How to Build an Effective Financial Team for Churches
What makes effective financial teams, especially for churches that have an immense spiritual responsibility to their members and donors? Church managers must focus on building high-impact teams that can communicate the church’s needs to potential donors and current members.
Let’s look at some helpful pointers for putting together more effective financial teams.
Hire People Who “Get” Your Giving Culture
As mentioned above, you need those who and not only understand but communicate your church’s finances and budget to potential givers. This takes experience in the ministry, as well as a heart for the outreach projects you are invested in. Those who understand giving from a Biblical point of view will also have the right mindset for asking for financial help. Make sure that anyone you select for the team has a good balance of experience and faith.
Build Trust Between Church Team Managers
One focus of your church must be building trust and good relations between church projects and programs for better communication. Some of your team members will have lots of years of experience in the church; others may be newer team members. It is vital that everyone is on the same page when it comes to trust—especially wherever finances are involved.
Look for Team Members Who Are Open to Change
Another common problem in churches is with inflexible team members. They are usually those whose history with the church goes back a long way. They may be reluctant to get on board with the “new way” of doing things. For example, slow to transition to digital platforms for church services, or reluctant to learn and upgrade their digital skills.
Choose Team Members Who Bring Balance
The strengths and weaknesses of your financial team must complement each other. You may have church leaders with great people skills, but who lack organizational ones. Those who are experts at church budget and finances may not be so experienced in good communication. Have an even balance of those who can bring a wide range of values and skills to the table.
Outsource Your IT to Experts
The final tip we have is to outsource the bulk of your technical issues to partners who have experience working with churches. This could be anything from the payroll to your website setup and troubleshooting. Outsourcing is one of the best ways to free up your leadership team so they can focus on the spiritual guidance of donors and church members and productivity.
Helpful Bible Verses for Effective Financial Leadership Teams
It’s so important to look after the church’s finances through teamwork while caring for the congregation. Here are some Scriptures on building good teams and working together in unity so that the whole church–and your ministries–benefit.
Hebrews 10:24-25
And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.
1 Corinthians 12:17-20
If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? But in fact God has placed the parts in the body, every one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
Ecclesiastes 4:9-10
Two are better than one, because they have a good return for their labor: If either of them falls down, one can help the other up. But pity anyone who falls and has no one to help them up.
The secret of successful churches is in the teamwork of their managers and pastors. Digital platforms can be beneficial in helping everyone focus on the right things together. Check out our DonorWerx resources to find out how you can build better teams online. We look forward to scheduling a Discovery call with you!
