Pastors and Money

I’m not sharing any Bible this time because there is not a lot in there specifically on this subject, except the general thoughts that Christians should be generous, not show partiality, be above reproach in all their dealings, and be good stewards….and these are not aimed primarily at those filling the role of pastor in most cases.

I am on a pastor search committee for my church right now and I hear this idea repeated over and over again by candidates….and it really bothers me. “I want to know where money is spent and that we’re making ends meet, but I don’t want to have anything to do with finances, money, or budgets, and above all, I would never want to know what anyone gives.”

Now I understand that two of the most common places pastors blow it is with money and with women. They end up either stealing or using money improperly, or they have an affair. I would argue that these temptations come their way not because they are pastors, but simply because they are men. In an attempt to protect themselves and their flocks from the temptation and the fallout of failure in these areas, it seems they have opted to do establish some guardrails. I heartily agree that the intention and commitment to deal very careful with both women and money is a good thing. But to be careful need not be the same thing as avoidance. Just as pastors can minister to women with appropriate safeguards in place, I believe pastors can participate in and provide financial leadership to the churches they lead with some accountability as part of a system. In fact, I think it is essential for a couple of reasons:

1) When Jesus returns and the Kingdom of God is completely established, I would assume dealing with money will cease to be a necessity. Until then, however, managing financial resources is a responsibility God has granted those in positions of leadership and authority. In my household and in the workplace, I and millions of other secular Christians are responsible before God to be good, honest stewards and to manage money and our business with integrity. I don’t see anything in the Bible that absolves those in fill-time Christian service from this responsibility. If I, as a layman, am expected to learn to live with integrity and still deal with money, shouldn’t my pastor be expected to have the same character?

2) If any leader is to lead effectively over the long-term, he or she must participate in a real and meaningful way in the finances of the organization they lead. Churches handle LOTS of money and are accountable before God in how wisely or poorly they use it. In congregationally-governed churches, this usually means that some deacons or a budget committee are involved and, in many cases, control the purse-strings. It is just common sense that ministry will be more effective if funding is aligned with the priorities of ministry. As an example, if the pastor wants to lead towards community missions outside the church walls, yet those in control of finances are laser focused on raising money for a new building, things are not going to go well. So again, practically, having a seat at the financial decision-making table and substantial influence on how the church’s money is spent is just good leadership.

And finally, the universal statement, “I would never want to know what someone is giving.” I believe this is, again, based on removing a source of temptation. My interpretation is that Pastor Jones does not want to be unduly influenced by the fact that the wealthy Smith family provides 20% of his annual budget, so to remove this temptation, he chooses to not know what anyone gives. Someone at the church knows. Often lots of people know. But the leader chooses not to know? He has no idea?

Again, as a layman, I think I am accountable to God to treat people the way I want to be treated, regardless of how much business they do or don’t do with me. And I am also responsible to do what is good for my business. In order to do this, I need financial information. Sometimes I have to make a choice between doing what is most profitable and doing what is right. I would state quite emphatically that this is a question of character, plain and simple. Not knowing the facts does not make me a person of character, it just makes me a less effective as a leader and in business. Now I know someone will shout, “We should never run a church like a business.” I agree, we should run it better! But practically, the biggest practical concern I have with pastors not knowing what people give is that men can become leaders, and deacons, and teachers in the church…..all the while being disobedient to God with their giving. Should that happen? If the pastor isn’t watching over this, who is?

So I’m looking for a candidate that, when addressing the money issue would say, “I want the church I lead to be excellent in all it does, including finances. Systems should be in place to make sure we have security, redundancy, and accountability in all our financial dealings. I want to provide leadership, along with other church leaders, in assuring that our spending aligns with our goals and is honoring to God. I am responsible before God for how I lead this church, and that includes how we collect, manage, and re-direct the money God brings through our hands. And there should be no financial secrets kept from me or by me that are not shared with the other leaders in this church.”