Resources on Faith and Money from the Congregational Resource Guide

Durall, Michael. Creating Congregations of Generous People. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999.

This view of stewardship asserts that continued generous giving to one's congregation comes about from individual satisfaction and consequent spiritual growth, not from a duty to help meet the budget. The author provides statistics showing that giving in most congregations is far below what most congregants could afford. He then offers detailed strategies for involving nonpledgers and for encouraging large and regularly increased pledges. Congregations whose pledge drives produce less than thrilling results may find here an approach that could eventually mean true community for congregants and opportunities for increased ministry.

Frank, Robert. Luxury Fever: Why Money Fails to Satisfy in an Era of Excess. New York: The Free Press, 1999.

According to economist and author Robert Frank, spending on luxury goods has grown four times as fast as overall spending in the United States. Meanwhile, our roads, water supply, air quality, and social programs are worsening, and we are spending more hours at work and fewer on restorative leisure or relationships. After pointing to behavioral science studies that show how little our happiness is enhanced by conspicuous consumption, Frank suggests we engage in it because of the social cues and contexts that make such consumption more compelling. The author's observations on our consumerist behavior, its causes, and its consequences suggest creative possibilities for reflection in congregational small group or adult education settings.

Hoge, Dean R., Patrick H. McNamara, Charles Zech, and Michael J. Donahue. Money Matters: Personal Giving in American Churches. Louisville: Westminster John Knox Press, 1996.

Seeking to identify the factors that encourage or discourage individual giving, the authors present the results of extensive research on trends in congregational giving. Designed for practical use by congregational leaders, the book takes into account theological and sociological variables among churches, and offers guidelines for improving stewardship. Of special interest is the testing of 22 hypotheses about stewardship, some of which are validated and others revealed to be myths. Denominational stewardship leaders, pastors, and any others charged with raising the giving sights of church members will want this very thorough study near at hand.

Hoge, Dean R., Patrick H. McNamara, and Charles Zech. Plain Talk about Churches and Money. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1997.

This book gives an overview of the types of financial programs used by churches and explores issues concerning stewardship and fundraising, including the reasons people give what they give, the issue of whether pastors should know about congregants' pledges, pastors' attitudes toward talking about money, and helpful fundraising strategies for mainline churches. The plain talk contained in this book will stimulate discussions among church leaders who may otherwise be reluctant to bring up this touchy subject.

Hotchkiss, Dan. Ministry and Money: A Guide for Clergy and Their Friends. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 2002.

There is perhaps no topic that creates more discomfort in contemporary congregations than money, a discomfort the author contends arises from clergy's lack of training in economics and the split between faith and money in American culture. The author combines economic theory and practical theology to address these issues. Reminding us that Jesus spoke more often about money than about any other topic, Hotchkiss encourages a biblical perspective on finances. He also raises financial concerns for all faith communities to consider—such as linking the congregational budget with its values and perceived mission, advocating and determining fair compensation for clergy, and providing guidelines for fundraising. This is a useful resource for everyone involved in the financial leadership of congregations.

Hudnut-Beumler, James. Generous Saints: Congregations Rethinking Ethics and Money. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999.

Author James Hudnut-Beumler shifts notions of parish finance from budget-balancing to perennial religious questions undergirding mission and life. This book calls us to responsive tending to what has been placed in our care. We are enriched by our possessions, by our capacities, but mostly by what God and others have entrusted to us. Generous Saints does not waste your time or effort. Its calm but challenging analysis and its insightful exercises belong in the hands of a stewardship committee months before a stewardship campaign is designed and launched. And if clergy and boards read it too, more than a church's financial circumstances may benefit.

McNamara, Patrick H. More Than Money: Portraits of Transformative Stewardship. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1999.

Christian stewardship is the individual and corporate response to the gift of life and creation; it arises from a model of abundance rather than scarcity. According to Patrick McNamara, to see stewardship as only fundraising, or only the management of nonmonetary resources, is to miss the mark. In More Than Money, McNamara used qualitative research methods to report on 11 American Protestant churches that have held an intentional focus on stewardship over time. This volume is rich with encouraging examples of the personal and churchwide changes brought about by a commitment to a lifestyle of stewardship.

Mead, Loren B. Financial Meltdown in the Mainline? Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1998.

In this book, Loren Mead sets out compelling financial challenges for today's churches: the failure of seminaries to provide training to future clergy in financial matters; changing giving patterns; the lack of short- and long-range planning; the need for knowledge of sound financial techniques; an over-reliance on "restructuring" to fix problems; and the lack of defensive planning for operational costs. He then covers the principles for rebuilding the financial condition of congregations, connecting the financial crisis in the churches to a spiritual crisis in the country—an addiction to money and the reluctance of congregations to talk about it. As its title makes clear, this book does not pull its punches, and provides much food for thought for those who hope for better in our religious institutions.

Naylor, Thomas H., John de Graaf, and David Wann. Affluenza: The All-Consuming Epidemic. San Francisco: Berrett-Koehler Publishers, 2001.

While Americans of all creeds have become consummate consumers, the feeling that life is empty and meaningless has accompanied increases in material wealth. Affluenza shows how our lives demonstrate the truth of such sayings as "it does no good to gain the world but lose your soul." For instance, we often hear about the importance of "family values," but as more adults work harder and longer to meet their families' and their own swelling material expectations, they and their families ultimately suffer. Calling "affluenza" a "disease," the authors discuss the disease's three facets (symptoms, causes, and treatment) and provide a strong vehicle for dialogue about our values, our consumer decisions, and our future.

Ronsvalle, John, Sylvia Ronsvalle, and U. Milo Kaufmann. At Ease: Discussing Money and Values in Small Groups. Bethesda, MD: Alban Institute, 1998.

This book by faith and money experts John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, with U. Milo Kaufmann, presents, in an evangelical tone, a method for making people comfortable discussing the difficult issues of linking money with values. Based on congregational small-group discussions that create support and trust, the method helps individuals identify their fears and worries, as well as their attitudes on stewardship and support of the church. A series of questions leads participants to new and increasingly probing conversations about these issues.

Ronsvalle, John, and Sylvia Ronsvalle. Behind the Stained Glass Windows: Money Dynamics in the Church. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Book House, 1996.

Congregations are often reluctant to talk about money, especially if the level of giving meets budgetary needs each year. But, according to John and Sylvia Ronsvalle, this maintenance orientation is preventing the church from living into its responsibilities for mission. Their book, which is based on a three-year study of attitudes toward money in 14 denominations, contains a mix of statistics, interviews with laypeople, clergy, denominational officers, and experts, and the authors' own analysis of stewardship practices. The picture it paints is not pretty, but it gives reasons to hope that the emerging church will find ways to link stewardship with discipleship rather than finance.

Wuthnow, Robert. The Crisis in the Churches: Spiritual Malaise, Fiscal Woe. New York: Oxford University Press, 1997.

Wuthnow argues that the financial crisis in congregations today—declining giving and increased demands—is also a spiritual crisis arising from the failure of congregations to meet the spiritual needs of their middle-class members. Based on 2,000 interviews, Wuthnow finds that members of the clergy often don't like to talk about money, but that it is crucial that they and their congregations learn to address this topic boldly and directly. This book contains valuable insights for all who want to understand the intersection of spirituality and stewardship, and provides hope for the future of Christianity.