Few people are comfortable talking about money. Even fewer are comfortable handling the bookkeeping of it, especially church leaders.
Now, sure. Church leaders aren’t the only people in the position of handling a task – a Herculean task if we’re being honest – but for them, it’s often so far beyond their depth, scope of work, passion and calling that it can prove downright painful.
We’re not trying to be hyperbolic, but ask any pastor you know if they got into ministry to be the church’s record-keeper, and we’re sure you’ll be met with a hearty, dismissive guffaw.
And fair enough.
We recognize that many are of the belief that faith and finances can’t coexist. And superficially, that makes sense.
Faith is about trust and belief, and using metrics, software and a chart of accounts for matters of the heart and soul can feel emotionally and spiritually disconnected.
But if a church is going to continue to grow in ministry effectiveness – and that’s always the goal – church leaders need to get comfortable with it. And if their church is going to not only grow but thrive, they’ve got to get good at it.
Thankfully, getting “good” at handling church finances can be just as simple as shifting your perspective a bit and then knowing a few best practices for financial transparency and accountability.
Change Your Lens
First, when you ditch the mindset that church accounting is a “have to” of church leadership life, and instead begin to believe it’s a “get to,” handling church finances becomes something entirely different – especially when you consider that some of that responsibility is managing money that so perfectly demonstrates how the people you shepherd have truly embraced the generosity of God in all areas of their lives.
Not too shabby a perspective, right?
Inspect What You Expect
We’re often amazed by the number of churches we hear about that haven’t established processes when it comes to providing accountability and transparency for their church finances.
But with more and more transparency required in how churches manage money, it’s important to make sure you’ve created a solid financial system. Not only for the sake of your individual church, but also for the church as a whole.
Establishing and maintaining strong financial processes can help your church avoid common financial mistakes by increasing transparency and accountability in your church accounting – and church software and a chart of accounts are great places to start.
Gain Trust & Confidence in Your Bookkeeping
You certainly didn’t get into ministry to devote so much time to managing money. But trust us when we say: You can do this.
A thriving, healthy, financially flourishing church doesn’t just happen. It’s the result of leaders committed to church finance best practices that they accept as part and parcel to what they believe God is calling them to do.
No matter your church’s size or finances, accurate, transparent and accountable bookkeeping is paramount.
And with that in order, you can get back to what only you can do: Inspire people to do more and be more for the Kingdom.
This article is courtesy of BELAY Solutions, a leading virtual staffing solutions company that provides virtual bookkeeping, administrative assistance, social media strategy and web support, www.belaysolutions.com.
