The church as a Business
We conducted our annual Business meeting for CLC last night, and I'm sincerely thankful to be a part of this congregation, for 2 big reasons:
1. I'm thankful that we don't have to battle with disunity and dissension and division like I've sometimes seen and heard with other ministries. I mean, in this time when our US Congress is investigating several major media ministries over allegations of financial mismanagement, and even closer to home, when churches right here in the south suburbs are dealing with similar serious matters, I'm thankful for the unity that God promised brings His blessing.
2. I'm also very thankful for the structure and organization at CLC that allows us the 'safety' of that unity. We've gone to great lengths to insure accountability and wisdom in our financial practices, namely through the constitutional authority granted to our Board of Trustees and our Board of Directors.
Let's face it: even an allegation can destroy a ministry. So we've taken extra-measures to avoid the very appearance of evil, and to remove temptation from the business operation of the church. For instance, as founding pastor here, I don't even know the combination to our safe. I don't set my own salary. I don't handle money for the church. Furthermore, the people who count offerings at CLC are never alone with the money. Those who count offerings are not the ones who write checks. Those who write checks are not the ones who sign them. Granted, it's probably overkill on our part, but we're trying to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" when it comes to financial stewardship.
All of this goes toward making CLC the kind of church that I'm happy to be a part of. As we've said before, if Chris and I were not pastors and we lived in the south suburbs, this is where we'd go to church!
Let me hear how you feel - is the governmental structure of the church important to you personally? Are you concerned about how your financial donations are used?
1. I'm thankful that we don't have to battle with disunity and dissension and division like I've sometimes seen and heard with other ministries. I mean, in this time when our US Congress is investigating several major media ministries over allegations of financial mismanagement, and even closer to home, when churches right here in the south suburbs are dealing with similar serious matters, I'm thankful for the unity that God promised brings His blessing.
2. I'm also very thankful for the structure and organization at CLC that allows us the 'safety' of that unity. We've gone to great lengths to insure accountability and wisdom in our financial practices, namely through the constitutional authority granted to our Board of Trustees and our Board of Directors.
Let's face it: even an allegation can destroy a ministry. So we've taken extra-measures to avoid the very appearance of evil, and to remove temptation from the business operation of the church. For instance, as founding pastor here, I don't even know the combination to our safe. I don't set my own salary. I don't handle money for the church. Furthermore, the people who count offerings at CLC are never alone with the money. Those who count offerings are not the ones who write checks. Those who write checks are not the ones who sign them. Granted, it's probably overkill on our part, but we're trying to be as "wise as serpents and harmless as doves" when it comes to financial stewardship.
All of this goes toward making CLC the kind of church that I'm happy to be a part of. As we've said before, if Chris and I were not pastors and we lived in the south suburbs, this is where we'd go to church!
Let me hear how you feel - is the governmental structure of the church important to you personally? Are you concerned about how your financial donations are used?
posted by Pastor Jerry McQuay at 10:35 AM
4 Comments:
What I have seen at CLC is sincerety and integrity. I do not see greed and selfishness. I joined CLC 11 years ago and it has been a growing and healing experience. I am concerned about how my financial donations are used and I believe CLC is ethical its appropriations. Gail LM.
I am thankful that we can trust our pastors and board in these matters. However, I would like a better breakdown of how our Missions money is being divided (i.e. how much of our annual giving goes to each of the various ministries we support)
If I knew who you were, I'd be happy to have our office email that info to you - it's a simple report to call up from our accounting software. We did publish the 4-fold breakdown based on Acts 1:8 back in October (as we do each year), but we can give more details if you contact the office.
It is in really poor taste to include a link to an article in media which points out flaws in another local church. We are innocent until proven guilty and as the body of Christ together we should be standing in prayer and unity not pointing a finger. I agree this is a wonderful ministry here at clc however; I would appreciate it if we could be an example of Christian love and not join in with the finger pointing!
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