Marks of a Generous Church

Am I generous? I think so. I hope so. I’m definitely getting better at this. It’s not always easy, and requires a LOT of chats with God, who I pray to for wisdom and sense. But the challenge to be generous is always there in the forefront of my mind. It’s one of the side-effects of doing this job that no-one warned me about!

The daily challenge of “Should I sell this expensive top I never wear, or give it to charity? Could I spend more time with the homeless man outside Sainsbury’s? Could I contribute more to the church? Could I volunteer more?” is ever present.

Mostly I’m satisfied that I’m doing alright, and that I’m open enough to the nudging of the Holy Spirit to give more (or less) if my situation changes. I now have a generosity awareness I’m glad of it, because obviously amazing things happen when we’re generous.

Now my countable, measurable acts of generosity can’t be assessed by mere mortals. Not entirely at least. Only God knows the exact details of what I actually give, to whom and why. But, even if the details aren’t public, if I really am generous, surely people will be able to see this? And, extending this to a larger body like, say, a church, shouldn’t this also be true? In fact, isn’t it important for churches to be explicitly obvious about generosity?

Well in a word, yes! It’s very important.

Understanding God’s limitless and never-ending generosity should be really obvious to everyone who comes into contact with the church.

So too, should the response in each of us to live as generous people. Being generous in the way we serve God and contribute to the church’s mission (with our time, money and skills) should be really obvious to an outsider looking in. It’s part of being a Christian.

Generosity brings great joy, answers prayers, and enables our local churches to continue blessing our communities in Jesus’ name. So shouldn’t it be… noticeable? After all, isn’t it is a mark of the generosity of God that churches and Christians are generous? It’s not easy trying to convince people that God is generous if their experience is that those who serve God aren’t!

Yet sometimes, it’s not obvious at all. In fact, even when we are a very generous church, it might not seem that way to the outsider, or even the insider.

To help churches to become obviously generous churches, I’ve suggested some “Marks of a Generous Church”, based in part on the work of Rev. Dr. Michael Reeves, and in part on my observations in the many parishes I’m working with. Of course all of our churches show at least some of these marks at least some of the time. These suggestions aren’t a rod to beat ourselves with, but something to challenge us on and also to encourage us to new heights.

What you’re about to read could transform how your local church approaches generous giving.

And why? Because just imagine what we could do if we put generosity at the heart of our lives. Just imagine what extra resources in time and money could achieve, and think about how this would help us to see God’s Kingdom come.

The following “Marks of a Generous Church” can be used as a self-assessment tool, PCC topic, Home Group reflection, or the basis for a Parish Plan. Lay or ordained, we can’t delay in addressing this important issue, and these “marks” will help you to begin.

1. Time, skills and money are all equally emphasised

Being generous with our time, skills and money is not about choosing which, but choosing all. We are invited to be generous with each, according to how we’ve been blessed with each. A Generous Church avoids the under-representation of time, skills or money, or the overburdening of any.

2. Giving generously is clearly woven into the church’s culture and values

Clergy and lay leaders appear comfortable teaching and modelling biblical stewardship. Generosity-related information is easily found in various places around the church, including the website.  The congregation understands the financial state of affairs of the church, and what activities their contributions enable. People know what Parish Share is and what it funds. It’s easy to spot which charities the church supports and how people can contribute (with time, skills and money) to the mission of the church.

3. Giving generously is celebrated during the Offertory

It’s a joy! There is no sense of embarrassment or reluctance to take part in this act of giving, or awkwardness for those who can’t give much/at all. Everyone understands what the offertory is, and when it will happen so that everyone knows what to expect. Visitors are not pressured to take part, but may participate if they wish/are able. This can be clearly and sensitively explained using this guide, to supplement a verbal explanation from the front. And the most effective way your church can transform the offertory into an act of celebration, inclusion, prayerfulness and worship is by considering adopting this approach.

4. Giving generously is a regular theme in prayer and praise

It’s hard to disagree that the visual and spiritual impact of personal testimony is massive. So in a Generous Church, stories of generosity with time, skills, and money are shared regularly at church and online. The prayer needs of the community within and outside the church are shared, so that these prayers might be answered by God through acts of generosity. And the celebration of how the church’s generosity has touched lives is shared. This shouldn’t be confused with appeals for funding. It’s about opening up conversations about generous giving as an expression of faith.

5. Giving generously is part of a well-developed parish plan

Too often, generous giving/stewardship is an after-thought that comes up on the basis of need, or occasion. The generous church has a clear, well-articulated generosity vision that’s fully aligned with the missional vision for the parish. Teaching, training, communication strategies, resources, etc. are part of the plan to move closer to the goals. Progress is monitored and discussed on a regular basis at PCC meetings and adapted when needed.

6. Generous lifestyles are lived throughout the congregation

Church leaders (clergy, PCC, children/youth leaders etc.) model biblical stewardship in the use of their time, skills and money. A significant number of the congregation contribute time within the church as well as volunteering outside the church. Parishioners regularly generate ideas for outreach ministries for the church and community. There’s an overall attitude of cheerfulness in giving. Church leadership and the finance committee continue to initiate and fund new ministry ideas and opportunities, despite the challenging economy. Discussions and casual conversation should be full of blessing and abundance, rather than limitation and scarcity.

7. Biblical generosity/stewardship is taught

The church has a thoughtful strategy to ensure they are presenting good teaching and training on Biblical principles of generosity to the congregation. Leaders are clear about the message they want to convey; what they want people to understand, believe, and do about generous giving. Time is set aside each year to explain or highlight specific stewardship principles, or, for example, which parts of a service communicate generosity and how (the welcome, the offertory, Holy Communion). Stewardship teaching is available for all age groups in the church. But note, educating isn’t confused with asking for contributions. When the church only speaks of stewardship at the point of need, instead of consistently throughout Christian education, the church misses the mark of this attribute.

8. The church has a generosity champion

A member of the church team – whether paid or unpaid – facilitates the church’s approach to generous giving. This role is clearly defined and the leader has the full support of the church to do his/her job. This is not the treasurer, who is just too obviously the ‘money person’, or the vicar/rector/curate who has a distinct leadership role. This is a person with both gifts and commitment in the specific area of stewardship, and has credibility.

7 Simple Steps to Symbols of Generosity

(and here’s the quick implementation guide)

A few years ago I was worshipping in a rural church in East Anglia with my husband, and when it came to the offertory, we appeared to be two of the only people in the church who gave anything. I was a new Christian and unfamiliar with the ways of the church, so it made us feel a bit uncomfortable and confused.

Years later I’d realise that the rest of that congregation probably contributed via Standing Order, and so when the plate came round, it went straight past them. Ah so that explains it. But even once I understood this, something still bothered me. It seemed a shame that so many of the congregation didn’t take part. It didn’t seem to fit with the spirit of the thing.

That’s technology for you I suppose. Giving via Standing Oder is so efficient that you don’t even have to stretch your arm out in church! But it does seem rather a shame.

So I was very pleased to find that some churches print off little tokens that could be placed on the plate by those who contribute by Standing Order. This means they can physically take part too.

I love this idea, but wondered if the cards could have a wider use. So, thinking hat firmly on, I developed the concept even further to address a much broader set of issues we seem to have with the offertory!

Because let’s face it, in a lot of churches we try to get this awkward money bit out of the way as quickly and as discreetly as possible. We avoid looking at the plate by reading the words in our hymn books and we avoid hearing the clatter of coins by singing those words loudly. The offertory hymn covers a multitude of… embarrassments!

But what if things were different? What if we properly celebrated this bit of the service that conjured up a sense of joyful giving, or prayerful gratitude?

The token idea that I’ve adapted (ready-to-use template found at end of article) tries to help with this. It’s very simple. Basically, as everyone walks into church, they pick a token from the basket, held out by the welcome team, and when it comes to the offertory, they place it on the plate along with their usual method of giving.

But there’s more!

It’s not just any token. This one says:

“This is a symbol of the different ways I give generously to serve others, and recognition of the many ways God gives generously to me.”

These words reflect that generosity comes in many forms such as hospitality, time, resources, skills and money. And central to the offertory, which happens just before the Eucharist, is God’s generosity. That’s what this token also represents.

And there’s yet more still…

Read on for the different ways this idea can completely change attitudes to generosity in your church.

1. Prayer. On the reverse side is a prayer. This helps people to see the link between God and generosity. In the template I’ve produced there are dozens, so each week people are likely to pick up and use a new generosity prayer.
2. Mission. These prayers could highlight God’s vast generosity, the mission of the church, and might especially help those who don’t know what impact their generosity has. These prayers help people to see generous contributions fund things like clergy and lay training, stipends, mission activities, youth events, Messy Church resources, etc.
3. Inclusivity. It’s not just Standing Order contributors. It includes everybody, even the vicar and the choir, who may not be able to keep their purse under their robes but could easily pick up this small card on their way into church. Everyone chooses a prayer card from a basket regardless of how or what they give, their prayer (their generosity) is blessed at the altar along with all the other prayers and gifts on the plate. This helps us to understand that we all give something at some point and we’re all included in God’s generosity. Those who can’t give (because they forgot, they weren’t aware or they’re too poor) can take part in a church-wide blessing of generosity.
4. Collaboration. you can use prayers I’ve written, or… the prayers on the back could be written by your PCC, or by your youth group. Or they could be written one week, by your whole church at the various services people attend, so that a collection is built of the prayers of the entire body of the parish.
5. Participation. Instead of the vicar/rector/worship leader blessing the offering using the standard liturgy “Yours, Lord, is the greatness, the power, the glory…” or their own prayer, they could pick a card at random each week and read that out. This could help whoever chose (or wrote) that prayer to feel very much part of the worship, strengthening bonds and participation.
6. Pause. Why not consider using the offertory as an opportunity to pause… and think back on the previous week/month about all the ways God has shown generosity and all the ways you have given generously of yourself, including the gifts given today on the plate. As the plate comes around, and everyone is holding their prayer card, each could be reflecting on all the ways they are blessed and bless others. It could be done in silence or with an appropriate piece of music playing (possibly the organist, a CD, or our worship band). By not singing a hymn, the church could take time to pause and focus. And when it comes to the blessing, the music could end and everybody could hear the words of the minister/worship leader.

These suggestions could help your church to do so many things with just one small piece of card.

From creating a clear and obvious link between the mission of the church and the gifts that people contribute, to the participation and collaboration of every member, to the pressure it could take off visitors or others who can’t give much or give in other ways, by other methods or at different times. Wouldn’t a church that celebrated the offertory like this communicate to an outsider that it was a generous church? I think it really would.

(and here’s the quick implementation guide)

Prayer Token Templates

How to Deliver a Tough Talk

Public speaking can nerve-wracking. Am I talking too quickly or too quietly? Am I too close to the microphone… or too far away? Then there’s all those faces staring at me. And what about the ones who have already nodded off? Delivering a speech isn’t easy, and it can be even tougher if the subject is money, and you’re the treasurer! Read on to find out what to say, and how to say it well.

I recently had the pleasure of listening to a talk at the end of a service that was delivered by a member of the congregation; the parish treasurer. He was sharing information on parish finances, ahead of a large parish-wide annual meeting at Stranton church, Hartlepool.

And I was pleasantly surprised!

This talk, in different circumstances, could have been awful. It could have been only about the facts, only about deficit and hardships and the need to “get more money in”. It could have been devoid of hope and the Gospel message. But thank God, this treasurer had worked hard with the incumbent to prepare a clear and honest speech that inspired, informed and encouraged. Yes it was about the accounts, but it put the mission of the church at its centre.

He has kindly allowed me to share this with you (I’ve removed some specific details), which I hope you might find a useful resource in the future, especially if you yourself are a treasurer who dreads these annual talks. Here’s how one treasurer got it right.

“As we come towards the end of our teaching on Generous Giving [the vicar] asked me to give a Treasurer’s view on the practicalities and possibilities of Parish Finance in the ministry of Stranton Church.

Of course, our recent teaching has covered generous giving in the widest sense, including prayer, voluntary service, and financial giving, all being parts of our response of faith to the good news of Jesus Christ.  By spending a few minutes now talking specifically about Church Finance I don’t want to downplay the importance of committing ourselves and our time in prayer and voluntary service.

But as Treasurer of Stranton Church I have a particular responsibility to present the finances of the Church in a way that informs members about how our giving directly supports ministry, and can enable us all to better respond in a planned and generous way, knowing that everything we are and everything we have comes from God, and this how we should respond in accordance with the teaching that we have received.

The Church Accounts for 2016 are currently in preparation and will be presented at the annual meeting in April.  In this preview summary of our main sources of income and the ways in which they are being applied, I bring this to you today as an opportunity for prayerful and planned review of your financial support.

If you are a visitor to our Church I hope you will not mind being patient for these few minutes

Just under half of our total income as a Church comes from the regular planned giving of members.  Through Loyalty Scheme, Envelopes, Bank Standing Orders, and Payroll giving.   This amounts to over £x a year, or £x per week.   On top of this, the amount receivable through Gift aid Tax claims was over £x.  In 2016 we also received over £x in bequests which was unusually high, and was the reason for us being in financial surplus, which we will be carrying forward to help meet the cost of renewal of the Church’s lighting in 2017.

We also received lesser but useful amounts of income from open plate collections, appeals for specific mission support, Fees, Signpost Magazine sales, and other sources including insurance claims and an organ recital.  St Matthew’s Community hall generated external income from lettings and other fundraising that more than covered its costs.

These other sources of income certainly helped us to run our buildings and make investments in mission, but the principal use of funds was in meeting our Parish Share payment to the Diocese to meet costs of clergy stipends, Training, Housing and diocesan support which committed one third of our income.  Our next biggest calls on finance were the pay and pension contributions of Lay worker and part time administrator.

We also supported local, home and overseas mission with £x in payments of various kinds including costs of Youth For Christ team. The materials used in services, overheads of Burbank Church, Messy Church and heating lighting and maintaining of the Church building cost a similar amount again.  We also met the out of pocket expenses of staff, upkeep of Clarkson Court and a small staff training budget.

Provisionally we ended the year with a surplus of around £x but this would have been a deficit if we had not received the two generous bequests.

If our income does not rise in 2017 we would certainly be heading for an overall deficit and as we do not hold large reserves to sustain that for long, we would have to decide what areas of ministry we would cut back on.  Our challenge for 2017 is to meet above inflation increases in Parish Share contributions, fund any pay increases for our lay worker Clive and Administrator Trish, and meet the additional the cost of our quinquennial building inspection.

As Stranton is an Anglican Church, there may be some lingering tendency for us to think that somehow our costs are met from endowments and external funds, but the reality is that our investment in mission in this parish is now funded directly through the generosity of members.

If our ministry is going to continue to grow and thrive we all need to review our giving regularly – a problem with standing orders is that they are a bit “File and forget” –they can continue unchanged for years if we don’t actively look at our giving.  But regardless of the method, planned prayerful giving means we should respond with the first fruits of our lives rather than the loose change in our pockets.

So in addition to thanking the members of this congregation who have been loyal and regular financial supporters in the past, I also present something of a challenge to us all, to respond to the love of Him who by the power at work within us does far more abundantly than all that we ask or think, so that to Him may be Glory in the Church and in Christ Jesus, now and for all time.”

If you want to know what the money you contribute to church is spent on, click here.