Make your church's money work | John Temple (ISBN: 9781846251504)

So good I bought more copies

MAKE YOUR CHURCH’S MONEY WORK
Achieving financial integrity in your congregation
By John Temple
Day One. 90 pages. £5.00
ISBN 978-1-84625-150-4

As I read the introduction, I was pleasantly surprised by how Dr. Temple addresses the way we should use the Bible as a means of guidance for this or any other subject. He helpfully distinguishes between precepts, principles, precedents and freedoms. This clear thinking should help to free us from all sorts of confusion and muddled thinking.

The author then addresses two important issues: Stewardship and Transparency, both important matters in church life. Firstly, it is too easy for a treasurer or church leadership to adopt some form of proprietorial attitude towards a church’s finances. So we need to be good and faithful stewards. Secondly, we need to be seen to be doing what is right, hence the requirement for transparency.

It is only then that Dr. Temple progresses to the details of budgeting and financial control, members’ responsibilities, and then remuneration of pastors and paid workers (with a very helpful remuneration policy). He assumes some form of plural leadership, using the term elders in the book, and sets the responsibility for the finances within this spiritual headship. Finance is not something to be delegated, or abandoned, to a treasurer or deacon.

One of the most challenging points from the book for me was that a church’s budget should be a practical expression of its priorities. Our spending should reflect the vision of the church!

My one negative comment relates to the model church budget, which seems rather complicated (and may contain some typos).

The book is full of wise advice and valuable input, well worth the time spent reading it. I have already bought 11 copies for our church elders, friends in mission organisations and for church members — it is suitable for all. I hope it will also provoke some helpful discussion in our elders’ meetings so we become better at making our church’s money work for the kingdom and glory of God!

Marcus Watkins,
elder and treasurer at Longmeadow Evangelical Church,
and Head of Finance at the Christian Medical Fellowship