Smart Church Finances: A Pastor’s Guide to Budgets, Spreadsheets, and Other Things You Didn’t Learn in Seminary
What can the Church learn from the business world?
You’re a leader of a ministry, nonprofit, or church. You trained to be a faithful counselor, preacher, interpreter of God’s Word—so why do you find yourself spending so much energy on administration tasks that threaten to drain your time, energy, and joy?
Look to this book for the coaching you needed, yesterday. Written from years of ministry and business experience, Smart Church Finances is built on a solid foundation of business principles but—unlike many business books—in a straightforward style that anyone can grasp. You'll learn how to:
- Communicate vision and strategize with a team
- Steward resources well (yes, including budgeting)
- Prioritize goals, wisely make decisions, and evaluate outcomes based on vision and data
- Leverage the existing talents of men and women at your church, many of whom don't fit in “traditional” ministry roles
This field guide to building a holistic, sustainable system for your church will both help you address the business needs of your church and free your leaders to serve, fully and joyfully.
Praise for Smart Church Finances
This book is a must read for anyone in ministry regardless of their position.
—Dr. Aubrey Malphurs, Senior Professor of Leadership and Pastoral Ministries, Dallas Theological Seminary
An extraordinarily helpful and well written guide for every leader who wants to see their organization flourish.
—Dr. Mac Pier, Founder, Movement.org, Lausanne Co-Catalyst for Cities
An essential tool for ministerial leaders.
—Dr. Matthew Floding, Director of Ministerial Formation, Duke Divinity School
Top Highlights
“The CASE Framework integrates the various planning elements common to all organizations in a way that focuses on the core of operating the business of your church. There are four stages of the framework: Communicate vision, Align strategy, Steward resources, and Evaluate performance (see Figure 1.1).” (Page 19)
“The definition of stewardship we will use in this book is the management of the resources entrusted to you by God” (Page 18)
“Vision is ‘an ideal and unique image of the future for the common good.’” (Page 32)
“Business in its simplest form is the exchange of money and time for goods and services. Business is about making wise choices and beneficial exchanges in your life and for the organizations you are a part of.” (Page 9)
“planning and budgeting frees you up to do the ministry you are called to do” (Page 21)
- Introduction
- Stewardship and Joy
- Mission and Vision Casting
- Strategic Planning
- Ministry Program Planning
- Stewarding Personnel Resources
- Stewarding Ministry Resources and Facilities
- Funding Ministry Programs
- Measuring Success
- Reporting the Data and Forecasting
- Engaging Business Leaders
- Title: Smart Church Finances: A Pastor’s Guide to Budgets, Spreadsheets, and Other Things You Didn’t Learn in Seminary
- Author: George M. Hillman Jr. and John Reece
- Publisher: Lexham Press
- Publication Date: 2020
- Pages: 160
- Format: Logos Digital, Paperback
- Trim Size: 5x8
- ISBN: 9781683593744
George M. Hillman, Jr. is the vice president for student life, dean of students, and professor of educational ministries and leadership at Dallas Theological Seminary. He also has years of pastoral experience in churches and parachurch organizations. A graduate of Texas A&M University and Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, he has a passion for education, spiritual formation, and leadership development.
John Reece is a business leader with a calling to serve ministries and nonprofits. He runs WayQuest, a consulting firm that helps organizations be free from business distractions to accomplish their mission and purpose. He has also served on multiple boards of nonprofits and ministries and has experience in enhancing business strategy and operations in over fifteen different industry sectors. He holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from New York University.
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