For many congregations, July 1st is met with a turn-over of congregational leadership – for some, ministerial leadership as well. As folks are on-boarding to their respective positions, it’s a great time to review your policies around confidentiality and transparency of financial data. For some congregations, these policies are written, for others de facto ‘this is the way we’ve always done it’ policies are enforced.
First, let’s clarify some terms:
- Confidentiality doesn’t mean ‘no one knows your pledge’. Because, in fact, at least a few people need to know your pledge in order to accurately account for it, budget for the congregation, and provide you with legal documentation for your donations. Confidentiality means that your individual pledge will be held in sacred trust – and you know exactly who has access to your pledge information.
- Whether we are talking about pledge data or any other congregational information, transparency doesn’t mean that ‘everyone knows everything’. No organization could function with that as it’s premise. Transparency means that there are intentional systems and processes through which information is shared, communication about how one can access information, and clarity about which information is kept private. For example, personnel information and individual financial information (bank accounts, etc.)need to be safeguarded both by law and for ethical reasons.
This leaves a lot of leeway as to what gets shared and with whom. Many congregations are leery about sharing financial data, even in the aggregate, for fear that some people will be put off by ‘too much talk about money’ or feel uncomfortable, even unwelcome, if their pledges are below average.
Yes, you may hear those comments. Discomfort talking about money is a part of our culture. Opening up those conversations can be spiritually healing. In addition, generosity breeds generosity, and sharing more about giving patterns is essential to building capacity to live your values in the world.
Some congregations have de facto or written policies that the minister should not know individual pledge data. People often express concern that there will be favoritism if a minister knows congregants’ pledge history.
As a congregational minister, I was entrusted with the most vulnerable parts of people’s lives – their histories of abuse, their discernment about whether to leave or stay in a relationship, their most profound griefs and their deepest hopes. I was also entrusted with access to their pledge history. And just like their other gifts to the community – volunteer hours, or leadership roles, for example – I paid attention to both upward and downward shifts in their giving patterns. A sudden decrease in giving could be an indicator of possible illness, a shift in employment, or a big life change, like divorce. I considered it an act of caring to express gratitude for all of their gifts to the community, and invite gentle conversation when I noticed downward shifts in giving. Trusting our ministers with this information is a sign of a healthy covenantal relationship.
If your minister does not have access to pledge data, I invite your church leadership to examine your own stories about money as well as your congregation’s history around clergy covenant.
- What did you learn as a young person about talking about money?
- Is money used in your church system as a way for certain people to have more power?
- Has there been a history of clergy misconduct of any kind?
- What kinds of conversations would you need to have to consider including your minister in that sacred trust around pledge data, knowing that some of your key members and other church staff already have it?
Ann Michel, co-author with Lovett H. Weems Jr. of Generosity, Stewardship, and Abundance: A Transformational Guide to Church Finance (Rowman & Littlefield, 2021) writes:
There are valid pastoral, spiritual, and developmental reasons why [ministers], and . . . other key church leaders, should know what people give. But money can be a touchy subject. And people might be upset if they assume their giving is unknown to the [minister] or others and then find out otherwise. If this information has always been tightly guarded, think carefully about the best ways to begin to pierce the veil of secrecy. Here are a couple of options.
Establish a Policy
Some churches find it helpful to formulate a clear policy around access to giving records. Begin by asking the question, “Who already knows what people give?” Even in churches where there is a high level of secrecy around contributions, somebody knows what people give. Is it the [chair of stewardship], the church treasurer, the office bookkeeper, the church administrator, or all of the above? Then ask who else needs to know and why? Do finance or stewardship leaders need to know to promote better stewardship? Formulate a clear policy and ask your finance committee and your governing board to approve it.
Leaders Can Model the Way
Ultimately, the best way to foster a culture of greater transparency around giving is to talk about [money and generosity] more. Pastors and other key leaders can model the way by openly discussing how much they give and why. This sharing should be done in thoughtful and appropriate ways, of course. But when we share testimonies about our giving . . . we teach and inspire others about the importance of faithful giving.
. . .the conspiracy of silence around money and giving in our churches is contrary to responsible stewardship. Accountable [stewardship] requires that we be far more honest and transparent around everything having to do with faith and money. And being a bit more open about our giving and a little less uptight about who knows, are good steps in that direction.
May this turning of the congregational year offer you many opportunities to explore and deepen your sacred trust with one another, especially around generosity and finances. Stewardship for Us is available to help you have those conversations. Don’t hesitate to reach out! You can reach us at team@stewardshipforus.com
Rev. Lydia Ferrante-Roseberry loves helping congregations thrive. She brings over 20 years of parish ministry experience into her consulting with Stewardship for Us. Having served three congregations of various sizes, she has helped each of them align their vision with their values, and then foster generous giving to live into that vision. Rev. Lydia is most passionate about the individual and community transformation that is possible when people come together to create something none could have imagined alone.