Asking For Money

I'm with you.

Giving within the CofE is notoriously poor (I used to be church treasurer) and overheads are massive. My church is older than yours and keeping on top of things is a nightmare. At the moment we're holding our own, and able to concentrate on our evangelical vision for 2014, but we've certainly been where you are, and by the grace of God pulled through.

A lot of CofE churches have older congregations, where income is more or less fixed, and we'd noted that parish giving was fairly static over a ten year period we examined. Gift Aid helped a lot, and encouraging an envelope scheme did push figures up.

Your vicar is right though. If people can give their time, if they have little money, then it helps when it comes to general maintenance.

Like it or not, the institutional church is a business. It has expenses and has to have revenue to sustain itself. These are trying times for the church, with declining attendance necessitating spreading expenses among fewer people. This is especially true for churches with aging buildings with high maintenance costs. The only way to get money is to ask. Still the time is coming when more and more churches will abandon buildings they can no longer afford to maintain.

I spoke once at a magnificent church with a seating capacity of 900. There were no more than 30 persons present for Sunday worship. The church was supporting itself on an endowment. When the money is gone, that church is done.

Thanks be to God, the true Church is not bound by buildings but exists in the hearts of its believers.

We have a pledge drive every year. Envelopes are mailed out and handed out after services. I've never heard anyone complain about it.

No one comes right out and asks for money at my church, but I wouldn't be upset if they did. Churches cannot operate on prayer alone, though I'm certain it helps.
Yesterday was a very low attendance day at our very small, very poor church, with lots of people out sick (there's a flu bug going around). I'm a newbie to the church and as a result of yesterday's low attendance I got to get to know someone I haven't yet had a chance to talk to much. The conversation turned to the history of the church and things we'd both like to see improved, but there is no money for - repairs to the sign out front and an external paint job.
I had never before mentioned that I'd like to see these things done, being a newbie and all I didn't want to offend, but once she brought it up....
It just so happens I have this inheritance from my dad sitting in the bank, doing no one any good. That conversation told me exactly how to honor my father's life.
There are no coincidences in this world.

No one particularly enjoys stewardship/partnership Sunday, but it has to be done.

It's important that regular giving is done tax-efficiently. People need to know what it costs to run the church and how we could do more with more money. When we give to church, the blessings are multiplied.

If your minister is not good at asking for money, there are loads of visiting ones who are brilliant.

No, that should not have been offensive to people.

There are wrong ways to talk about money, and sometimes it becomes a focus that can be a real problem.

But giving isn't just a business issue - it also has a spiritual and faith aspect, and as such it is an appropriate subject for a sermon at times.

People are sensitive about it though. It's a bit like sexual issues actually, people seem to feel it is a bit of a private thing and are uncomfortable about sermons and admonitions about it.

John Shrewsbury said:

Last Sunday our vicar announced that we had to take £20,000 (US$33,000) from reserves to keep the building going. We are a tourist attraction and a venue that attracts a lot of weddings, funerals and civic events, but obviously that is not enought to keep a 930 year old building going.

In his sermon, the vicar encouraged all of us to try and give more (not just in money but also in time to help with events and so on). Personally, I have no problem with this. The vicar wasn't asking because he needs a new jet; he asked because the church is in need.

But some of the others in the congregation felt upset and comments such as "I don't like it when they talk about money" were heard.

I wondered what your view on this issue is?

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It comes down to ecclesiology.

The Church is not a loose confederation of individuals (or, worse, random people who just agree to be together but usually don't): it is akin to a living organism, which is membered by interdependent people who are all vital for the life of the whole.

It takes everyone's efforts, by the gifts and charisms given to each, for the Church to live. That does mean monetarily supporting it.

People need to give within their honest means. Look at Jesus comparing the widow's nigh worthless coins to those who put in their tithe; it is clear that God desires more from those who have it and is pleased when those who have little give what little they can.

I feel that grumbling over money is based on a very cliched notion of the "rich church" which is ridiculously absurd. Many run in the red, often due to mission, which is where a lot of that money goes to.

If people don't like money talk, then they shouldn't be so miserly, which is a vice. It is a symptom of the hyperindividualism which is so prevalent in modern society today and it needs to be combated.