different lenses. Look at all the ways God will use these financial resources at your church.
Share the Church Budget
It takes numerous people and countless hours to put the church budget together; it’s a collaborative effort between ministry leaders, operational leaders, teams of volunteers, the financial team, and church governing boards. The church budget shares the heart and goals of the church for the upcoming fiscal year. Every church should communicate the budget at an appropriate level. It demonstrates to the congregation the thoughtful, prayerful dedication to remain above reproach in dealing with money and pursuing the mission. When the church budget is complete, take the time to share it.
Perform Quarterly Reviews
The church budget creates the projection based on factors like attendance and per capita giving. As we all found out in March of 2020, things can happen beyond our control that can quickly derail the plan. Imagine any business, non-profit, or church that did not adjust its budget projection when the world shut down. Since church donations fluctuate monthly, making decisions based on a single month is not wise or healthy. However, monitoring the offerings and the spending on a quarterly basis is a prudent way to ensure fiscal responsibility. And it works both ways. If a church is growing at a pace beyond what the budget projected, consider revising the budget to invest in the new growth.
Buying new tires for your car is a moment in time when the purchase gives you a safe and comfortable ride, but periodic maintenance is required to get the most out of them. Similarly, completing the church budget is a great accomplishment, but to get the most out of it, remember to take a step back and see how God will use these resources, share the budget with the church, and review the progress every quarter to ensure the church remains on track.
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