Church Budgets, Where Does the Money Go?
October is church budget month. We call it the Ministry Expense Plan (MEP). How are church expenditures determined.? I'll try to give you a concise yet clear accounting of how we do it in our church.
Prior to the October Advisory Council Meeting (the Board that discusses all of the issues, concerns and plans for our church) a detailed report for the previous 12 months is printed up by our Bookkeeper. This information provides us with the details of how last year's MEP played out. This includes everything from building maintenance expenses, salaries for staff, and programming needs for each of our departments. We determine how well our planning went for the previous 12 months and then we project these numbers into the coming year.
Each department of our church is required to submit a detailed budget request based on what they believe they will need to accomplish their ministry goals. These line items are determined by vision casting for the ministry departments, researching what tools, and resources will be needed to fulfill those goals, and a dollar amount is given to each line item. Fixed expenses (utilities, maintenance, missionary support etc.) are added to those numbers. After carefully gathering the information, it is all compiled and then presented to our Advisory Council for review.
The Advisory Council goes over each line item and approves, adjusts, or rejects items based on feasiblity, financial contraints, and faith to pursue our ministry goals. When the final numbers are agreed upon, we establish that as our MEP and inform our congregation what amount of funding is needed to pursue our goals for the upcoming year.
Our congregation is challenged to prayerfully give towards the goals for the upcoming year. Our ministry programs will then be pursued according to how our congregation responds to the vision challenge. We practice financial stewardship and adjust our expenses accordingly throughout the coming year so as to maintain fiscal integrity.
At the end of the fiscal year, a detailed financial report is automatically sent to each of our members and any other attender or non-member who requests the report. This allows our congregation to see how closely we followed our MEP.
Giving is a wonderful privilege in partnering with God and His church to make an impact in our community and the world. Financial planning and accountability encourages people to give by assuring that their giving is going to worthwhile endeavors.
Prior to the October Advisory Council Meeting (the Board that discusses all of the issues, concerns and plans for our church) a detailed report for the previous 12 months is printed up by our Bookkeeper. This information provides us with the details of how last year's MEP played out. This includes everything from building maintenance expenses, salaries for staff, and programming needs for each of our departments. We determine how well our planning went for the previous 12 months and then we project these numbers into the coming year.
Each department of our church is required to submit a detailed budget request based on what they believe they will need to accomplish their ministry goals. These line items are determined by vision casting for the ministry departments, researching what tools, and resources will be needed to fulfill those goals, and a dollar amount is given to each line item. Fixed expenses (utilities, maintenance, missionary support etc.) are added to those numbers. After carefully gathering the information, it is all compiled and then presented to our Advisory Council for review.
The Advisory Council goes over each line item and approves, adjusts, or rejects items based on feasiblity, financial contraints, and faith to pursue our ministry goals. When the final numbers are agreed upon, we establish that as our MEP and inform our congregation what amount of funding is needed to pursue our goals for the upcoming year.
Our congregation is challenged to prayerfully give towards the goals for the upcoming year. Our ministry programs will then be pursued according to how our congregation responds to the vision challenge. We practice financial stewardship and adjust our expenses accordingly throughout the coming year so as to maintain fiscal integrity.
At the end of the fiscal year, a detailed financial report is automatically sent to each of our members and any other attender or non-member who requests the report. This allows our congregation to see how closely we followed our MEP.
Giving is a wonderful privilege in partnering with God and His church to make an impact in our community and the world. Financial planning and accountability encourages people to give by assuring that their giving is going to worthwhile endeavors.
posted by jawbone at
8:15 PM
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