Effective Church Finances: Fund–Raising and Budgeting for Church Leaders

"The congregations who do the best in church finances have a rich,full, abiding compassion for mission. They are motivated by atheology of service, not a theology of survival. Their compelling,driving spirit is one of giving, serving, lovingmission." Kennon Callahan, Effective Church Finances

"The more you develop healthy habits of effective churchfinances, the more likely you are to advance your mission. The twogo hand in hand. They help one another. The more successful you arein one, the more successful you will be in the other." KennonCallahan, Effective Church Finances

"Money follows mission, not the reverse. This is a shorthand wayof saying that the stronger the congregation′s relationalcharacteristics, the easier it is to raise money. The stronger thecongregationÕs mission, visitation, worship, groupings,leadership, and decision making, the stronger the giving." Kennon Callahan, Giving and Stewardship in an EffectiveChurch

Congregations who practice effective finances have a strongermission, help more people, and are able to raise more money,according to Kennon Callahan. The more effective they are withchurch finances, the less time they must invest in money mattersand the more time they have to devote to their real mission. Thestronger the congregation′s mission, the stronger the giving.

With depth and insight uncharacteristic of books in this field,Effective Church Finances offers church leaders a comprehensiveguide to setting and achieving financial goals through well–plannedbudgeting and fund–raising. Complete with charts andquestionnaires, this book shares practical suggestions, insights,and wisdom that have been tested and proven during the author′smany years of consulting in thousands of churches.

Written for committee members, key leaders, pastors, and churchstaff, this detailed study explores

developing the church budget how effective churchfinances advance mission, how to set a four–year plan, how toinvest wisely in your congregation′s mission
fund–raising for the budget how to organize givingcampaigns and develop campaign strategy objectives andorganizations, plus tips on selecting fund–raisers
setting giving goals for the congregation how givingpatterns fluctuate, how to pinpoint your congregation′s givingpattern, how to develop a baseline budget projection, howunexpected developments can affect your congregation′s giving
growing the giving from year to year how it is easier toraise money than to cut the budget, how to practice the gift ofencouragement, how to understand and develop differing practices ofgiving, and how to develop an enduring gifts program.
When these are carried out with a passion for mission, rather thanin a business–as–usual maintenance mode, then the mission and thechurch finances are strengthened, enriched, and advanced.

Combined with its companion volume, Giving and Stewardship in anEffective Church, this step–by–step guide to healthy habits ofchurch finances will help church leaders focus their bestcreativity, leadership, and energy on advancing their mission. "Thecongregations who do the best in church finances have a rich, full,abiding compassion for mission," writes Callahan. "They aremotivated by a theology of service, not a theology of survival.Their compelling, driving spirit is one of giving, serving, lovingmission."

DEVELOPING YOUR BUDGET.

A Mission Budget.

Major Priorities.

Building an Investment Budget.

RAISING YOUR GIVING.

Giving Campaigns.

Campaign Strategy Objectives.

Campaign Organizations.

Selecting Fund–Raisers.

SETTING GIVING GOALS.

Giving Patterns Fluctuate.

Your Congregation′s Giving Pattern.

Projecting Your Budget.

New Developments.

GROWING YOUR GIVING.

Easier to Raise.

The Gift of Encouragement.

Practices of Giving.

Enduring Gifts.

Conclusion.

Advancing Your Mission.

KENNON L. CALLAHAN, ?researcher, professor, and pastor?is one of today′s most sought–after church consultants. He has worked with thousands of congregations around the world and has helped tens of thousands of church leaders and pastors through his dynamic workshops and seminars. Author of many books, he is best known for his groundbreaking study Twelve Keys to an Effective Church, which has formed the basis for the Mission Growth Movement, a widely acclaimed program for church renewal. Callahan has earned the B.A., M.Div., S.T.M., and Ph.D. degrees. His doctorate is in Systematic Theology. He has served both rural and urban congregations in Ohio, Texas, and Georgia and taught for many years at Emory University. Ken and his wife of over forty years, Julie, have two children, Ken and Mike, and three grandchildren, Blake, Mason, and Brice. They enjoy the outdoors, hiking, horseback riding, and camping.