Torch, Spring 1984

Church Finances by Dr. Willam A. Brock For which of you, intending to build a tower, sitteth not down first, and counteth the cost, whether he have sufficient to finish it? Lest haply, after he hath laid the foundation, and is not able to finish it, all that behold it begin to mock him, Saying, this man began to build, and was not able to finish" (Luke 14:28-30). Let all things be done decently and in order (I Corinthians 14:40). T he Bible often speaks of planning and, in doing so, reminds us that everything in the Lord's work must bear testimony of Him. Stewardship is a vast, Biblical subject and certainly church finances come under that heading. Churches have need of money and that means accountability and that necessitates good business practices. HOW CHURCHES OPERATE How are monies used in your church? There are a number of methods. Some churches have one treasury 10 and one account. Others have one treasury and many accounts. Still others have separate treasuries and separate accounts . For example, I have worked with churches that have general funds, mission funds, building funds, benevolent funds, separate class funds, and we could go on and on. Quite often smaller churches have more separate funds than the larger churches . Often money does strange things in and to our local churches. Many churches follow no accounting methods at all. Churches that have multiple accounts often have large sums in one account and nothing in other accounts . The missions fund is usually the largest and often there is money in this type of account but no funds in the account to pay the normal expenses of operation. Most churches have three major areas of operation: General - the week-in, week-out expenses such as salaries, benefits, utilities, repair, etc . Missions - home, foreign, and in some cases education and social agencies. Building - indebtedness and possibly even upkeep.