Thanking God for adult monotony

Currently, I’m in a prayer group at my church comprising the elders of the young adults. Frankly, we’re not really “young“ adults. We are just adults.

As such, I suspect that our prayers are slightly different than some of the younger groups.

Why?

Because, as people residing firmly in the routine of adulting, our lives are slightly less adventurous.

Now, we are genuinely thankful for routine.

Did you get fired from your job (particularly in the current climate)?

Did you have a massive fight with your spouse?

Are you on the verge of getting evicted?

Did a large bill come in the mail?

Did you have a car accident?

Did your family fall ill?

Did anyone you personally know die?

No?

THANK YOU JESUS!

We survived another week of being a productive adult!

PRAISE THE LORD!

As adults, seemingly, our prayers of gratitude now revolve around prevention and avoidance of catastrophe.

In practice, this is how the monotony of adulting works.

Why adding - as much as you are able - matters

Whenever someone at a church, or any public gathering, gives physical instructions, there is a powerful addition which should be added...

As far as you are able.

Stand for the prayer...

Raise your hands...

Kneel down...

The reason is simple, it communicates safety and acceptance. 

It allows people to participate as far and long as they are comfortable and capable.

Because churches should be a place where people with any ability are welcomed and included.

So they can stand. Or remain seated if they can’t. Either is ok.

They can raise their hands. Or lower them once they get tired. Either is ok.

They can kneel. Or not. Either is ok.

As long as you add the freeing instruction that they can be included as much as they are able and comfortable.

Breakdown of a healthy church budget

Between working at four churches and being a part of numerous church consultations, I’ve seen plenty of church budgets.

Usually, they breakdown in similar ways...

45% Operational - The nuts and bolts of church life. Insurance, utilities, admin, maintenance.

35% Staff - Ministers for all ages of life.

15% Missions - Outreach locally, global, personal and institutional.

5% Sinking Fund/Debt repayment.

These rough figures are, of course, dependent upon one thing - property.

Your overheads will be higher with property.

Housing and payment of your minister will vary greatly if you provide a manse.

Having a space you can rent out will dramatically increase the funds available to your church.

But, approximately, these ratios keep a church in a healthy financial position and give a congregation an appropriate idea of how much they can spend on staffing.

If you want to pay your staff an appropriate salary, let’s say 70k for a minister, 40-50k for a full-time worker and 15k for each additional part-time placement, then you can work out the healthy budget required.

From the figures above, a senior minister, youth or children’s minister and an admin assistant would cost around $135,000. In order to spend approximately 35% of your budget on staffing, then you’d need a budget of around 385k.

Alternatively, if you have a total budget of around 200k, then you only have around $70,000 to spend on staff.

Now, you don’t have to stick with these ratios. A church with a quarter of a million dollar budget could outlay 120k, or nearly 50%, of their income on staff.

But, it will come at a cost.

Either, mission funding will be squeezed or the church will be vulnerable to financial pressures.

At times, this can be deemed appropriate or manageable but, long-term, messing with these figures will cause pain for the staff members, treasurer and, ultimately, congregation.