8 Signs of a Financially Dying Church

Podcast Episode #276



Church financial issues can sometimes precipitate church death. So today we cover a post by Art Rainer on the warning signs that a church may be dying financially.

Also, we're collecting church budget data for a massive research project. If you'd like to participate, email your church budget to [email protected]. Every participant will receive a free copy of the research once it releases, and the first 10 submissions will receive a free copy of Who Moved My Pulpit?

Some highlights from today's episode include:

* Stewardship is part of the discipline of Christian life, therefore we should preach on it.
* Pastors should not apologize for preaching on money and stewardship.
* If members do not trust the church leadership, they will give less.
* Consider starting your church budget process with your ministry expenses—not personnel or facility costs.
* Offering more options for giving typically means all types of giving will increase.
* Churches should constantly be evaluating how they are spending their money.
* Churches should be taking steps of financial faith, not financial foolishness.

The eight signs of a financially dying church which we discuss on the show are:

* Failed to preach and teach stewardship.
* Took on too much debt.
* Was not transparent with finances.
* Used very few dollars to reach and minister to the community.
* Did not have multiple options for giving.
* Did not constantly evaluate how funds were spent.
* Never took wise steps of financial faith.
* The church relied on a few big givers.




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Resources Mentioned in Today's Podcast

* Autopsy of a Financially Deceased Church