Paul-Timothy Training Menu

Decide on a reasonable amount, based on anticipated giving, that the church treasurer is authorized to dispense each month on approved items, without having to consult with the leadership.

• The treasurer must have clear guidelines.
• The treasurer must never be authorized to give approval on his own.

Find in Luke 14:28-31 a basic principle to follow for preparing a budget.

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For planning the budget: Leadership Handbooks of Practical Theology, editor, James D. Berkley, Volume 3, sections 33, 36

For managing construction or remodeling: section 31

For caring for buildings, signs and grounds: section 30

For the treasurer's duties, how to wisely handle the green: sections 35-37

For tax matters: section 38

Investigate the benefits of following a budget made by faith.

If you can cooperate with several other churches, propose a study on budgeting and giving.

• This works only if the leaders will reveal their budgets or spending records.
• Look for any correlation between amounts given in each church, and whether the church follows a budget in a disciplined way.
• If a church has a budget but spends much of its income on non-budgeted items, consider it the same as a church without a budget.
• Determine the percentages spent on maintenance, self-serving projects, outreach projects, and mission work, in relation to giving.
• Where studies like these have been done, many churches have opted to adopt careful financial controls, because people will trust their leaders and give even more.
• Churches that spend on projects that benefit others outside of the church often enjoy more income over time than do those who spend on self-aggrandizement.