Subscribe free to "Leading Ideas" at churchleadership.com/leadingideas. Every Wednesday, "Leading Ideas" delivers information, resources, and strategies for forward-thinking church leaders.
Janet Jamieson is Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer for The United Methodist Church General Board of Discipleship and The Upper Room. She lectures on stewardship, giving, financial reporting, transparency, and clergy tax for numerous denominations. She coauthored The United Methodist Guidelines for Finance Committees (Abingdon Press, 2016 and 2012) and Ministry and Money: A Practical Guide for Pastors (Westminster/John Knox Press, 2009).
Rev. Philip D. Jamieson, Ph.D. is president and CEO of the United Methodist Foundation for the Memphis and Tennessee Conferences. Previously he was assistant professor of pastoral theology at the University of Dubuque Theological Seminary. He wrote The Face of Forgiveness: A Pastoral Theology of Shame and Redemption (IVP Academic, 2016) available on Amazon. He also coauthored theUnited Methodist Guidelines for Finance Committees (Abingdon, 2012 and 2016).
One of the simple realities of congregational life is that most churches are financially dependent on voluntary giving. Most pastors do not relish the annual…
This article is reprinted by permission from Leading Ideas, a free e-newsletter from the Lewis Center for Church Leadership of Wesley Theological Seminary available at churchleadership.com.