Breakthrough in church apathy Two tools for health and effectiveness subtitle

CTBI National Stewardship Network Conference 2012: Church Health Review

CTBI National Stewardship Network Conference 2012: Christian Effectiveness Model

CTBI National Stewardship Network Conference 2012: Church Health Review

G8: STEWARDSHIP – The challenge of faith Are church members willingly and generously offering for God’s work their time, gifts/experience, and money for the benefit of others? Sample tests (cf.U7) 1stewardship viewed in the totality of life, not just for work within the church, so that involvement in community affairs is both encouraged and then prayerfully supported; 2members giving generous proportions of their income for their church and for those in need worldwide, with the church able to finance all its outgoings without stress; (cf.O8.4, S7.3) 3a sense of vocation with people offering their lives to God, both those in normal work and activity and with some moving into specific Christian ministry, training; 4evidence that both time involvement and financial giving come from across the congregation rather than from only a small group, with no strain on finding activity helpers; (cf.U7.1) 5evidence of Christians seeking to live simply as pilgrims in today’s world, not accumulating wealth but sharing possessions/homes, and mindful of environmental and fair-trade issues. (cf.U2.3, S4.5)

CTBI National Stewardship Network Conference 2012: Church Health Review S7: FINANCE – Money to enable ministry Is church finance seen as a key area of spiritual ministry which serves rather than dictates vision, and is it overseen with wisdom and thoroughness? Sample tests 1General Fund income sufficient over time to cover outgoings (without forced cutbacks) and without the need for panic appeals; 2annual budgets led by the agreed vision, with good controls in place but a willingness to take risks where there is a belief that God is leading; 3special needs (eg. major projects, global mission giving) handled in such a way that generous sums are provided and people’s faith grows; (cf.G8.2, O8.4) 4good reporting through management accounts to decision-making bodies and through innovative means of communication to the congregation, so all understand the position; 5good processes in place so that all bills and salaries/expenses are paid without delay, trading activity is managed to a high standard, significant levels of Gift Aid tax are refunded, methods of collection and offering within services have been chosen well, etc.

CTBI National Stewardship Network Conference 2012: Christian Effectiveness Model

V4: THE REALITY OF THE WORLD – Christian involvement Does the organisation have a clear understanding through practical experience of the physical and spiritual culture in which its beneficiaries live, so that it can work with integrity within that culture? Sample tests (cf.A8) 1leaders and staff living within the culture in which the organisation is working, or with recent experience and current understanding of that culture; 2any activity that researches and monitors the changing environment so that decision- making is informed and trends are predicted; 3the use of external advisers to help the organisation understand the culture in which its beneficiaries are placed; 4any placing of offices and staff within the culture being reached, rather than in areas that the organisation might find easier or more conducive to work in; (cf.E2) 5the testimony of beneficiaries that the organisation understands both them and their needs and works from this basis.

CTBI National Stewardship Network Conference 2012: Christian Effectiveness Model E5: SUPPORTERS – People resources: internal Are the organisation’s supporters (volunteers, donors, pray-ers) given regular and appropriate information for the part they play, in suitable formats, and regarded as part of the overall team? Sample tests 1any readership surveys that show that the organisation’s newsletters/magazines are communicating well and appreciated by those who receive them; 2evidence that the way that prayer and other information is made available in various media is helpful for and used by supporters; 3donors impressed at the speed and courtesy in which their gifts are handled and acknowledged; 4the provision and the regular updating of the database so that waste is reduced and accurate records are kept; 5an enthusiastic supporter base, with low levels of turnover and appropriate age and gender profiles.

CTBI National Stewardship Network Conference 2012: Church Health Review

CTBI National Stewardship Network Conference 2012: Christian Effectiveness Model