Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary
in Washington, D.C. 20016, United States - Leading Ideas: "Moving Beyond Church in A Box - 7 Tips to Help Your Quarterly Giving Statements Make the Right Statement" for Wednesday, 14 March 2018
Wednesday, March 14, 2018
Moving Beyond Church in A Box by Carey NieuwhofToo many church leaders are perfectly equipped to reach a world that no longer exists. If you think about it, most churches (even growing churches, new churches and large churches) effectively say “We’d love for you to come into a relationship with Jesus Christ; to do it you need to join us at a set hour every Sunday in a particular space we meet in.” Beyond that, we’re not sure what to do.
That’s a remnant from a day when everything was done on a set clock. You sat down Thursday night at 8 to watch your favorite show because you didn’t want to miss it. Of course, for years nobody has watched any show at a set time unless it’s a live game or a live event. You watch everything else on demand wherever and whenever you want. Shopping happens on your phone 24 hours a day, not during the set hours of a physical store that has limited stock. Streaming has changed how we listen to music. You don’t own music anymore. You rent access to anything, anytime, anywhere.
It’s critical that church leaders keep trying new things and keep experimenting. Why? Because the gap between how quickly you change and how quickly things change around you is called irrelevance.
Yet in the church we perpetuate a model that says “We have one, two, or three services on Sunday. We do a midweek service. And that’s how we help you come into a relationship with Christ.” The cultural change has been underway for decades, but the church has been slow to adapt. For years we’ve noticed that even committed Christians are attending church less often. But now more and more church leaders are re-imagining what it is to be the church.
Future churches will have a building; they’ll just reach far beyond it. You’ll still need a facility, a broadcast location, a school or theater to rent — some space in which to meet. But you’ll need to think way beyond it. Churches who only think Sunday and who only think building will continue to shrink. If coming to Christ means coming to your church in a set location and a set hour, you need a new strategy.
The digital is real
What does better engagement beyond a set time and place on a Sunday look like? The answer will require a ton of experimentation, but for sure it involves your digital reach. The church has been questioning for years whether their digital space ‘counts’ — whether it’s real. In 2016, Connexus Church launched our livestream. In 2017, our physical attendance grew, but our weekly online ‘attendance’ for the first time became bigger than our physical attendance. And a majority of first time guests at our church now tell us they watched online for weeks or months before they walked in the door. That’s not going to stop us from adding physical locations, but it also means we need to decide what to do with people who watch and engage online.
Unfortunately, I still ask “do online people count?” But increasingly that question is becoming downright silly. Here’s the truth: asking whether people who watch church online ‘count’ is like Sears asking if Amazon counts. It’s like New York City cabs asking if Uber counts or Lyft counts. Of course they count.
We need to figure out how to engage with people we may never meet. Have we figured that out yet? No one has. But just because you don’t know the answer doesn’t mean you shouldn’t ask the question. You may not have a million dollars to throw at technology, or even $1,000. But you probably have a free Facebook page or an Instagram account. Start treating that as real and see what happens.
Location independence
A growing number of churches will start to minister independent of location. In the future, many people will consider a church to be their home church even though the church is in a city they’ve never been to. Some leading churches are already getting innovative and are facilitating viewing parties, remote baptisms, remote gatherings, small gatherings, and other connections that will become part of the new normal. Just as more workers are increasingly location-independent, more churches will emerge as location-independent, thanks to technology.
Pop-up churches
But as technology increases so does the need for human connection. In thriving ministry models, both digital and analog will grow. But as every church leader knows, to open a new campus or church in a new community takes time, money, risk, and experimentation. That’s why you’ll see more pop-up churches. Just as we have seen the rise of pop-up restaurants or pop-up stores, we will see more pop-up churches that open in a new location for a night or a month or a season. Connexus Church has done this the last two Christmases, hosting Christmas services now in four cities where we didn’t have permanent locations. We’re adding a new permanent location as a result.
You can rent old churches, theaters, restaurants, banquet halls, or whatever to bring your church into a new community. It gives you a chance to test the waters for expansion and to bring the hope of Christ into a new place without making a massive initial investment. Again, practically speaking, maybe just hold a night of worship somewhere in a different city where a small pocket of people who attend your church reside. Or find a city where you have some traction online. Then just hold one or two really good events there and see what happens.
Keep experimenting
The culture continues to change rapidly. If anything, the pace is accelerating, not slowing. The question is: are you and your team ready for all that’s ahead? It’s critical that church leaders keep trying new things and keep experimenting. Why? Because the gap between how quickly you change and how quickly things change around you is called irrelevance.
This article is adapted from Carey Nieuwhof’s blog post “7 Disruptive Trends that will Rule 2018.” Used by permission.
Related Resources
- “The Possibilities of Fresh Expressions,” a Leading Ideas Talks podcast featuring Ken Carter and Audrey Warren
- Taking Church to the Community Video Tool Kit
- 50 Ways to Take Church to the Community, a free Lewis Center resource
Carey NieuwhofCarey Nieuwhof is founding and teaching pastor of Connexus Community Church in Barrie, Ontario, Canada; a popular blogger and podcaster; and author of bestselling books. Visit his website at CareyNieuwhof.com.
Stewardship expert Ken Sloane outlines ideas for making sure that your church's quarterly giving statements express gratitude and let people know the difference their giving makes, rather than coming across like an impersonal bill or dues statement.
When you open your mail, would you rather receive a bill or a nice, handwritten thank-you note? As we approach the time of year when many churches send their first quarter statement of giving to their congregation, the format of these statements covers a wide spectrum. Some bear a strong resemblance to a bill, while others look as warm and fuzzy as a thank-you note from Grandma after you have sent her that beautiful birthday scarf. I won’t attempt to tell you where your church is – or should be – on this spectrum. However, I offer the following guidelines as you design the format of your church’s quarterly statements.
Everyone wants to feel that they are making a difference. When designing your quarterly statement, consider how a donor’s contribution has made a difference and then tell the story!
1. Make “Thank You” the primary message
Saying “Thank You” is a critical part of your church’s stewardship strategy. This is at the top of my list for a reason. We are human beings, and we respond in a more positive way to thanks and appreciation than to scolding and shame. The quarterly statement can either celebrate the generosity of your donors or make them feel that they have failed to make the mark. The latter will not lead to positive returns when people are approached in subsequent years to set a giving goal.
2. Tell your good stories
Everyone wants to feel that they are making a difference. When designing your quarterly statement, consider how a donor’s contribution has made a difference and then tell the story! Are children being taught about the love of Christ? Were youth provided ministry at a time when they are shaping and forming into Christian adults? What local mission and ministry projects were funded through their generous tithes and offerings? In our society, there is a lot of competition for charitable giving. People want to make a difference and will most often choose to give to organizations that provide compelling stories about how their contributions are making a difference in the world!
3. Make it personal
Computers are wonderful machines. They can print out statements in a fraction of the time it once took. They can even print a scanned signature on each document. But easier is not always better. The more personal you can make the quarterly statement, the better. Having each statement hand signed is great! Handwriting a few words of thanks and then signing is even better!!
4. Don’t do “the due”
There are differing opinions on this one, so here is mine. Never send something from the church that says, “Balance Due” or any variation thereof. I think it is perfectly okay to have a place on the quarterly statement acknowledging and giving thanks for someone’s pledge or estimate of giving. However, just because your software can calculate someone’s shortfall doesn’t mean you should show it. It is like sending a thank-you note to someone for what he or she has done and then adding a post-script saying, “You know you really should have done more.” I would suggest letting the donor do the math.
5. Give opportunities for catch up
Math teachers everywhere will argue with me on this one, but I think churches should send out five quarterly reports each year. Traditionally, quarterly reports are sent in January, April, July, and October. I suggest the addition of a fifth statement in December. An early December report (showing October and November giving, plus a cumulative total from the beginning of the year) gives people encouragement to “get current” with their giving while it can still be counted in the present year. If you wait for this year-end information to be sent in January, it is too late to affect any giving shortfall in previous months.
6. Send an additional acknowledgement for special and large gifts
What size gift warrants a special acknowledgement from the church beyond the statement of giving? The answer depends on your particular context. A $50 gift in some settings would be a large gift, not so in others. Here are some things to consider:
People who receive a thank you for their first gift are much more likely to make a second gift, so I suggest every donor’s first gift should be acknowledged with a personal letter.
Gifts given to meet a need above and beyond the budget that is not part of a special appeal should be acknowledged. For example, after the pastor mentions that additional funds are needed to send interested children to camp, a member writes a check to sponsor a child.
Finally, the IRS specifically says (Pub. 1771) that donors who give single gifts of $250 or more need an acknowledgement from the charitable organization that received the gift. While the quarterly or year-end statement of giving can meet that requirement, it seems to me that $250 might be a reasonable threshold for a donor to receive an additional personalized acknowledgment from the church.
7. Offer an electronic giving option
Finally, if you are not already doing so, offer your congregation the convenience of electronic giving. The cost to the church is small when compared with the benefit of dependable giving whether your donors are present on Sunday morning or not. However, gifts made online should be acknowledged with the diligence and appreciation we’ve discussed for donations made through the offering plate.
This article is adapted from one that appeared originally in “Generous Living” enewsletter, November 2017, issued by Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church.Used by permission.
Related Resources
When you open your mail, would you rather receive a bill or a nice, handwritten thank-you note? As we approach the time of year when many churches send their first quarter statement of giving to their congregation, the format of these statements covers a wide spectrum. Some bear a strong resemblance to a bill, while others look as warm and fuzzy as a thank-you note from Grandma after you have sent her that beautiful birthday scarf. I won’t attempt to tell you where your church is – or should be – on this spectrum. However, I offer the following guidelines as you design the format of your church’s quarterly statements.
Everyone wants to feel that they are making a difference. When designing your quarterly statement, consider how a donor’s contribution has made a difference and then tell the story!
1. Make “Thank You” the primary message
Saying “Thank You” is a critical part of your church’s stewardship strategy. This is at the top of my list for a reason. We are human beings, and we respond in a more positive way to thanks and appreciation than to scolding and shame. The quarterly statement can either celebrate the generosity of your donors or make them feel that they have failed to make the mark. The latter will not lead to positive returns when people are approached in subsequent years to set a giving goal.
2. Tell your good stories
Everyone wants to feel that they are making a difference. When designing your quarterly statement, consider how a donor’s contribution has made a difference and then tell the story! Are children being taught about the love of Christ? Were youth provided ministry at a time when they are shaping and forming into Christian adults? What local mission and ministry projects were funded through their generous tithes and offerings? In our society, there is a lot of competition for charitable giving. People want to make a difference and will most often choose to give to organizations that provide compelling stories about how their contributions are making a difference in the world!
3. Make it personal
Computers are wonderful machines. They can print out statements in a fraction of the time it once took. They can even print a scanned signature on each document. But easier is not always better. The more personal you can make the quarterly statement, the better. Having each statement hand signed is great! Handwriting a few words of thanks and then signing is even better!!
4. Don’t do “the due”
There are differing opinions on this one, so here is mine. Never send something from the church that says, “Balance Due” or any variation thereof. I think it is perfectly okay to have a place on the quarterly statement acknowledging and giving thanks for someone’s pledge or estimate of giving. However, just because your software can calculate someone’s shortfall doesn’t mean you should show it. It is like sending a thank-you note to someone for what he or she has done and then adding a post-script saying, “You know you really should have done more.” I would suggest letting the donor do the math.
5. Give opportunities for catch up
Math teachers everywhere will argue with me on this one, but I think churches should send out five quarterly reports each year. Traditionally, quarterly reports are sent in January, April, July, and October. I suggest the addition of a fifth statement in December. An early December report (showing October and November giving, plus a cumulative total from the beginning of the year) gives people encouragement to “get current” with their giving while it can still be counted in the present year. If you wait for this year-end information to be sent in January, it is too late to affect any giving shortfall in previous months.
6. Send an additional acknowledgement for special and large gifts
What size gift warrants a special acknowledgement from the church beyond the statement of giving? The answer depends on your particular context. A $50 gift in some settings would be a large gift, not so in others. Here are some things to consider:
People who receive a thank you for their first gift are much more likely to make a second gift, so I suggest every donor’s first gift should be acknowledged with a personal letter.
Gifts given to meet a need above and beyond the budget that is not part of a special appeal should be acknowledged. For example, after the pastor mentions that additional funds are needed to send interested children to camp, a member writes a check to sponsor a child.
Finally, the IRS specifically says (Pub. 1771) that donors who give single gifts of $250 or more need an acknowledgement from the charitable organization that received the gift. While the quarterly or year-end statement of giving can meet that requirement, it seems to me that $250 might be a reasonable threshold for a donor to receive an additional personalized acknowledgment from the church.
7. Offer an electronic giving option
Finally, if you are not already doing so, offer your congregation the convenience of electronic giving. The cost to the church is small when compared with the benefit of dependable giving whether your donors are present on Sunday morning or not. However, gifts made online should be acknowledged with the diligence and appreciation we’ve discussed for donations made through the offering plate.
This article is adapted from one that appeared originally in “Generous Living” enewsletter, November 2017, issued by Discipleship Ministries of the United Methodist Church.Used by permission.
Related Resources
- Quarterly Financial Statements Enhance Giving by Jennifer And Jim Cowart
- Always Say Thank You by Cesie Delve Scheuermann
- “50 Ways to Encourage Faithful Giving,” a free Lewis Center Resource
- Finances Funding Giving Stewardship
Ken SloaneKen Sloane is the Director of Stewardship & Connectional Ministries for the Discipleship Ministries.
Read more.
The Right Question
Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.
Trevor Dancer, pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, asked his congregation this question in a sermon on stewardship.
The Right Question
Leaders do not need answers. Leaders must have the right questions.
Trevor Dancer, pastor of Central United Methodist Church in Kansas City, Missouri, asked his congregation this question in a sermon on stewardship.
- If people knew how much you give, would they be inspired to give more themselves?
Reach New Disciples with the "Taking Church to the Community" Video Tool KitExplore strategies your congregation can use to reach beyond its walls with worship, community events, ministries, and service. The Taking Church to the Community Tool Kit features engaging videos, presentations, and supplemental materials and is designed for both self study and for use with groups in your church.
Learn more and watch introductory videos now.
Learn to Craft Better Financial Commitment MessagesMany churches have a one-size-fits-all approach to their stewardship appeal. Everyone in the congregation receives the same "Dear Friend" letter inviting them to prayerfully offer up their tithe to the church for the coming year. While this approach is simple and easy to execute, it's generally not the most effective or meaningful way to communicate with people about their giving. Read "To the Point: Crafting Better Financial Commitment Messages."
Many churches have a one-size-fits-all approach to their annual stewardship appeal. Everyone in the congregation receives the same “Dear Friend” letter inviting them to prayerfully offer up their tithe to the church for the coming year. While this approach is simple and easy to execute, it’s generally not the most effective or meaningful way to communicate with people about their giving.
This approach ignores the reality that in every church there are people at various points along the journey toward becoming faithful stewards. Some may be life-long tithers. Some have given faithfully for years. Others have never made a financial contribution, much less a pledge. Approaching these different kinds of givers with the same appeal just doesn’t make sense from a spiritual or a developmental perspective.
When planning a commitment campaign, I generally think about several different categories of givers, each needing to hear a slightly different message.
Most generous givers or tithers. In every church, a small percentage of generous contributors provides a very significant proportion of what is given. These givers, above all else, deserve to be thanked. In all likelihood, they are the most prone to increase their giving, so it’s important to acknowledge how important their continued generosity is in sustaining the church’s ministry.
Pledgers with room to grow. These givers, too, deserve to be thanked. But they also need to hear how growing in giving will help them mature spiritually and connect them more meaningfully to God’s work in and through the church. Explain to them why it’s important to give in proportion to their income as they grow toward the goal of tithing or sacrificial giving.
People who contribute but do not pledge. These givers also deserve to be thanked, of course. But the message they need to hear is why it’s important to make a pledge — not because the church needs their pledge to build the budget — but because a pledge is a promise to themselves and to God that helps them be more faithful in the spiritual practice of giving.
Non-contributors. As shocking as it may seem, every church has a substantial cohort of people who don’t give at all. It makes little sense to ask these people to begin by giving ten percent of their income, or even by making a pledge. People almost invariably give before they become pledgers or tithers. So invite these people to support the church with a gift. Let them know of the good work their giving will support. Don’t shame or belittle them. Assume they are part of your church for a reason, and they just need a little encouragement to get started.
New members. If someone is new to your community and being asked to make a commitment for the first time, this is a wonderful opportunity to explain to them why church members are asked to pledge and how the commitment process works. The message can be welcoming and invitational in tone.
In addition to composing letters along these lines, it can be helpful to keep these categories in mind if your campaign plan involves group gatherings to discuss commitments. People won’t find it a bit odd to be in a meeting with other people whose relationship to the church is similar to their own, and they will appreciate hearing a message about giving that makes sense given their situation.
Yes, this means that the pastor or someone else needs to be paying attention to who’s who, where they are spiritually, and what they give. In fact, the need to communicate with people about their giving in meaningful and appropriate ways is one of the best arguments in favor of allowing responsible people proper access to giving records. [See To the Point: Should a Pastor Know what People Give?]
And yes, this approach takes more work. But it’s well worth it. Your church members are much more likely to think seriously about their giving to the church when they receive an appeal that meets them where they are, both spiritually and in terms of their giving history.
Dr. Ann A. Michel is associate director of the Lewis Center and lecturer in church leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary where she teaches stewardship classes.
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Quotable Leadership
People rarely appreciate their ignorance, because they lock themselves inside an echo chamber of like-minded friends and self-confirming newsfeeds, where their beliefs are constantly reinforced and seldom challenged. (Yuval Harari)
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Will Your Church Meet Its Budget This Year?To answer this vital question you need to track giving accurately according to your church's unique pattern of giving -- not simply the budget divided by 12 months. Our Congregational Giving Profile Video Tool Kit helps you track finances based on the way people in your church actually give, establishing a more meaningful system of monitoring and reporting progress on your budget.Learn more and watch an introductory video now.
Editor: Dr. Ann A. Michel
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