Monday, June 23, 2008
Stewardship E-News, June 08
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
Here is real Help!
I often wonder what I could share out of my personal experience that would be a real help to ministers and churches.
Here is one thing:
Ministers and congregation leaders live in the future! Here we are, almost at the First of July. And many of you are busy with VBS, camps, summer events, not to mention vacations, attending summer conferences, etc. But in the midst of this, fall is coming. And, to be an effective leader, you must begin to plan now for the soon-to-be-upon-us fall season. Now how this may affect different churches with their different styles will certainly vary. But the wise leader does not wait until the last minute.
It may be your time for budget or election of officers or annual planning. What are you going to for the Lord next year? A Revival, a Mission Trip? a new building? start a mission? Add staff?
And maybe this will mean that you will need to increase the giving in your church. Maybe you need to plan a stewardship campaign! Or maybe your church is not giving as much as it should to missions. Maybe you need to lead you church to increase its gifts to the Cooperative Program.
Let me say that planning by itself is not a panacea. All planning should be bathed in prayer. It is not wise to make your own plans and than ask God to bless them. So I believe that the very first step in planning is to earnestly seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
But by starting early, you will have time to assemble equipment and supplies and even special speakers and make whatever other arrangements you may need to. And it will give you time to meditate and let your thoughts mature on your plans.
The very word “Leader” means that you are going somewhere and that the leader knows where--and he or she knows the way to get there!
At least some thought should be given to tomorrow—right NOW! Happy trails!
# # #
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
Here is real Help!
I often wonder what I could share out of my personal experience that would be a real help to ministers and churches.
Here is one thing:
Ministers and congregation leaders live in the future! Here we are, almost at the First of July. And many of you are busy with VBS, camps, summer events, not to mention vacations, attending summer conferences, etc. But in the midst of this, fall is coming. And, to be an effective leader, you must begin to plan now for the soon-to-be-upon-us fall season. Now how this may affect different churches with their different styles will certainly vary. But the wise leader does not wait until the last minute.
It may be your time for budget or election of officers or annual planning. What are you going to for the Lord next year? A Revival, a Mission Trip? a new building? start a mission? Add staff?
And maybe this will mean that you will need to increase the giving in your church. Maybe you need to plan a stewardship campaign! Or maybe your church is not giving as much as it should to missions. Maybe you need to lead you church to increase its gifts to the Cooperative Program.
Let me say that planning by itself is not a panacea. All planning should be bathed in prayer. It is not wise to make your own plans and than ask God to bless them. So I believe that the very first step in planning is to earnestly seek the leadership of the Holy Spirit.
But by starting early, you will have time to assemble equipment and supplies and even special speakers and make whatever other arrangements you may need to. And it will give you time to meditate and let your thoughts mature on your plans.
The very word “Leader” means that you are going somewhere and that the leader knows where--and he or she knows the way to get there!
At least some thought should be given to tomorrow—right NOW! Happy trails!
# # #
Friday, October 05, 2007
September 07
Stewardship E-News, September 07
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
I get a barrage of mail advertising legal information and/or services for churches. I am sure you do too. We live in an increasingly litigious society. The hazards for churches are real. Churches should be very careful about safety issues. Wet floors, tripping hazards, dangerous children’s toys, etc. We also need to be careful about who we put in charge of children. Crime histories need to be checked. Confidentialities need to be protected. Pastors need to be covered with counseling insurance. And we need to take precautions in how the church’s money is handled. And, of course, there are tax issues. Are you filing the proper forms with the IRS and your state?
But if we are not careful, we will become so careful that it will stymie our ministry. In financial matters, our State Convention has materials that will meet most needs. If you don’t already have a copy, I encourage you to get a copy of The Church Treasurer by Randy Tompkins. We also have a series of small pamphlets that outline the job descriptions of various church officers such as the Financial Secretary, the Counting Committee, etc. Call Belinda at 1-800-451-6599 and she will be glad to send you materials. The bottom line is “due diligence.”
Time Magazine (4-2-07) reports that a University of Penn study shows that churches supply services to families in Philadelphia that if supplied by governmental entities would cost a quarter billion dollars!
Church Management Software is now in a revival. At one time there were over 250 kinds of church software on the market. But this had dropped to only 37 offerings. Now the number is up again to about 70. How do you choose software? Well, you can go to Christian Computer Magazine’s survey (www.ccmag.com and click on “Back Issues, ” then the October 2006) for an extensive tabulation of various features. Many are now on-line so you can work on it anywhere you have access to a computer and the internet. One useful feature may be the ability to download the data to your PDA (Palm Pilot or other hand held computer). Some programs will facilitate phoning automatically using programs like the PhoneTree. Of course you can do mailings with mail merges. And you can send multiple e-mails with programs like Constant Contact. …Smaller churches may prefer to set up their own program using Microsoft Excel.
A personal testimony: Every once in a while someone tells me that they are going to raise money for some project: land or a building or some other capital need. I always caution them not to try to do it in a “half way.” We can help. Contact Stan Smith at the State Office… Recently, at the little church where I am filling in, they discovered that they needed a new roof. Without telling me they quietly began asking people to give to the “building fund.” When I discovered what was going on, I led them to have a full-fledged capital campaign. I preached on the need. We had testimonies and posters and letters and commitment cards were sent to everybody. In two weeks we received 50% MORE than our goal that we needed to replace the roof!
# # #
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
I get a barrage of mail advertising legal information and/or services for churches. I am sure you do too. We live in an increasingly litigious society. The hazards for churches are real. Churches should be very careful about safety issues. Wet floors, tripping hazards, dangerous children’s toys, etc. We also need to be careful about who we put in charge of children. Crime histories need to be checked. Confidentialities need to be protected. Pastors need to be covered with counseling insurance. And we need to take precautions in how the church’s money is handled. And, of course, there are tax issues. Are you filing the proper forms with the IRS and your state?
But if we are not careful, we will become so careful that it will stymie our ministry. In financial matters, our State Convention has materials that will meet most needs. If you don’t already have a copy, I encourage you to get a copy of The Church Treasurer by Randy Tompkins. We also have a series of small pamphlets that outline the job descriptions of various church officers such as the Financial Secretary, the Counting Committee, etc. Call Belinda at 1-800-451-6599 and she will be glad to send you materials. The bottom line is “due diligence.”
Time Magazine (4-2-07) reports that a University of Penn study shows that churches supply services to families in Philadelphia that if supplied by governmental entities would cost a quarter billion dollars!
Church Management Software is now in a revival. At one time there were over 250 kinds of church software on the market. But this had dropped to only 37 offerings. Now the number is up again to about 70. How do you choose software? Well, you can go to Christian Computer Magazine’s survey (www.ccmag.com and click on “Back Issues, ” then the October 2006) for an extensive tabulation of various features. Many are now on-line so you can work on it anywhere you have access to a computer and the internet. One useful feature may be the ability to download the data to your PDA (Palm Pilot or other hand held computer). Some programs will facilitate phoning automatically using programs like the PhoneTree. Of course you can do mailings with mail merges. And you can send multiple e-mails with programs like Constant Contact. …Smaller churches may prefer to set up their own program using Microsoft Excel.
A personal testimony: Every once in a while someone tells me that they are going to raise money for some project: land or a building or some other capital need. I always caution them not to try to do it in a “half way.” We can help. Contact Stan Smith at the State Office… Recently, at the little church where I am filling in, they discovered that they needed a new roof. Without telling me they quietly began asking people to give to the “building fund.” When I discovered what was going on, I led them to have a full-fledged capital campaign. I preached on the need. We had testimonies and posters and letters and commitment cards were sent to everybody. In two weeks we received 50% MORE than our goal that we needed to replace the roof!
# # #
Friday, August 10, 2007
Stewardship E-News, July 07
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
One of the neatest ideas I have heard about in a while is a web site for the families and friends of seriously ill patients. A family member or friend can go to www.caringbridge.org and set up a free web page for the patient and keep it updated with the progress of the patient and other pertinent information. Friends and relatives—even those residing at a distance from the patient—can send get well messages and other communications of support that can be passed on to the patient.
There is no of scarcity new Bible translations, but here is one more, The Net Bible. You can access at www.bible.org which is itself a neat resource. It can be viewed in an interlinear format with Strong’s numbers or straight with lots of notes. And you can toggle to the King James Version for comparison. I have not done an extensive review of The Net Bible and so cannot comment on its scholarship or its theological slant.
Do the Tates attend your church? Some families make church their home. Others find other uses for the church. Take the notorious Tate family, for example. Perhaps you’ve met some of them. The chief of the clan is old Dic Tate, who insists on running everything in church. His brother Ro Tate wants to change everything. Aunt Agi Tate has a knack for stirring up trouble; and her husband, Irri Tate, always lends a hand. The next generation of Tates has its own characteristics. Hesi Tate and his wife, Vege Tate, would just as soon wait until next year whenever a new project is suggested. Aunt Imi Tate would love to create the first generic church. Devas Tate announces constantly that the church is doomed, while her husband Poten Tate promises he can lead the church out of trouble. [Copied from bible.org]
If you don’t already get it, I commend the monthly Magazine, Your Church, published by Christianity Today. It has practical articles about church administration and hardware. www.yourchurch.net
We are in the midst of a hot summer but right now is the time to begin planning for the coming church year (at least for most churches.) It is a good time to begin giving thought to next year’s budget and to a fall stewardship campaign. Maybe you will want to increase your gifts to the Cooperative Program! Why not get ahead of the game by requesting budget development and/or stewardship campaign materials form the state office: Contact Belinda or Iva at 1-800-451-6599.
# # #
Coming: Servant Evangelism—Tools for Ministry Conferences with Charles Roesel, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Leesburg, FL at two locations: East Shore Baptist Church, Harrisburg, Aug. 16, 6:00 PM (RSVP 8/14) and Laurel Mountain Bible Church, Johnstown, Aug 17, 6:00 PM (RSVP 8/1)
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
One of the neatest ideas I have heard about in a while is a web site for the families and friends of seriously ill patients. A family member or friend can go to www.caringbridge.org and set up a free web page for the patient and keep it updated with the progress of the patient and other pertinent information. Friends and relatives—even those residing at a distance from the patient—can send get well messages and other communications of support that can be passed on to the patient.
There is no of scarcity new Bible translations, but here is one more, The Net Bible. You can access at www.bible.org which is itself a neat resource. It can be viewed in an interlinear format with Strong’s numbers or straight with lots of notes. And you can toggle to the King James Version for comparison. I have not done an extensive review of The Net Bible and so cannot comment on its scholarship or its theological slant.
Do the Tates attend your church? Some families make church their home. Others find other uses for the church. Take the notorious Tate family, for example. Perhaps you’ve met some of them. The chief of the clan is old Dic Tate, who insists on running everything in church. His brother Ro Tate wants to change everything. Aunt Agi Tate has a knack for stirring up trouble; and her husband, Irri Tate, always lends a hand. The next generation of Tates has its own characteristics. Hesi Tate and his wife, Vege Tate, would just as soon wait until next year whenever a new project is suggested. Aunt Imi Tate would love to create the first generic church. Devas Tate announces constantly that the church is doomed, while her husband Poten Tate promises he can lead the church out of trouble. [Copied from bible.org]
If you don’t already get it, I commend the monthly Magazine, Your Church, published by Christianity Today. It has practical articles about church administration and hardware. www.yourchurch.net
We are in the midst of a hot summer but right now is the time to begin planning for the coming church year (at least for most churches.) It is a good time to begin giving thought to next year’s budget and to a fall stewardship campaign. Maybe you will want to increase your gifts to the Cooperative Program! Why not get ahead of the game by requesting budget development and/or stewardship campaign materials form the state office: Contact Belinda or Iva at 1-800-451-6599.
# # #
Coming: Servant Evangelism—Tools for Ministry Conferences with Charles Roesel, Pastor of First Baptist Church, Leesburg, FL at two locations: East Shore Baptist Church, Harrisburg, Aug. 16, 6:00 PM (RSVP 8/14) and Laurel Mountain Bible Church, Johnstown, Aug 17, 6:00 PM (RSVP 8/1)
Labels: July 07
Wednesday, September 27, 2006
September Blog
Stewardship E-News Sept 06
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
A quick and easy to use Bible program on line is Blueletterbible.org . It has several translations some classic commentaries and Bible dictionaries—and it is free. Check it out.
One More Time: If you have not planned a stewardship emphasis for this fall—it is not too late. It’s Biblical and it works. If you need materials or help contact me or the State Office.
Budget Time: Why not consider increasing your church’s contribution to the Cooperative Program of our State Convention in this year’s budget? Did you know that Pa/SJ had the best baptism rate in the SBC this past year? It took 12 Pa/SJ Baptists to win one soul to Jesus last year; it took over 40 SBC wide.
Thanksgiving is coming! What plans have you made to celebrate this distinctively American religious holiday? It is a good time for outreach and it could have a positive effect on your church’s giving pattern.
Here’s Help: If you are in the central and western parts of PA, you can get volunteers and other help through the Appalachian Regional Ministry. They will help in many useful and creative ways, e.g. building, add-ons, renovations, block parties, revivals, training, even repairing homes of senior citizens—(and I have only listed the most traditional). Contact your DOM or Gail Hallman at the State Office or Bill Barker, National Director, 606-316-4298, bbarker@arministry.org
Have you checked out www.woot.com ? Promotes one item each day until it is sold out usually at a very favorable price; mostly electronics.
Applebee’s America is a secular book written jointly by Republican and Democratic political strategists. What is interesting is that it contains a large section on mega churches and how they are developed. They discuss Warren and Hybil’s strategies as well as many others. It gives a good insight into the world we are all working in .
Free pastor’s Retreat: Five days in Ohio, Wisconsin, or Texas FREE, no agenda, high quality facilities. Contact Pastors Retreat Network, 866-703-9544 or info@Pastorsretreatnetwork.org ; or contact your DOM; must be full-time.
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net, 856-778-6117
bobbybaptist.blogspot.com
A quick and easy to use Bible program on line is Blueletterbible.org . It has several translations some classic commentaries and Bible dictionaries—and it is free. Check it out.
One More Time: If you have not planned a stewardship emphasis for this fall—it is not too late. It’s Biblical and it works. If you need materials or help contact me or the State Office.
Budget Time: Why not consider increasing your church’s contribution to the Cooperative Program of our State Convention in this year’s budget? Did you know that Pa/SJ had the best baptism rate in the SBC this past year? It took 12 Pa/SJ Baptists to win one soul to Jesus last year; it took over 40 SBC wide.
Thanksgiving is coming! What plans have you made to celebrate this distinctively American religious holiday? It is a good time for outreach and it could have a positive effect on your church’s giving pattern.
Here’s Help: If you are in the central and western parts of PA, you can get volunteers and other help through the Appalachian Regional Ministry. They will help in many useful and creative ways, e.g. building, add-ons, renovations, block parties, revivals, training, even repairing homes of senior citizens—(and I have only listed the most traditional). Contact your DOM or Gail Hallman at the State Office or Bill Barker, National Director, 606-316-4298, bbarker@arministry.org
Have you checked out www.woot.com ? Promotes one item each day until it is sold out usually at a very favorable price; mostly electronics.
Applebee’s America is a secular book written jointly by Republican and Democratic political strategists. What is interesting is that it contains a large section on mega churches and how they are developed. They discuss Warren and Hybil’s strategies as well as many others. It gives a good insight into the world we are all working in .
Free pastor’s Retreat: Five days in Ohio, Wisconsin, or Texas FREE, no agenda, high quality facilities. Contact Pastors Retreat Network, 866-703-9544 or info@Pastorsretreatnetwork.org ; or contact your DOM; must be full-time.
Thursday, August 24, 2006
Should Pastors Know How Much People Give?
Should your pastor know how much you give to your local church?
Some Pastors feel that they have a right to know what their members give. And, believe it or not, some people really want their Pastor and others to know how much they give.
What are the pros and cons of this? In some denominations, the pastor himself receives the offerings and thus may know what individuals give. In certain places in Africa, the giving records of members are posted on large signs outside the church. But Baptists historically have taken pains to keep this information confidential.
Perhaps the original reason for this confidentiality was Jesus’ admonition: “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” [Matt. 6:3-4] But in modern times, the motive is more likely privacy issues. People do not want to feel that their acceptance or approval in the church is based on how much they give. Of course, for some who may give a lot, there could be the fear that if other charitable organizations or individuals find out that they are generous, they might be badgered by them. And some may prefer that no one be able to calculate their income by assuming that their contributions are one-tenth of that income.
There is also the problem of fellowship. Many times in my ministry, I have seen problems develop because of issues of the relative size of gifts, either real or perceived. Everyone in the Family of God ought to be treated with absolutely no hint of partiality.
But the most commonly cited reason that the Pastor should not know what people give is in order that he shows no partiality and none can be imagined from the content of his sermons or in his relationships with members.
It is sometimes argued that Pastors know a lot of other personal information about their members due to counseling and other circumstances. So why should he not also know their giving records? Let me say, “Yes, and sometimes this other knowledge can also cause problems!” But, in the case of giving, it may appear that the pastor himself gains something by knowing how much a person gives. That is, he has a self-serving motivation for wanting to know this information. He may show favoritism to those who give well and ignore those who do not. A person, knowing that the pastor knows he does not give much, may perceive that the Pastor does not like him for that reason.
This does not mean that the Pastor or other leadership should be totally in the dark regarding giving patterns in the church. It may be very useful to know, let’s say, that 30% of the attendees give 80% of the income. This tells you something about the health of the church. Such data should certainly be made available to the leadership. However, it should be striped of all personal identifiers.
To be sure, there might be times when it would be genuinely helpful for a pastor to know something about a person’s giving record. For example, a sudden drop in an individual’s giving might reflect a financial need or even displeasure at something in the church. But, however useful such information might be, I am convinced that, on balance, the Pastor, the church, and the individuals are all better served if giving records are kept strictly confidential. A Pastor, free from the burden of personal financial information, can freely speak God’s counsel to all and minister to all impartially.
Should your pastor know how much you give to your local church?
Some Pastors feel that they have a right to know what their members give. And, believe it or not, some people really want their Pastor and others to know how much they give.
What are the pros and cons of this? In some denominations, the pastor himself receives the offerings and thus may know what individuals give. In certain places in Africa, the giving records of members are posted on large signs outside the church. But Baptists historically have taken pains to keep this information confidential.
Perhaps the original reason for this confidentiality was Jesus’ admonition: “But when thou doest alms, let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth: that thine alms may be in secret: and thy Father which seeth in secret himself shall reward thee openly.” [Matt. 6:3-4] But in modern times, the motive is more likely privacy issues. People do not want to feel that their acceptance or approval in the church is based on how much they give. Of course, for some who may give a lot, there could be the fear that if other charitable organizations or individuals find out that they are generous, they might be badgered by them. And some may prefer that no one be able to calculate their income by assuming that their contributions are one-tenth of that income.
There is also the problem of fellowship. Many times in my ministry, I have seen problems develop because of issues of the relative size of gifts, either real or perceived. Everyone in the Family of God ought to be treated with absolutely no hint of partiality.
But the most commonly cited reason that the Pastor should not know what people give is in order that he shows no partiality and none can be imagined from the content of his sermons or in his relationships with members.
It is sometimes argued that Pastors know a lot of other personal information about their members due to counseling and other circumstances. So why should he not also know their giving records? Let me say, “Yes, and sometimes this other knowledge can also cause problems!” But, in the case of giving, it may appear that the pastor himself gains something by knowing how much a person gives. That is, he has a self-serving motivation for wanting to know this information. He may show favoritism to those who give well and ignore those who do not. A person, knowing that the pastor knows he does not give much, may perceive that the Pastor does not like him for that reason.
This does not mean that the Pastor or other leadership should be totally in the dark regarding giving patterns in the church. It may be very useful to know, let’s say, that 30% of the attendees give 80% of the income. This tells you something about the health of the church. Such data should certainly be made available to the leadership. However, it should be striped of all personal identifiers.
To be sure, there might be times when it would be genuinely helpful for a pastor to know something about a person’s giving record. For example, a sudden drop in an individual’s giving might reflect a financial need or even displeasure at something in the church. But, however useful such information might be, I am convinced that, on balance, the Pastor, the church, and the individuals are all better served if giving records are kept strictly confidential. A Pastor, free from the burden of personal financial information, can freely speak God’s counsel to all and minister to all impartially.
[To be published in the Penn-Jersey Baptist in September.]
# # #
# # #
Friday, May 26, 2006
Stewardship E-News for May 06
Stewardship E-News May 06
Bob Tallent, 856-778-6117; RGTallent@Concast.com
BobbyBaptist.blogspot.com
“Stewardship is NOT tithing!” Terry Austin, Stewardship Specialist for the Baptist Convention of Texas lead his May newsletter with that headline. He went on to expound the well known text: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! (Matthew 23:23-24)
But I would expand his idea. Tithing might well be a part of an over all practice of stewardship. But a steward was a manager—not just of the money but of the whole house and farm. Early in my young adulthood, I was asked to be the treasurer of a strategic mission church in Hartford, Connecticut. I observed something very interesting. Some people who were very visible and were outspoken—even leaders---did not give very much. But there were others who gave very well and consistently, but were often absent or did not contribute to the mission church in any other way. Now to be sure, we were glad to get their money—just as we were glad for the help of those who did not give---but I often thought that these were gifted people who could have meant so much to the fledgling church.
We are stewards first and foremost of the Gospel! The Gospel is the Pearl of Great Price, the Treasure Found in a Field which we have been given custody of like the Five Talents. If invested, it will multiply. Therefore, we must exercise every gift and capacity we have, certainly including ---but not limited to—our material wealth.
Jesus said, “Where you money is there will your heart be also.” But in our day and in our world, there are some people who are so well endowed materially that they have to give a very large sum before it gets their attention. The fact is, God does not want or need any of our money; He wants us!
# # #
The Hot Topic these days is the Da Vinci Code. Christianity Today did a whole issue on it. It is interesting to me that just one year after The Passion and the same year as the Narnia movie, there has been a spate of “anti” Christian outputs, most notably, The Gospel of Judas, and the Da Vinci Code. These will, no doubt, will do damage in some circles. But I see them as opportunities. They give us the opportunity to assert the Divinity of Christ and to use the extensive biblical material to buttress that argument. Author Dan Brown’s assertion that the Church was restrictive to women can easily be shot down by noting the prominent role of feminine characters in the New Testament. One church, in Leadership, claimed that advertising a discussion of the Da Vinci Code increased Prayer Meeting attendance by ten-fold.
We have several new items in our State Office--free for the requesting:
The Treasurer’s Role is a comprehensive piece about the handling of money in the church.
Catch the Vision gives you a basic outline of how to organize your church for stewardship.
Encourage the Tithe is a plan for a campaign to teach your people the biblical practice of tithing. Missionary Moments are vignettes of Southern Baptist missions around the world and in the USA. This is available in a printed form to be read during worship services and selected vignettes are available on CD for projection for those who have proper equipment. We also have a supply of a new version of the popular “Apple Tract.”
If you are a technology nut like I am (or, at least, would like to be) you might be interested in Christian Computing Magazine’s on-line version: Go to CCMag Web site and enter your e-mail address in their sign up box! (www.ccmag.com ) OR, sign up at the NEW Christian AV Web site (www.christianav. com)
# # #
Bob Tallent, 856-778-6117; RGTallent@Concast.com
BobbyBaptist.blogspot.com
“Stewardship is NOT tithing!” Terry Austin, Stewardship Specialist for the Baptist Convention of Texas lead his May newsletter with that headline. He went on to expound the well known text: Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others. “You blind guides, who strain out a gnat and swallow a camel! (Matthew 23:23-24)
But I would expand his idea. Tithing might well be a part of an over all practice of stewardship. But a steward was a manager—not just of the money but of the whole house and farm. Early in my young adulthood, I was asked to be the treasurer of a strategic mission church in Hartford, Connecticut. I observed something very interesting. Some people who were very visible and were outspoken—even leaders---did not give very much. But there were others who gave very well and consistently, but were often absent or did not contribute to the mission church in any other way. Now to be sure, we were glad to get their money—just as we were glad for the help of those who did not give---but I often thought that these were gifted people who could have meant so much to the fledgling church.
We are stewards first and foremost of the Gospel! The Gospel is the Pearl of Great Price, the Treasure Found in a Field which we have been given custody of like the Five Talents. If invested, it will multiply. Therefore, we must exercise every gift and capacity we have, certainly including ---but not limited to—our material wealth.
Jesus said, “Where you money is there will your heart be also.” But in our day and in our world, there are some people who are so well endowed materially that they have to give a very large sum before it gets their attention. The fact is, God does not want or need any of our money; He wants us!
# # #
The Hot Topic these days is the Da Vinci Code. Christianity Today did a whole issue on it. It is interesting to me that just one year after The Passion and the same year as the Narnia movie, there has been a spate of “anti” Christian outputs, most notably, The Gospel of Judas, and the Da Vinci Code. These will, no doubt, will do damage in some circles. But I see them as opportunities. They give us the opportunity to assert the Divinity of Christ and to use the extensive biblical material to buttress that argument. Author Dan Brown’s assertion that the Church was restrictive to women can easily be shot down by noting the prominent role of feminine characters in the New Testament. One church, in Leadership, claimed that advertising a discussion of the Da Vinci Code increased Prayer Meeting attendance by ten-fold.
We have several new items in our State Office--free for the requesting:
The Treasurer’s Role is a comprehensive piece about the handling of money in the church.
Catch the Vision gives you a basic outline of how to organize your church for stewardship.
Encourage the Tithe is a plan for a campaign to teach your people the biblical practice of tithing. Missionary Moments are vignettes of Southern Baptist missions around the world and in the USA. This is available in a printed form to be read during worship services and selected vignettes are available on CD for projection for those who have proper equipment. We also have a supply of a new version of the popular “Apple Tract.”
If you are a technology nut like I am (or, at least, would like to be) you might be interested in Christian Computing Magazine’s on-line version: Go to CCMag Web site and enter your e-mail address in their sign up box! (www.ccmag.com ) OR, sign up at the NEW Christian AV Web site (www.christianav. com)
# # #
Wednesday, February 22, 2006
Stewardship E-News for Feb 06
Stewardship E-News February 06
Baptist Resource Network,
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net
Bobbybaptist.blogspot.com www.BRNONLINE.org
856-778-6117 (cell 609-472-4122)
Taxes, taxes, taxes: With the approach of April 15, I am getting calls about tax issues for pastors and churches. The key distinction for the minister’s federal taxes is to remember that he has a dual status. 1) The bona fide minister does not pay Income Tax on his housing cost, but 2) he must pay self-employment tax (at approximately double the rate for Social Security tax) on his entire ministry income. In order to qualify for the housing exemption, the employing entity (“church”) must approve in advance an estimated housing allowance. This can be (and usually should be) larger then what the minister may actually spend because he can exempt everything he spends up to the amount specified. This includes mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, utilities—including even computer on-line service—but not personal long distance, maintenance, fair market rental value of furnishing, cleaning supplies---everything that is required to maintain a “parsonage.” Churches note: by providing this annual document to your minister, you, in effect, give him a substantial raise at no cost to the church. NOW IS THE THIME TO DO THAT FOR NEXT YEAR!
Note that churches should, in some way, acknowledge that their minister must pay much more “Social Security” than the average member. Some churches split out an amount approximating the differential the minister must pay and pays it to him in quarterly payments coinciding with the time the estimated quarterly estimated tax payments are due.
Another key way to reduce the minister’s taxes is to pay ministry expenses on a “re-imbursement” basis rather than a “lump sum”. Any lump sum payment the minister gets are subject to taxation. The little book keeping we have to do is worth the saving of the Lord’s money for ministry.
For detailed information on all of this and much mort, I suggest Worth’s Income Tax Guide for Ministers available at most Christian book stores or online at: www.worthfinancial.com/ .
# # #
Here’s help! How do you handle all of the nettling issues that come up regarding the money and finance in the church? Lifeway has published “A Model Church Financial Policy.” It is available at
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_PDF_Hamilton_ModelFinancialPolicy.pdf
Note that not every church needs to institute every aspect of this model, but it is good guide.
# # #
100 percent of U.S. Christians tithing = $156 billion annually If American Christians tithed, churches could gain $156 billion a year, a recent study found. And if denominations allocated a greater percentage of their receipts to international human needs, they could make strides in eliminating poverty-related child deaths, researchers concluded. A recently released study by John and Sylvia Ronsvalle — the latest in an annual series published by empty tomb, a Christian service and research organization based in Illinois — examines giving trends and church priorities. In 2003, members of Christian churches in the United States gave an average of less than 2.6 percent of their income to churches, the researchers discovered. “If church members were to reach a congregation-wide average of 10 percent giving, an additional $156 billion would be available to assist both local and global neighbors in need,” the Ronsvalles wrote. “The potential impact of this money is seen in need statistics that could be addressed in Jesus’ name: $5 billion could help stop the majority of 29,000 deaths a day around the globe among children under five, most of whom are dying from preventable poverty conditions; $7 billion could provide basic education for the world’s children; $124 million could launch a massive world evangelism effort in the ‘10-40 Window’” — an area of global need spiritually and physically. But the long-term trend points to a downturn in individual giving. Overall church members gave a smaller portion of their income in 2003 — 2.59 percent — than in 1968, when members gave an average 3.11 percent. During that same period, churches chose to keep more of the money they received rather than forwarding it to their denominations to support national and international causes, and the 2003 level marked the lowest point in that 35 years. “If the portion of income donated to the church had not declined between 1968 and 2003, congregations and denominations would have had, in aggregate dollars, 72 percent or $2.2 billion more for benevolences, funding the larger mission of the church, than the amount actually donated in 2003,” the Ronsvalles observed. As a part of their study, the Ronsvalles surveyed 28 Protestant denominations. They found — on average — less than 2 cents of every dollar donated to affiliated congregations in 2003 funded the denomination’s international missions programs. They noted in 14 denominations that grew in membership between 1968 and 2003, about 3 cents of every dollar went to denominational global missions. The full report is available at www.emptytomb.org. (ABP)
Baptist Resource Network,
Bob Tallent, RGTallent@Comcast.net
Bobbybaptist.blogspot.com www.BRNONLINE.org
856-778-6117 (cell 609-472-4122)
Taxes, taxes, taxes: With the approach of April 15, I am getting calls about tax issues for pastors and churches. The key distinction for the minister’s federal taxes is to remember that he has a dual status. 1) The bona fide minister does not pay Income Tax on his housing cost, but 2) he must pay self-employment tax (at approximately double the rate for Social Security tax) on his entire ministry income. In order to qualify for the housing exemption, the employing entity (“church”) must approve in advance an estimated housing allowance. This can be (and usually should be) larger then what the minister may actually spend because he can exempt everything he spends up to the amount specified. This includes mortgage payments, taxes, insurance, utilities—including even computer on-line service—but not personal long distance, maintenance, fair market rental value of furnishing, cleaning supplies---everything that is required to maintain a “parsonage.” Churches note: by providing this annual document to your minister, you, in effect, give him a substantial raise at no cost to the church. NOW IS THE THIME TO DO THAT FOR NEXT YEAR!
Note that churches should, in some way, acknowledge that their minister must pay much more “Social Security” than the average member. Some churches split out an amount approximating the differential the minister must pay and pays it to him in quarterly payments coinciding with the time the estimated quarterly estimated tax payments are due.
Another key way to reduce the minister’s taxes is to pay ministry expenses on a “re-imbursement” basis rather than a “lump sum”. Any lump sum payment the minister gets are subject to taxation. The little book keeping we have to do is worth the saving of the Lord’s money for ministry.
For detailed information on all of this and much mort, I suggest Worth’s Income Tax Guide for Ministers available at most Christian book stores or online at: www.worthfinancial.com/ .
# # #
Here’s help! How do you handle all of the nettling issues that come up regarding the money and finance in the church? Lifeway has published “A Model Church Financial Policy.” It is available at
http://www.lifeway.com/lwc/files/lwcF_PDF_Hamilton_ModelFinancialPolicy.pdf
Note that not every church needs to institute every aspect of this model, but it is good guide.
# # #
100 percent of U.S. Christians tithing = $156 billion annually If American Christians tithed, churches could gain $156 billion a year, a recent study found. And if denominations allocated a greater percentage of their receipts to international human needs, they could make strides in eliminating poverty-related child deaths, researchers concluded. A recently released study by John and Sylvia Ronsvalle — the latest in an annual series published by empty tomb, a Christian service and research organization based in Illinois — examines giving trends and church priorities. In 2003, members of Christian churches in the United States gave an average of less than 2.6 percent of their income to churches, the researchers discovered. “If church members were to reach a congregation-wide average of 10 percent giving, an additional $156 billion would be available to assist both local and global neighbors in need,” the Ronsvalles wrote. “The potential impact of this money is seen in need statistics that could be addressed in Jesus’ name: $5 billion could help stop the majority of 29,000 deaths a day around the globe among children under five, most of whom are dying from preventable poverty conditions; $7 billion could provide basic education for the world’s children; $124 million could launch a massive world evangelism effort in the ‘10-40 Window’” — an area of global need spiritually and physically. But the long-term trend points to a downturn in individual giving. Overall church members gave a smaller portion of their income in 2003 — 2.59 percent — than in 1968, when members gave an average 3.11 percent. During that same period, churches chose to keep more of the money they received rather than forwarding it to their denominations to support national and international causes, and the 2003 level marked the lowest point in that 35 years. “If the portion of income donated to the church had not declined between 1968 and 2003, congregations and denominations would have had, in aggregate dollars, 72 percent or $2.2 billion more for benevolences, funding the larger mission of the church, than the amount actually donated in 2003,” the Ronsvalles observed. As a part of their study, the Ronsvalles surveyed 28 Protestant denominations. They found — on average — less than 2 cents of every dollar donated to affiliated congregations in 2003 funded the denomination’s international missions programs. They noted in 14 denominations that grew in membership between 1968 and 2003, about 3 cents of every dollar went to denominational global missions. The full report is available at www.emptytomb.org. (ABP)
