The church I attend has a problem—a good problem, but still a problem. We have run out of space and we’re landlocked. These issues have been the grist for leadership discussions.
Elder Bob: “We need to face the facts! We have four worship services on Sunday mornings. We’re parking cars bumper to bumper, but we still have to run a shuttle service to the public parking garage. And we’re renting space to hold Sunday school.”
Executive Pastor Jim: “Well, if we are facing the facts, then you all should be aware that we are beginning to see some real strain on the budget. We’ve added staff to meet our growing needs, but giving just isn’t keeping pace. The bulk of our giving this year won’t come in until the last few weeks of December. We could run out of cash by August.”
Elder John: “In my business we lined up a mortgage to finance the construction of a new facility and a line of credit from our bank to solve the cash flow problem. Maybe it’s time for our church to do the same!”
Elder Bill. “It may be alright to run your business that way, John, but I’m not convinced it’s the right way to run a church. I don’t believe in debt for my family—or for our church. God will provide.”
Elder Paul. “But Bill, couldn’t God use borrowing as a tool for his provision? Pastor, what do you think?”
When I served as both an elder and treasurer at our church, I found myself having to weigh in on the issue of borrowing. I am also a CPA with a Ph.D. in economics, and I teach business and economics at a Christian college.
I have found myself wondering about both the pervasiveness and effectiveness of borrowing as a tool for financing the local church. I have also wondered if there was any such thing as the “normal experience.” So I was very pleased to work with Leadership in trying to discover the impact borrowing has had on church life.
Leadership surveyed 1,000 pastors, with 41 percent return rate. The survey has yielded some helpful findings.
In short, we found that borrowing money can work, and most churches that borrow money have good results. But we also learned that debt must be handled with care, and the size of a church affects its attitude toward borrowing.
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Bruce Howard is professor of business and economics at Wheaton College in Wheaton, Illinois.
BuildingChurchLeaders.com has the complete Research Report on Church Debt, on which this article is based. Click here for more information.
Copyright & 2002 by the author or Christianity Today/Leadership Journal.Click here for reprint information on Leadership Journal.Fall 2002 Vol. 24, No. 4, Page 50
