Churches that belong to denominations are often presented with "askings" by the denomination. For example, the total askings for all the denomiational ministries (missionaries, publications, pensions, administration, etc.) might be "25 per communicant member" or something like that.

So, ordinarily that is part of a particular church's annual budget.

The largest single expense of a small church (like most of ours') is usually the pastor's salary. That happens to be the church's FIRST responsibility (and not just because I'm "interested"). Not organizationally "setting aside" a tenth. Then, the church needs to take care of a place to meet--rent, buy, maintenance, whatever. Great or small, that is the next "circumstance" of worship, the MOST important corporate activity, the church needs to take care of. Only after those matters are covered, and the next portion (a wisdom decision) set aside for the deacons, does the church look outside to give more.

Now, that does not mean that the church does not give outside until it's budget is at least, I dunno, $25,000. No, the only question is not "how much to this and that?" but rather, "what are the priorities, in order?" Then you meet those committments, in order.

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Rev. Bruce G. Buchanan
ChainOLakes Presbyterian Church, CentralLake, MI


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