The Three Offering Plates

We often talk about the "tithes and offerings" we give during our weekly services. For decades, the passing of the plate (or the wood bowl, or the burgundy bag) has been a sacred rhythm of our worship—a tangible way to return a portion of what we’ve earned to God’s mission.

However, as our congregation grows in maturity and wisdom, so does the complexity of our financial lives. We are living in a unique moment in history. We are witnessing a "Great Wealth Transfer"—an estimated $90 trillion passing between generations in the coming decades. This means that for many of us our capacity to be generous is no longer tied strictly to a weekly paycheck.

Our hearts for the Kingdom haven't changed, but the way we hold our resources has. We have moved from simple "earned income" to sophisticated portfolios involving capital assets, retirement accounts, and long-term estate planning.

If we only talk about giving in terms of what is in our wallets on Sunday morning, we miss the opportunity to steward the true abundance God has placed in our hands.

To help us visualize this new landscape of faith and generosity, I want to introduce a concept I call The Three Offering Plates. By understanding these three distinct categories, we can move from "maintenance giving" to "legacy giving," ensuring that our church remains a lighthouse for generations to come.

I invite you to explore these three plates with me below. This concept of three offering plates comes from the J.Clif Christopher Books "Not your Parents Offering Plate". The book talks about three pockets of giving.

1. Offering Plate #1: Earned Income

Earned income represents weekly or other regular income, such as wages, salary, or retirement funds. This income is commonly used for daily needs and expenses, such as bill payments, but can also be used for charitable causes. Churches often excel at encouraging this type of giving. In fact, our regular Sunday services typically include a time to receive gifts through this offering plate, and earned income is the bulk of what is received.

1. Offering Plate #2: Capital Assets

A capital asset is property that is held for long-term use or personal investment, but also has value when it is sold. Churches too often overlook this offering plate. Many churches and members may be unaware that gifts can be received from these accumulated, often non-cash, assets. Examples include savings accounts, unused or partially-used college funds, retirement accounts, life insurance policies, and proceeds from, stocks, bonds or real estate sales.

1. Offering Plate #3: Estate Gifts

An individual's wealth is often at its greatest upon their passing. God calls us to steward our resources responsibly, even beyond our lifetime. Currently, about 8% of estate gifts go to the church, this percentage is increasing each year. Your church should consider encouraging members to think about their estate plans and how God can use their resources even after they have passed away.

I invite you to connect with me ([email protected]) to explore how these three offering plates can support your church. Discover how to encourage givers to look beyond just their earned income and what systems you need to implement to benefit from these different offering plates.