Money

Grace Duddy Pomroy: How congregations can create more sustainable financial models

In her book “Funding Forward,” a financial educator at Luther Seminary argues that the most successful congregations engage spiritual practices like discernment before focusing on money.

Beyond the offering plate: How to measure generosity in ways other than money

When congregations reduce giving to a financial transaction, they ignore the generosity happening all around them in other forms, a pastor writes.

By Robert Rueda Director, Baptist Student Ministry, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley

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‘Doing Well by Doing Good: The Missional Benefits of Church-Based Economic Enterprises’

In his new book, a priest highlights the hopeful message churches can offer when they change their missional and financial models.

By Brendan J. Barnicle Dean, Trinity Episcopal Cathedral

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A congregation renovates the old and builds something new to serve its members and community

Facing years of deferred maintenance and repair costs, a church in Lexington, Kentucky, looked outward as well as inward to make the best use of its historic space while expanding to meet a pressing local need.

By Kory Wilcoxson Pastor and journalist

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Yeah, I’m vehemently pro-pastor

The pastoral housing crisis reveals the cost of a sacrifice that the church has stopped naming, writes the founder of a Christian housing nonprofit. Her essay is a call to old faithfulness.

By Nicole Marie Bergeron Founder and CEO, Aslan Housing Foundation

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Argrow “Kit” Evans-Ford: Families deserve generational, sustainable, long-term change

This Christian social enterprise has expanded from bath and body products to a café and food truck to support and train women who have experienced abuse.

Three churches share their experiences practicing intentional stewardship year-round

Different in size, location and denomination, these churches are all working to move beyond traditional fall giving campaigns by creating a philosophy of continuous stewardship.

By Leslie Quander Wooldridge Journalist

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An affordable housing project uses its faith-based history to grow into the future

Now a secular nonprofit, Harborlight Homes has expanded to address a housing shortage while holding onto its church roots.

By G. Jeffrey MacDonald Journalist and UCC minister

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Why is a business model important for a ministry?

The new executive director of any ministry needs to understand the organization’s finances. That includes how money is raised and spent as well as the economics of the people involved.

By David L. Odom Executive director, Forum for Congregational Life

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Listening to people and investing in them as an act of radical service

Married pastors have transformed a vacant strip mall into a community development hub and base for needed services in a St. Louis suburb.

By Valerie Schremp Hahn Journalist

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The visionary and the implementer: Partners combine strengths to launch a housing development for formerly homeless older adults

When San Antonio’s Catholic Worker house grew from offering a feeding ministry to building affordable housing, its leader got help from a surprising source: a former administrator in the city department that had tried to shut it down.

By Robyn Ross Journalist

Image link to article: The visionary and the implementer: Partners combine strengths to launch a housing development for formerly homeless older adults