Resources for “Planning and the Budget”
The September 28 issue of Alban Weekly (Planning and the Budget) emphasizes that the staff of a congregation need to be responsible for creating (or at least signing off on) the budget as surely as they are responsible for achieving the vision of ministry. Too often, says author Dan Hotchkiss, the budget goes straight from the committees to the board without staff weighing in on whether it supports a feasible plan for implementing vision.
When budget is closely tied to the vision of ministry—particularly by those responsible for making that vision reality—then two positive outcomes result: staff can be held more accountable for what happens, and the annual fund drive can be based on the vision of ministry.
The article concludes with some helpful resources on this topic. Especially helpful is Hotchkiss’s own Governance and Ministry: Rethinking Board Leadership. You might also consider additional resources in the Board Development and Staffing sections of the Congregational Resource Guide.
Looking forward to your thoughts and suggested resources on this topic.
Great article. How soon before the start of your fiscal year should he budget retreat be done and do you have a suggested draft agenda for such a retreat?
The article is very geared to large congregations with staffing. Not helpful for smaller congregations with one staff, the pastor. Congregations with 15 to 50, this concept would not work. There needs to be a concept that would work for this size who do vital ministries right where they are.
The emphasis upon the emphasis on what of our larger issues and goals we must focus on now is necessary on annual planning and budgeting. I would recommend that whoever is responsible for final budget should be or have presence at the Planning Retreat, not to limit what is said but to (1) listen and remember and (2) to possibly bring some practical finanacial problems to the planning that could change or limit these short term lists of priorities. Sometimes, some of these will require careful consideration and adjustment on budget and financial projections that ought to be considered (though in different contexts) in both parts of the process. This should help those doing the budget to do a better job of helping reach the success for the planned ministries.
I seem to remember reading in an Alban resource some discussion of %’s of budget spent on typical expenditures. For example, in a mainline church that worships 150-300, what would be a % of budget for staffing that is healthy? Anyone?