The moment the words “church budget” are uttered, there are two extreme responses: it’s either met with eye-rolls, heavy sighs, or looks of resignation. Or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, people are opening up a spreadsheet in Excel, entering numbers and formulas before they know the goals the church plans to accomplish in the upcoming fiscal year. While these are common responses, neither are ideal. There are crucial elements to complete to ensure a successful kick-off to the church budgeting season that lies somewhere between the dread of creating a church budget and the exuberance to simply get it done.
Of course, building a church budget requires mathematical abilities, but before opening Excel, projecting the income, and estimating expenses, take a breath. Gather the church leaders and prayerfully consider the goals God has for the church to accomplish during the upcoming fiscal year. Then, share those goals by casting vision to the rest of the team.
Pray
Months before the financial team can start calculating income and expense estimates, church leadership must ask what God is calling your church to accomplish during the next fiscal year. There is no better place to start this process than in prayer. In Paul’s letter to the church in Rome, he wrote, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer” ~Romans 12:12. It’s a call to pray regardless of the situation, whether it’s affliction, joy, waiting, or seeking wisdom. Prayer has a way of taking the focus off our circumstances, needs, and desires and back on seeking God – where it belongs.
Set Goals
By now, most are familiar with SMART goals. This methodology helps direct and guide teams to ensure the goals are specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound. After spending time in prayer, use the SMART goals grid to refine the goal. Remember, the goal must align with the church’s mission. Since a budget is simply a plan that shows how the church plans to spends every dollar, good financial stewards (managers) identify and prioritize the projects, events, and other expenses that allow them to achieve the goal. There are a lot of really good things a church can do, but most don’t have the financial resources to do all of them. Having a prayerfully sought-after goal that aligns with the mission allows the church to confidently say “not now” to competing financial requests because it’s saying “yes” to the agreed-upon goal.
Cast Vision
Carey Nieuwhof said that mission is what you do, and vision is what you see. For most churches, the mission remains unchanged and is some form of Jesus’ Great Commission found in Matthew 28. This is where the church gets to cast the vision for the goals and initiatives. It’s time to paint a picture of the desired future state of where the church is going. Promote collaboration and dreaming about all the ways to get from where your church is to where it will be. Don’t let cost hinder the dream session; there’s plenty of time to adjust the numbers in the budget later. For now, consider the possibilities.
Creating a church budget is so much more than just numbers, formulas, and spreadsheets. It’s about seeking God’s will and setting realistic, measurable, achievable goals tied to a timeline. It’s about painting a picture of what could be and allowing people to dream about how to get there. Church can do all of the budget leg work without ever using math. And that alone should stop some of the eye-rolls and heavy sighs.
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