To pledge or not to pledge

God, money and me

Ministry costs money. Good ministry costs more!

If you have ever assisted your church in planning an annual budget, you know how difficult it can be, especially when planning revenue amounts is reduced to guessing. Encouraging people to consider annual pledges not only helps with planning the budget, it fosters better ministry in the church.

Consider this scenario. It is Sunday morning with only a few weeks left before budget year-end. In the bulletin you read an announcement that says a major shortfall in giving is projected unless people open their wallets widely and soon! To ensure the severity of the situation is not lost on anyone, a member of the finance committee makes a pulpit announcement that morning of the impending "tale of woe."

Sound familiar? Sundays like this make everyone squirm and for all the wrong reasons. It makes giving to the ministry of the church something that happens out of guilt, fear and probably a lack of planning.

Now consider this scenario. Several months before year-end you receive an invitation in your mailbox asking you to participate in the financial ministry of the church. "Just as God has shared blessings with you, you have the opportunity to share with the ministry of the church." You are asked to prayerfully consider what you and your family would give to the church during the following year. The invitation goes on to highlight the various programs of your church and denominational body. It mentions missions programs your church is involved with and highlights ministry opportunities that could happen provided adequate funding is received.

Over the next few weeks the bulletin and pulpit announcements do not sound like doom and gloom for the church, but rather talk about mission and possibilities. The link between the mission of the church and the budget is clearly articulated. You are told of an upcoming Sunday when people will have opportunity to offer their completed pledge forms in a special offering of celebration. Your pledge information will be held in confidence and will be used only by those individuals given the task of drafting the church budget.

Ministry costs money. Good ministry costs more! If our churches are left to guess at annual revenue amounts for the coming year, planning for the future will always prove difficult and the ministry of our churches will never reach its full potential.

[Author Affiliation]

Darren Pries-Klassen is a stewardship consultant at the St. Catharines, Ont., office of the Mennonite Foundation of Canada (MFC). For stewardship education, and estate and charitable gift planning, contact your nearest MFC office or visit mennofoundation.ca.