Lubbert, you are spending too much time on this, methinks. When you do your budget and approve at the annual meeting, just use however many families you have at the time to set your ministry amounts. The number may have changed since your yearbook report, but in the end it should balance out, if your transfers in equal someone else's transfers out. If you have more members, great; if you have fewer, then your ability to pay the ministry shares will decrease. If you feel as a church really concerned about the ministry shares, then you can always add ten or twenty percent to your ministry contributions. Getting lost in the technicalities is a waste of time, which could be better spent on other things, like actually doing minstries.
Lubbert, whether you intended disrespect or not, you achieved it. My suggestion is not fudging anything. The bottom line is that each church is responsible for its own contribution towards ministry shares, as well as to the percentage of ministry shares it pays, or whether it pays any at all. Ministry shares are not taxes, they are not an invoice, they are are voluntary contributions made by each church towards denominational efforts. The denomination makes its suggested ministry share contributions based on overall member numbers, just as a local church makes its own local budget average contribution number based on its membership at the time. That doesn't mean that each member would contribute exactly a certain amount per member. Those who have more will contribute more; those who have less will contribute less, and that's how it should be. This principle is also true for churches at the denominational level, or should be.
In addition, a local church is always responsible for where it sends its money, and how much it sends. It cannot absolve this responsibility by blaming the denomination for its decisions, or pawning off its responsibility to the denomination. Thus it actually needs to decide on denominational minstry share spending and decide whether that is the best cause, compared to other causes, both local and elsewhere. I think many ministry share causes are very good, but not necessarily all. A few causes should be removed from ministry shares and added to recommended causes. But, regardless, our church cannot absolve itself of its own responsibility to evaluate and decide.
While there are certain aspects of churches that follow business principles, there are certain aspects which do not. The church is based primarily on cheerful giving, not on being assessed invoices for services. If this important point is lost, then we will have transgressed or regressed from ministry and serving God to something entirely different.
Lubbert, apology accepted. The reason to use the most recent membership numbers to work on your budget, is that your budget is based on what will be contributed in the year to come. If your membership drops drastically between the time you submit your roll numbers to the yearbook, and the time you make your budget, it does not make sense to assume that no membership changes have occurred.
I don't really want to continue this conversation... but I will point out the converse of what you have said, which was that 20% of members may not attend, can also be possible, so that 20 or 30% of contributing attenders may not be "registered members".
I think Ron has made a good point. Exit interviews can be useful, but sometimes those who depart will not be willing to actively participate for various reasons. They may be afraid that whatever constructive criticism they might give, could be taken in the wrong way, just because they are leaving, when the reasons for leaving are entirely different, ie. personal family, friends, business opportunities, lifestyle, etc. and have nothing really to do with the church itself. On the other hand, I think it is wise to provide the opportunity.
While God can use people of all ages to serve in his kingdom, and in his church, it would not be appropriate or beneficial to have teenagers or very new christians to lead and rule if older (elder) christians are available to do so. It is quite possible for many teenagers to do deaconal work without being ordained as ruling deacons, since every church member ought to engage to some extent in deaconal activites, such as caring for the less fortunate. But the idea that the youngers should be elders runs counter and contrary to the notion that learning and experience and wisdom in the Christian life are gained through time. It runs contrary to the whole idea of the title of 'elders" as well. Sometimes, if older people are younger christians, then they too would not be good candidates for eldership, even while they would still have lots of opportunity for service. On the other hand, I agree that qualifications for eldership should be based primarily on spiritual maturity, not on chronological age.
Some people make a distinction between an "official" worship service, and other gatherings. At official worship services elders should supervise and attend. If elders are not present, it will be an unusual circumstance. If elders are absent without good reasons, then the church is likely sick. But I agree that former elders or off-duty elders can be designated by consistory to fulfill that role of supervision and regulation, although it ought to be done preferably by the consistory/other elders and not by the pastor, who is after all being supervised ultimately.
Ultimately it is the decision of the consistory whether a service can be held without an elder present. It should be a conscious, not an accidental decision.
If you are in the tornado zone, you may want to consider what you can do to help there. Perhaps gather a group of young people for a few days of cleaning up, or home building, or sorting of materials....
While official elders should be ordained, scripture seems to indicate that many people can be pastors, or pastoral in terms of relating to fellow christians. This means that others besides elders and deacons can visit the sick, assist the needy, teach, provide pastoral advice in stressful situations, etc. And while all elders should be apt to teach, it is not necessary for all teachers to be elders. So some teaching jobs can be done by non-elders.
It would also be possible if a serving elder is overwhelmed at times by people who need attention due to illness, stressful family situations, job loss, etc., that he could ask for assistance from non-serving or "retired" elders. If these "retired" or "off-duty" elders took their initial calling seriously, then they wouldn't mind helping out if they have the capacity, time and ability.
I've always assumed it was mandatory to bring the church budget to the annual congregational meeting for approval. All churches I have been in have done this. All non-profits societies and charities are required to have an annual meeting of membership with proper notice, which approves the financial statement and the next years budget, at least in Canada. This also improves communication, and increases understanding and "ownership". Sometimes adjustments to budget are made at the annual congregational meeting.
This budgeting is not done by the deacons, but by the council as a whole in cooperation with the treasurer, who may or may not be a member of council, but usually is not. Generally the deacons submit a list of proposed offerings to the council for approval, but this is not part of the budget as it is over and above the budget.
We do not use pledges, but rather assume the giving on the principles of giving as the Lord blesses, and as the need arises.
All of the above comments have been very good and very practical. I only wish to comment that the parish model does not impress me much. Particularly since there are many churches covering a particular geographic area. To be a member without participating and without committing is not what a church is about. A church can minister to non-members as well as members.
Usually, the chair of consistory/council would not be a first time elder, but one who has a bit more experience. This would make the task less daunting. As far as continuity is concerned, it is most important to keep the congregation in the loop about most issues. When there are more confidential issues at stake, then have a transition meeting where both the retiring and "new" elders participate. If necessary, continue to involve the retiring elders with sensitive ongoing issues until certain issues that need their help are dealt with.
Posted in: When do we count members for Ministry Shares?
Lubbert, you are spending too much time on this, methinks. When you do your budget and approve at the annual meeting, just use however many families you have at the time to set your ministry amounts. The number may have changed since your yearbook report, but in the end it should balance out, if your transfers in equal someone else's transfers out. If you have more members, great; if you have fewer, then your ability to pay the ministry shares will decrease. If you feel as a church really concerned about the ministry shares, then you can always add ten or twenty percent to your ministry contributions. Getting lost in the technicalities is a waste of time, which could be better spent on other things, like actually doing minstries.
John
Posted in: When do we count members for Ministry Shares?
Colin, you have made some excellent points.
Lubbert, whether you intended disrespect or not, you achieved it. My suggestion is not fudging anything. The bottom line is that each church is responsible for its own contribution towards ministry shares, as well as to the percentage of ministry shares it pays, or whether it pays any at all. Ministry shares are not taxes, they are not an invoice, they are are voluntary contributions made by each church towards denominational efforts. The denomination makes its suggested ministry share contributions based on overall member numbers, just as a local church makes its own local budget average contribution number based on its membership at the time. That doesn't mean that each member would contribute exactly a certain amount per member. Those who have more will contribute more; those who have less will contribute less, and that's how it should be. This principle is also true for churches at the denominational level, or should be.
In addition, a local church is always responsible for where it sends its money, and how much it sends. It cannot absolve this responsibility by blaming the denomination for its decisions, or pawning off its responsibility to the denomination. Thus it actually needs to decide on denominational minstry share spending and decide whether that is the best cause, compared to other causes, both local and elsewhere. I think many ministry share causes are very good, but not necessarily all. A few causes should be removed from ministry shares and added to recommended causes. But, regardless, our church cannot absolve itself of its own responsibility to evaluate and decide.
While there are certain aspects of churches that follow business principles, there are certain aspects which do not. The church is based primarily on cheerful giving, not on being assessed invoices for services. If this important point is lost, then we will have transgressed or regressed from ministry and serving God to something entirely different.
Posted in: When do we count members for Ministry Shares?
Lubbert, apology accepted. The reason to use the most recent membership numbers to work on your budget, is that your budget is based on what will be contributed in the year to come. If your membership drops drastically between the time you submit your roll numbers to the yearbook, and the time you make your budget, it does not make sense to assume that no membership changes have occurred.
Posted in: When do we count members for Ministry Shares?
I don't really want to continue this conversation... but I will point out the converse of what you have said, which was that 20% of members may not attend, can also be possible, so that 20 or 30% of contributing attenders may not be "registered members".
Posted in: Does anyone have a list of questions for an exit interview for departing members?
I think Ron has made a good point. Exit interviews can be useful, but sometimes those who depart will not be willing to actively participate for various reasons. They may be afraid that whatever constructive criticism they might give, could be taken in the wrong way, just because they are leaving, when the reasons for leaving are entirely different, ie. personal family, friends, business opportunities, lifestyle, etc. and have nothing really to do with the church itself. On the other hand, I think it is wise to provide the opportunity.
Posted in: Youth Serving on Council?
While God can use people of all ages to serve in his kingdom, and in his church, it would not be appropriate or beneficial to have teenagers or very new christians to lead and rule if older (elder) christians are available to do so. It is quite possible for many teenagers to do deaconal work without being ordained as ruling deacons, since every church member ought to engage to some extent in deaconal activites, such as caring for the less fortunate. But the idea that the youngers should be elders runs counter and contrary to the notion that learning and experience and wisdom in the Christian life are gained through time. It runs contrary to the whole idea of the title of 'elders" as well. Sometimes, if older people are younger christians, then they too would not be good candidates for eldership, even while they would still have lots of opportunity for service. On the other hand, I agree that qualifications for eldership should be based primarily on spiritual maturity, not on chronological age.
Posted in: Are elders needed for worship services?
Some people make a distinction between an "official" worship service, and other gatherings. At official worship services elders should supervise and attend. If elders are not present, it will be an unusual circumstance. If elders are absent without good reasons, then the church is likely sick. But I agree that former elders or off-duty elders can be designated by consistory to fulfill that role of supervision and regulation, although it ought to be done preferably by the consistory/other elders and not by the pastor, who is after all being supervised ultimately.
Ultimately it is the decision of the consistory whether a service can be held without an elder present. It should be a conscious, not an accidental decision.
Posted in: What Should Be Included in a List of Best Practices for Deacons?
If you are in the tornado zone, you may want to consider what you can do to help there. Perhaps gather a group of young people for a few days of cleaning up, or home building, or sorting of materials....
Posted in: Job Sharing Elder Position?
While official elders should be ordained, scripture seems to indicate that many people can be pastors, or pastoral in terms of relating to fellow christians. This means that others besides elders and deacons can visit the sick, assist the needy, teach, provide pastoral advice in stressful situations, etc. And while all elders should be apt to teach, it is not necessary for all teachers to be elders. So some teaching jobs can be done by non-elders.
It would also be possible if a serving elder is overwhelmed at times by people who need attention due to illness, stressful family situations, job loss, etc., that he could ask for assistance from non-serving or "retired" elders. If these "retired" or "off-duty" elders took their initial calling seriously, then they wouldn't mind helping out if they have the capacity, time and ability.
Posted in: Is it right for the congregation to vote on the annual church budget?
I've always assumed it was mandatory to bring the church budget to the annual congregational meeting for approval. All churches I have been in have done this. All non-profits societies and charities are required to have an annual meeting of membership with proper notice, which approves the financial statement and the next years budget, at least in Canada. This also improves communication, and increases understanding and "ownership". Sometimes adjustments to budget are made at the annual congregational meeting.
This budgeting is not done by the deacons, but by the council as a whole in cooperation with the treasurer, who may or may not be a member of council, but usually is not. Generally the deacons submit a list of proposed offerings to the council for approval, but this is not part of the budget as it is over and above the budget.
We do not use pledges, but rather assume the giving on the principles of giving as the Lord blesses, and as the need arises.
Posted in: What Should We Do With Membership Records of Those Who Have Left the Church?
All of the above comments have been very good and very practical. I only wish to comment that the parish model does not impress me much. Particularly since there are many churches covering a particular geographic area. To be a member without participating and without committing is not what a church is about. A church can minister to non-members as well as members.
Posted in: Who has information on how to handle the training and support for the Council/Elder chairman?
Usually, the chair of consistory/council would not be a first time elder, but one who has a bit more experience. This would make the task less daunting. As far as continuity is concerned, it is most important to keep the congregation in the loop about most issues. When there are more confidential issues at stake, then have a transition meeting where both the retiring and "new" elders participate. If necessary, continue to involve the retiring elders with sensitive ongoing issues until certain issues that need their help are dealt with.