I’ve been pondering the question, “What does a recession-ready church look like. How does one be wise and faithful during hard economic times, but without fear and paranoia?”
I asked my dad, director of Good Sense Ministry at Willow Creek Community Church in Chicago, about healthy characteristics of recession-ready churches. Here’s what he shared:
1) A congregation that has been taught well about living with “financial margin” in their personal lives
2) A congregation that has been taught well that God must be the highest priority in their lives for the church to really be the church. If everyone “buys into” Christ as the single most important thing in their lives then three things will happen ….
a) They will not be overly worried about the effects of the recession
b) They will continue to give to the mission of the church since the church is Christ’s priority
c) They will live knowing that their giving is about their relationship to God not the need to support the church. That stays constant even in a downturn.
3) A congregation that has been taught that fear is not of God … but represents a look into our souls that fear because we really don’t trust God to be our provider … and we have taken on that role ourselves.
4) A congregation that will have retained financial margin in their church finances so that they have “food stored during the plenty years … to help feed people during the famine.” Churches need wise financial management, an attitude of avoiding debt and margin (savings) to be able to thrive during a downturn.
5) A congregation that does not have a lot of financial obligations that are not “adjustable” with changing conditions. Large fixed financial commitments do not allow for that flexibility when times are tough and money becomes tight.
DougG said...
1JR, Your Dad is great … a couple additions:
6) Setting the example, A church leadership that practices biblical economics that includes relying on and practicing grace:
a) When everything is going up at 10%+ APR, they save resources for the -10%+ APR. (many have gotten overextended.)
b) Take a long look at the OT for things like how to start a biblical Welfare system involving 20-30% of the budget. (Ex: buy an apartment complex for those being helped.)
Adding to 1), Teach finances regularly with lay-testimonies.
03/3/09 12:14 PM | Comment Link