Integrity in Handling Church Finances
by Dale Marples

Dale Marples and his wife, Betty Jo, are ordained through Rhema Bible Training Center and had been pastors for 24 years before retiring in 2010. They pioneered 3 churches during that time. Dale has a degree from the University of Nebraska in Business Administration and Finance. After serving as an officer and pilot in the U.S. Air Force he became a National Bank Examiner and Executive Officer in banking for 25 years. Dale also was Director of Treasury and Budget for the Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association for several years.

Today Dale has a consulting company, CFO Omaha, Inc., which provides financial management solutions for companies and churches and prepares business plans and financial proposals. By evaluating business operations he provides the owners with suggestions for eliminating wasteful spending and improving their operation, enabling them to be good stewards of their finances. He aids them to establish a sound accounting system, providing the owners with accurate financial reports for effective management of their business or church.

He has also developed a financial seminar for pastors, staff members and church boards entitled "Church Finances 911" which is designed to enable church leaders to be good stewards of the finances that have been entrusted to them and to establish a financially sound and stable church. The seminar answers questions from what kind of accounting system should I have, to how do I keep my board informed, to how to cover all of the legalities of purchasing or constructing a building.

Contact Information:
Dale Marples, 10109 South 176th Street, Omaha, Nebraska 68136
[email protected]
www.cfoomaha.com
www.churchfinances911.com
(402) 502-2255

A church member gives you $1,000 for the youth group’s activities because she has a passion for seeing the youth grow spiritually. You graciously acknowledge that generous gift. A few days later, the director of the nursery comes to you and says she is having an influx of nursery and toddler children and needs more equipment and resources. Her need is $1,000. You think, WOW!!!, God already knew we would have that need and provided for it.

Wait just a minute….where did that church member designate the money? Was it to the nursery and toddlers or to the youth? You may be thinking, but it is all for the children, so what’s the difference? That’s true, but it was specifically designated for the youth group and you can’t spend designated money for anything other than what it was designated for. Back in the 1980’s a national TV ministry went down and it was all because they used money that was designated for a certain project for another project. The donors sued them and recovered their money because it was mis-used.

When you are handling church money, you have to be "squeaky clean." The Bible says it this way, "Abstain from all appearances of evil." If you ever lose your credibility in the way you handle the church money, you will lose your credibility in many other areas and that will affect your ability to minister to your congregation. The main thing you, as a pastor, have going for you is that people trust you. So exercise integrity in every area of your personal and ministry life.

In today’s society there are few absolutes. It seems like issues are determined based on what the circumstances are today. Court decisions are based on how many times the accused has been caught. But for us in the Kingdom of God, there are absolutes. We call it the Word of God. It doesn’t change based on circumstances or what is the current mood of the country. It is the same, yesterday, today and forever. In handling church finances there should not be any grey lines. They should all be black or white. It is either proper or improper….ethical or unethical… right or wrong. If it is right, you don’t have to make excuses for it.

I was on a church board many years ago and we were discussing spending money for a church need. Eventually the discussion got around to whether this was a need or a want. One board member said something that I have never forgotten, and would be good for every pastor and church leader to remember. He said, "We need to be as careful on how we spend church money as we are with our personal money." That is so true. There are people in your congregation who are giving sacrificially and you need to be a good steward of the tithes and offerings. Being a consultant and seeing how money is spent, I have noticed that people are more free with someone else’s money. We need to think like that board member, would I spend this money if it were coming out of my pocket?

I have been writing along the lines that all the integrity has to come from the pastor or church leaders, but the person giving the money also has to demonstrate some integrity. When they put their money in the offering basket, they need to realize it is no longer their money. They have given it to God for use in the local church and their control over it is finished. There have been many church splits as a result of people wanting to direct their money after they have given it to the church. As a pastor, part of your responsibility is to teach the people this principle and you do it both by expounding the Word and in demonstrating integrity in the way you handle the money. If your congregation trusts you they will have no trouble in taking their hands off the money they give. But that teaching will extend beyond the church walls. The people in your community will also watch you. The way you handle your bank account and pay your bills will also be a witness to your community.

When I was Director of Treasury and Budget for Oral Roberts Evangelistic Association, we had a nationally known TV Evangelist come for a tour of our facilities. After the tour we sat down for a question and answer time. One of the questions he asked was, "Which bills do you pay?" Our response was, "we pay every bill". His response was, "You pay EVERY bill???" Based on that response, it was obvious to us this man didn’t pay all of his bills. In a few months after that, the TV Evangelist was no longer on TV. Folks, integrity or the lack of it will lift you up or bring you down. I heard Oral say many times, "I will not touch the money." He was a man of integrity and that included how the ministry finances were handled. He had a firm policy that every bill was paid before it was due, and I can tell you, seeing that ministry from the inside, that is exactly what was done.

According to Webster’s Dictionary, integrity means the quality or state of being of sound moral principle; uprightness, honesty and sincerity. Noah Webster’s 1828 Dictionary says integrity comprehends the whole moral character. Integrity is who you are. The degree of integrity you possess determines what you think and that determines what you do and that determines who you are. As a Pastor, you have influence over many people….your staff…your volunteers…your congregation…your community. Be a person of integrity. When you walk down the street of your community, people should say, "There goes a man of integrity."

In today’s economy, families, businesses and churches are under financial pressures. And if we only look at the circumstances we can get caught up in those pressures. We can be just like Peter looking at the wind and waves and start to sink. Those pressures can lead you to make poor decisions, which affect your integrity. But we have God, His Word and the direction of Holy Spirit to keep in our focus which will carry us over the top. When it comes to handling your church finances, look at every decision through the eyes of integrity. Not only will it keep you out of trouble, it will lift you up to be a witness to your family, your church and your community.

 

This article is designed to provide accurate and authoritative information in regard to the subject matter covered. It is shared with the understanding that neither the author nor Tony Cooke Ministries is engaged in rendering legal, accounting, psychological, medical or other professional services. Laws and regulations are continually changing, and can vary according to location and time. No representation is made that the information herein is applicable for all locations and times. If legal advice or other expert assistance is required, the services of a competent professional person should be sought.

© Tony Cooke Ministries, Inc. All Rights Reserved