Monday, May 14, 2007
Finanacial Transparency
MMI is reporting on possible financial scandals and financial transparency in churches. When trying to unravel a mystery, it's always "Follow the money." It's cliche, but it's true, money is at the root of most divorces. There is, sadly, little MORE important in the operation of a church than money.
It is that importance that makes financial transparency mandatory.
Just a cautionary note. The absence of financial transparency usually flows from one of two sources, or a combination thereof. The first is trying to hide something. This should be obvious. Run, do not hide, at the slighest indication of such, the church is in trouble.
The second is that no one cares and people begin to resent the extraordinary effort such transparency requires and they quit doing the work because it sits there and languishes. As much as there is a duty for a church to maintain transparency, there is a duty for the congregation to USE IT.
Related Tags: money, church finances, transparency, accountability
It is that importance that makes financial transparency mandatory.
Just a cautionary note. The absence of financial transparency usually flows from one of two sources, or a combination thereof. The first is trying to hide something. This should be obvious. Run, do not hide, at the slighest indication of such, the church is in trouble.
The second is that no one cares and people begin to resent the extraordinary effort such transparency requires and they quit doing the work because it sits there and languishes. As much as there is a duty for a church to maintain transparency, there is a duty for the congregation to USE IT.
Related Tags: money, church finances, transparency, accountability
