Church Seems to Have Become Fixated on Money

[Evenstar]

Just wanted some opinions on the latest initiative at my church. It was announced on Sunday that the rest of October will be Stewardship Month, and every sermon will be on the theme of "giving". The season started with a 40 minute sermon on how much was given in our parish compared to neighbouring parishes and how we needed to do better. I am a widow on a low income and felt particularly uncomfortable with an actual figure of £95 per month per household being mentioned as what was needed to keep the parish running. Although we live in an affluent area, I know there are many people in our congregation who simply could not afford this, myself among them. The subject of tithing was also mentioned (giving 10% of your income) saying that giving on this scale showed respect for God.

I feel this is unreasonable, as each person gives what they can afford, the parable of the widow's mite comes to mind, but confusingly this was also used in the sermon, but as an illustration that we should give more

The final straw was that we were encouraged to respond to the prayers of intercession with "God open our hearts and our wallets"

I feel the church should be inclusive and not make those on low incomes feel any more excluded from society than they do already. I certainly don't feel that I have less respect for God because I don't have a spare £95 a month!

It's tough being in one of those sermons - our church has one at the end of every financial year.
It's horrible :(

Everyone feels bad about not giving more money, but most people in our dwindling congregation really can't afford to give any more.

I think our running figure is more than £95 per household per month, at the moment, too.

My way is to try and get more people to come to church - because I can't afford to pay the church any money (at all - they can books if they like, but no money), if I can get a couple more bums on seats, then they might be able to pay a bit towards the collection, and that will help.
I also try to do more in terms of services - like I'll put posters up arond town and I'll take things for them, and I'll volunteer to do things.

The worst bit is when that sermon is on a week when first-timers come to the church - it doesn't look good. :(

I agree than an exact figure is a bit odd, but it is not unreasonable for them to be suggesting/reminding about the 10% idea. This in itself should not exclude anyone as even 10% of very little is giving to God and it means more if it is a real sacrifice (and of course I do not mean impoverishing yourself, being unable to do things, feed the family, have occasional treats) rather than just some of someone's vast income where they do not notice the missing money.

Am not expressing myself very well at all . But i think that these days a Stewardship season rather than just Stewardship Sunday is becoming more and more common and necessary in order that people realise that yes, it does apply to them too!

It is difficult, but necessary. I think you have to let it go over your head, knowing that you are doing what you can, and hope that other people consider their giving. Our place does it a little differently and has a time and talents theme, so that people don't feel it is only their money we are after.

Maybe it will encourage people to give more tax-efficiently, people don't always know about Gift Aid. And people who already give might not know it saves the church money if they give by diect debit (cheaper to administer, fewer bank charges). And people who just put coins in the plate might sign up to a pattern of regular freewill envelope giving.

I am on a small income too and I know how you feel.

It may be unpleasant, but churches have running costs, and those have to be covered by giving from the churchgoers. There isn't another source of money - central funding has been stretched tighter and tighter to fund pensions. (Sorry I'm assuming you're CofE here - but I'll bet other churches are about the same).

Its not supposed to make you feel bad if you're already doing what you can, but if people don't understand the problem - complete with figures presented in a meaningful way - then how can anyone be expected to stop and think about whether they could manage a bit more?

I agree with AMumInScotland. Finance has to be talked about and regularly because people's circumstances change (many times for the better, though it may turn the other way in this economic climate) and people forget to look at their giving and adjust accordingly. They get a pay-rise but never think to increase their giving. That's only for starters: looking at one's giving doesn't seem to be a priority.

I'm in one of the poorest dioceses in the country - poor as in income, and poor in giving. On average people here give less than the national average: which is approx £5 per week.

Nationally giving is running at 84p per week on average for those simply putting money in the collection plate; an average of £5.08 not adding on Gift Aid from those who give via an envelope planned giving scheme; and an average of £14.50 per week from those who give planned and proportionate giving via standing order. This last group is only a tenth of the givers, but they are giving approx a third of the church's income-from-giving. The first group who are giving the least - 84p on average - accounts for 40% of people giving to the church. Giving a £1 is very often the case, and quite clearly this is giving that is neither prioritised, prayerful or proportionate, nor sacrificial: it amounts to spare change.

Obviously there will be some people, for whom £1 is as much as they can really afford, but this will be an absolute minimum of people who are in that situation. That £5 average is mostly only reached because a few people pitch in way above that figure and bring the average up. I know this to be the case as I've seen figures. Considering the outgoings of most households, giving to the church comes bottom, not the top or even the middle of people's agendas.

Our stewardship campaign letter (which I've mislaid) had a helpful table that showed that if you were earning x amount (pensioner, £15,000, £20,000, £30,000 etc) if you just put an extra 50p, £1, and so on according to your means, in your giving, the church would be able to not only pay its parish share easily but be financially secure in many other ways.

It costs £3 for a coffee at Costa, but many people give less than that to sustain the ministry of the church. If at all possible, I think people should look at the possibilities of half-tithing, giving 5% of their income after tax.

I understand why this type of teaching makes you feel uncomfortable, and it seems like there are actually a couple of issues to think about.

One is the cost to run your local church- this is obviously why they so blatantly stated the figures involved, many people may turn up on a regular or sporadic basis and never consider the costs, so I think it's right that attention should be drawn to it.

Personally I disagree with the method, as it sounds like the teaching was making a direct link between the Biblical principle of giving to God (specifically tithing) and the ongoing costs of running your church. In my opinion this is unbiblical, but sadly increasingly common. Nowhere in the Bible does it say you have to give 10% to your own church, but God does call those who follow him to be generous with their money, time and talents, and speaks of joy and blessing for those who give cheerfully.

To give a personal example, we give 10% every month- it goes into a separate account and from that we give a fair proportion to our local church, but also to various mission and charitable organisations. When I was young, unmatched and didn't have mch money I found that if I didn't set aside 10% I never had mch to give, but by planning I was able to give more.

I suggest working out your intuit income and try setting aside a proportion at the start of the mnth-maybe 5% to start. From that decide how much to give to your church, but also to the wider church/Gods work.

Whoops- iPhone changed unmatched to unmatched.

I also meant to clarify that how people respond to this teaching will probably be v different depending on their relationship with God...if you are 'just' a church goer, it may seem reasonable to see giving a proportion of the running costs-almost like paying for admission.

Those who are Christians by conviction and living a life following God should cheerfully and prayerfully give to His work, including the local church...but should also understand grace, and NEVER make anyone feel that coming to God or receiving support from his people in the church is dependent on whether/ how much a person gives.

Oh yes, I agree with percypig above there, in terms of linking the money to a Biblical directive to give to the church. (Also, I think that preaching on anything for 40 mins is way too long. 15 mins should be the maximum, unless you have gone to a specific meeting (ie. not worship) about stewardship).

Thanks for all these replies, and I do understand the difficulties of church finance nowadays. It is just that I feel as percypig that being part of the church family should not be about how much you give. If I was to give even 5% then I would be unable to pay my bills or afford even a small holiday or treat for the DC's and I don't think that would be right and that would still be less than the figure they are suggesting. I do give of my time and work with the church craft group to help raise funds, so I think that is all I can do for now.

Evenstar - please don't worry about the amount you can give to the church financially.
Please give as much as you can afford to give. and carry on doing as you state - giving your time and help is more important.
Like I said earlier, I cannot afford to give anything in money, but I give gifts for raffles and for the fete, and I give much, much time, and I give my voice.
I even sold some items from my shop and gave all the proceeds to the church (making no money on those items - obv not with everything but with a small selection of non-book items)

With the church craft group - you're alrady giving time to that, but could you maybe ask someone to provide wool so that you could knit something to sell for the church at their fairs? (or whatever your craft is). That will helpa lot, as your time is then translated into real cash, without you having to scrimp and save for your next meal.

The church needs money to cover basic running costs and mission. Regular parishioners really should give as much as they can. Gone are the days when it was OK to put a few coppers in the plate.

I think it is a good idea to mention the actual amount required on average from each family - it puts it into perspective. Most people have no idea how much it costs to run a church.

It is only an average though - some give more, others give less.

I suspect the sermon was aimed at those who could afford to give more but don't, not guilt-tripping those who can only afford a little. IME it's a challenge to raise the sort of money it takes to run a church and its staff. The story of the widow's mite is exactly to show that a little money given by someone on a low income is still important.

But there are people around who could comfortably contribute a few hundred a month, they are the ones who may need a bit of "encouragement". And if there is an average of £95 per month and quite a few of the church can't contribute that much, it's pretty obvious that some need to give more to make up for it.