Ask Steve

Lessons to learn from 2021

We learn from mistakes. It is always better to learn from others’ mistakes than from your own (although sadly we are never exempt!) and 2021 has been a year when there were mistakes made in the realm of Christian charity finance and governance that we can all learn from. I have picked three that I hope are useful.

I have categorised them under the headings of attitude, accountability and administration. These three characteristics form the basis of our AAA rating for churches and charities – or what makes an organisation good with money. ATTITUDE

The danger of dominance

The longer I have worked with churches and charities, the more that I have seen the harmful impact when one person dominates. It is often (but not always) the ‘founder’ or, if not the founder, someone who has, by their skill and personality, driven the ministry forward. It is called ‘founder’s syndrome’.

There is a vital place for leadership which is clear, dynamic and inspiring. But I would add one word to that, without which those others are important – but ultimately a liability and not an asset. That word is ‘teachable’.

In 2021 we have seen an international Christian ministry, a large church in the UK, and a number of more local ministries have their effectiveness seriously damaged with financial mismanagement, complaints of abuse, team members ‘frozen out’, and the key leaders resigning as a result of personal dominance.

To maintain a healthy attitude, key leaders need to be ‘servant leaders’ who encourage other views, receive criticism, and develop team leadership.

Stephen Mathews Senior Consultant

To create the environment where that will happen, Christian ministries need to develop a constructive ‘culture of challenge’ – with everyone clearly accountable. I believe it is the responsibility of all in spiritual leadership and charity governance to proactively create and safeguard that culture.

ACCOUNTABILITY

Financial controls are worth investment

In early 2021 it was reported that a volunteer church treasurer had been imprisoned for stealing £130,000 from a parish in north London over a 5-year period. The individual was in charge – with no effective oversight – of the parish finances. He was enthusiastic, knowledgeable, plausible and a church member: everything a treasurer should be. But he was also a ‘lover of money’ and the police described him as ‘a most devious individual’.

The lack of effective financial safeguards let him be tempted, and hugely damage himself, his family and the church. Sadly, this is not a one-off incident, as at Stewardship we hear this frequently – in churches and charities just like yours and mine.

Financial controls are not exciting, but they are a vital part of the fabric of finance. ADMINISTRATION

Read your constitution

This may sound obvious but many trustee groups do not read their constitution. They assume what it permits or forbids. An example, which we see replicated across the UK in Christian charities, is that of employing someone who is a trustee when there is no permission for this in the charity’s legal governing document. The consequences of this are at the least embarrassing and administratively painful. At worst, they can result in resignations and potential financial costs and repayments (fortunately more in theory than in practice).

Constitutions can be confusing. If it is not clear to you, take advice. It is not expensive and certainly cheaper than dealing with the fallout when a board hasn’t understood it.

It may not be earth shattering, but simply reading and being aware of key issues in your constitution is a legally vital requirement and when not done can have major implications.

Why I give

Biff Sharrock

Stewardship giver

Who or what or what event has been the biggest influence on your giving?

Undoubtedly the biggest influence on my giving was becoming a Christian after university and acknowledging that Jesus lived a perfect, sacrificial life, yet died for me.

While living in Switzerland after graduating, I met a couple who were on mission from the US. I had a lot of questions for them, particularly about the Bible’s more difficult teachings, but they helped point me to Jesus’ death and resurrection: did I believe that really happened? That was the cornerstone. After looking at the evidence I put my trust in Jesus. Then, if I do give, I am often tempted to boast about my generosity (Matthew 6:1-4 is a great verse to challenge me with this). And then finally, with direct debits and regular giving made easier, I am tempted to be proud and think to myself: “I’ve got my giving sorted”. When something comes up that’s more than our ‘giving budget’, it’s then that I am struck that I’ve lost sight of the sacrificial aspect of giving that God encourages us to pursue. Praise God that he forgives me when I go wrong and that I can pray to him for help in this area.

“ When we accept Christ, he changes us.”

Before then, I knew that being generous was a ‘nice’ thing to do but that was where it ended. With no one to be accountable to and no motivation other than a vague trying to be selfless, I didn’t feel hugely compelled to give and mostly brushed past any feelings of guilt. When we accept Christ, he changes us. By no means do I do it perfectly now, but I do see God shaping my heart in this area day by day. It’s the reason why I now give to others and try to be generous.

What’s the best example you’ve seen of generosity in action?

Sacrifice and generosity go hand in hand. Our pastor, with his wife and family, moved into London to plant the church I attend, moving into a small flat on a council estate in central London. Their obvious sacrifice of comfort is a constant example to me of what gospel living and generosity can look like.

What’s the hardest thing about giving?

Without doubt it’s fighting the sin which shows up in all stages of giving! Firstly, I can be selfish and want to keep my money or time to myself. What causes are you particularly passionate about and why?

Apart from my church, there are three causes that I consciously aim to support: the persecuted church, work with students, and mission work in the City of London. We are so fortunate in the UK to be able to be publicly Christian, read the Bible, meet up for services and pray together openly. It’s easy to take for granted, and so it’s on my heart to support those who don’t have these freedoms. Secondly, having only come to know Jesus after university, I can see how pivotal university can be for young people – both already committed Christians as well as those exploring. Finally, London is a place where thousands of people come in and out and don’t know Jesus. Working in the City I see first hand the pursuit of work, money and status, and the contrasting need for Jesus, and so it is an area I am keen to support.

What’s the best resource that helps you give generously?

This may be the driest answer ever given to this question, but for me it genuinely is as basic as having a giving budget as a baseline and setting up standing orders. Stewardship helps with this – I have a monthly standing order set up to put money into my Giving Account where I can choose who to support. As I mentioned earlier, battling my sinful heart is the hardest thing for me about giving. By working out an amount per month to give that still feels sacrificial, and then setting up a standing order to put that money in the ‘giving’ bucket, I am able to cheerfully give generously.

Big or small. First or last.

We make every gift count. Given or received.

We’re a place where connection happens – where those called to give meet those called to go.

A community of generous stewards uniting to use all God has given us to love him, love one another, and love our neighbours as ourselves.

We call this active generosity.

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