Financial Transparency

Chuck on February 26th, 2009

Watch this very brief video of Obama sharing about his desire to be financially transparent.  We can think what we want about him and his plans for our country, but if he upholds this promise it’s a GREAT thing.  A greater concern for me however is the fact that the Church is not financially transparent.  For instance, why don’t we know how much our pastors makes?  Why is it a secret?  Why is it awkward for us to talk about how much we make from the church? Maybe we’d say its not a “secret,” but why then don’t we publicize it?  In my opinion financial transparency in the church is crucial.  This, to me, would halt much of the skepticism and exemplify biblical principles much more effectively.  But the bottom line is I just wish we would be more open in the church with our finances…

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Share Discuss (4)

Chris S. at 12:18pm February 26

One reason I’ve heard people mention is that there are legal issues that hinder complete transparency.

On the other hand, my church puts out a line item budget every year for people to go through if they want. They don’t even have to come to the office to ask for it.

I think it actually helps people appreciate how much is being done with a relatively small amount of money compared to the corporate world.

Kurt Oberlin at 11:05am March 3

I couldn’t agree more about being financially transparent as a church!

I was formerly at a church that didn’t show financial transparency and found itself in the whole 40,000 two years in a row. I am now in a church that publicly shows not only how much is received each week but also how it is doing in terms of the budget. Anyone in the church is allowed to look at the budget at anytime to see how much we spend on anything from individual staff salaries to toilet paper.

Seeing exactly how the church is striving to effectively be good stewards of what God has given them is empowering.