Church budgeting is hard.
It can be tricky to remain within the confines of a healthy church budget.
The pressure revolves around three elements: unpredictable income, which is based on the generosity of others, which is used for a bottom-less genuinely good and needy cause.
These elements raise the stress levels.
This is why church treasurers must be some of the most faithful people within the congregation.
But, there’s a tension which must be negotiated.
Maintenance or Aspiration?
Do you budget to keep things going or do you budget for growth?
This matters for both sides of the bookkeeping ledger.
Do you budget for a similar amount to come in or do you plan for income to increase?
Do you plan to spend a similar amount or do you hope to spend more than the last financial year?
This question of expenditure is the query which must keep treasurers up at night.
Do they plan for growth? If so, how much?
Will they invest the necessary funds required to enable growth?
Or, will they just plan for the safety of the plateau?
This is the tension that may result in the decision to diversify some of the churches income streams beyond just congregational offerings. But, of course, these kids of levers can only be pulled so many times.
Eventually, a difficult decision must be made between budgeting maintenance and aspiration.
Ultimately, this results in as much a decision of money as it does a determination of ministry.
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