The Finance Committee of Brighton First is currently constructing the church's operating budget for 2018. While the task of building a budget is familiar to those who have managed projects or organizations, creating an annual budget for a church is different in several ways.
First, the primary goal of a church is not to produce an item or offer a service. The goal is to create and maintain the space and opportunity for God to work in the hearts of people. Faith is a gift given by God and sustained by God. The congregation of Brighton First works to build a place where people grow in knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. The budget includes line items like “utilities”, “mortgage”, “salaries” and “technology”, and our purpose is to make disciples by spending money on these items.
Second, our church’s budget is seldom balanced. Most years at Brighton First budgeted expenditures outpace committed income by about 20%. Leaders of the church are called to balance realistic expectations for the coming year with bold initiatives in the name of Jesus Christ. They are called to trust that as a congregation is faithful in building for Christ’s reign, the resources will be there.
Another difference in a church’s budget is the stakeholders. Everyone connected with the church, from those who are in leadership to guests who stop by in need of food, everyone, has the opportunity to know Christ through the ministry and mission of Brighton First. As congregation members of Brighton First we are both the recipients of ministry and the people who provide for ministry through our gifts. We give trusting that God will be honored and use our church to make disciples.
The Finance Committee has the "nuts and bolts" task of creating a budget and the committee members do so with prayer and with the mission of the church before them. All of us, together, are building a place where God powerfully dwells.
First, the primary goal of a church is not to produce an item or offer a service. The goal is to create and maintain the space and opportunity for God to work in the hearts of people. Faith is a gift given by God and sustained by God. The congregation of Brighton First works to build a place where people grow in knowledge and love of Jesus Christ. The budget includes line items like “utilities”, “mortgage”, “salaries” and “technology”, and our purpose is to make disciples by spending money on these items.
Second, our church’s budget is seldom balanced. Most years at Brighton First budgeted expenditures outpace committed income by about 20%. Leaders of the church are called to balance realistic expectations for the coming year with bold initiatives in the name of Jesus Christ. They are called to trust that as a congregation is faithful in building for Christ’s reign, the resources will be there.
Another difference in a church’s budget is the stakeholders. Everyone connected with the church, from those who are in leadership to guests who stop by in need of food, everyone, has the opportunity to know Christ through the ministry and mission of Brighton First. As congregation members of Brighton First we are both the recipients of ministry and the people who provide for ministry through our gifts. We give trusting that God will be honored and use our church to make disciples.
The Finance Committee has the "nuts and bolts" task of creating a budget and the committee members do so with prayer and with the mission of the church before them. All of us, together, are building a place where God powerfully dwells.
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