I recently posed four questions about organizational theory, leadership--and how those influence church giving--to Mike Bonem, executive pastor at West University Baptist Church in Houston and co-author of Leading from the Second Chair. Here is what he shared with me:
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1) What connection exists between organizational theory and funding as it relates to churches?
In the for-profit world, money is the measuring stick of success. Increasing the bottom line by growing revenue is the driving factor behind business decisions, and they have developed sophisticated approaches for doing so, such as new products launches, market segmentation, customer retention initiatives, brand loyalty programs, and more. Businesses are also willing to look at strategic, long-term investments for the future, spending money today on something that might not pay off for two or more years.
For the church, financial resources are not the end but a means. The mistake that some churches make is to take a very simplistic approach to money as if it's a dirty word. For example, we talk about discipleship strategies to move someone from a not-yet-believer to a fully devoted follower of Christ. We assume that their financial giving will grow as they mature, but perhaps we should have more explicit strategies in this regard. Or perhaps we should consider using cash reserves for an "investment" that is likely to bring in new members, people whose giving will "pay back" this investment in future years.
I am not suggesting that a congregation's decisions should be run through the same financial filter as a business. There will be many decisions with no expectation of financial return, such as a low-income medical clinic or a ministry to college students. I am, however, suggesting that we could grow the resource base that is available for ministry if we learned from the corporate world.
2) Would you support a move away from traditional funding methods for churches in exchange for the practice of for-profit enterprises operating for social good (e.g. Tom's Shoes)? What impact would a shift like that have on church culture?
I believe that traditional funding methods should, and will continue to be, central to the financial structure of churches. By traditional funding methods, I am referring to giving by members from their income (and assets) to support the church budget, and the periodic special appeals/campaigns (e.g., missions, building program). There is enormous potential for growth in giving if members get serious about what the Bible teaches on stewardship and generosity. In our materialistic society, this is a vital part of discipleship, and churches should not be fearful about teaching these principles.
Source: Christianity Today | YourChurch Blog
Ben Stroup is author of Church Giving Matters and Push the Limits of Church Funding. He recently joined Generis, a stewardship consulting firm.
