Page 81 - Ecclesiology Textbook Masters

Study Section 10: Church Finances

10.1 Connect.

Do you realize that the church is called the BRIDE OF CHRIST? When I married my wife and
she became my bride, I left my parents, and she left her parents, and we became ONE with
each other. My wife has been my bride for 50 years. She is my best friend. I love and care
for her as no other. Life would be meaningless if she was not in my life. She is the reason I
get up every morning.

Can you imagine that, as my wife is precious to me, that Jesus Christ cherishes us as his BRIDE? We are
united with Christ as one just as I am united to my bride as one. Today we want to look at this unique
relationship we have with Christ. Let’s get started….

10.2 Objectives:

1. The student should be able explain how many today’s churches budget and spend God’s
money.

2. The student should be able explain how changing the priorities of spending in many
churches could literally change and solve the problems of the world.

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10.3 Financial Aspects of the Church

Is the church today handling its financial resources as God would have her? Here are some
alarming facts about USA church spending taken from PNW News, by Brant Henshaw.

Christianity Today recently published the results of a survey of 2,200 churches from around
America. They discovered that churches with less than 200 in weekly worship attendance
had an average budget of $219,370 with a median of $173,370. For those with 200-499
worshippers, an average budget of $675,290 and a median of $628,720 were reported.

1. Salaries
On average 47% of a local church budget goes toward paying pastors and staff. In
churches with less than 200 people in weekly attendance, this number is slightly lower
at 45%. Congregations in the mid-tier of 200-499 spent 48% on personnel. Breaking
down this information further reveals that full-time pastors are, by and far, the largest
portion accounting for nearly 50% of personnel costs. Within the personnel budget, full-time pastoral
expense accounts for:

• 28% for base salaries
• 9% for housing allowances
• 5% for health insurance
• 2% for pension/retirement
• 2% for Social Security and Medicare

34 PNW News, by Brant Henshaw

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