Prove Faithful: A Spiritual Framework for Stewarding Church Property
The biblical principle of stewardship applies directly to the oversight of church properties. As Scripture teaches, “Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful” (I Corinthians 4:2). How can we “prove faithful” in church property stewardship?
The responsibility feels heavy to church leaders who are currently facing declining membership and decreasing contributions. But there are viable solutions to faithfully managing your congregation’s assets. The good news is that Scripture does not leave church leaders without guidance, and practical help exists for congregations at every stage of their lifecycle.
The Hard Truth
When church attendance and giving declines, many congregations adjust budgets by trimming staff or cutting programs, while the cost of maintaining an aging property remains. This includes inevitable repairs, rising utility costs, and insurance expenses that naturally grow with inflation.
Churches at the later stages of their lifecycle got there over a long period of time, possibly overlooking key financial issues that result in increasingly unsustainable situations. As membership slowly declines, budget cuts often offset decreasing contributions. Rising utility and repair expenses may be covered by renting the building or an adjacent property to other groups.
However, masking the inevitable is not effective stewardship. These solutions are a band-aid covering a deep cut. The problem may be covered up for a time, but the cut must eventually be addressed. Churches who recognize their challenges and take an early, proactive stewardship approach will maximize the kingdom impact of the property and honor the intent of previous generations who planted and built the congregation.
Scripture Speaks
Psalm 50 tells us that God owns “the cattle on a thousand hills.” From his riches, God gives us abundant blessings that come with a responsibility to manage them well, as we learn from the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. We may see the fruit of our labor, or we may have to trust that God will produce the outcome in due time. That does not mean our part is inconsequential or unnecessary. Our gift back to God may be to plant, water, invest, preach, serve, teach, or honor. No matter what we give back, we can join David saying, “we have given you only what comes from your hand” (I Chronicles 29:14).
Like stewarding all blessings from God, making decisions about church property carries significant responsibility. The following practices offer spiritual guidance for church leaders who want to prove faithful in this unique and consequential area of stewardship.
Practices For Faithful Church Property Stewardship
- Pray. First and most important, pray for God’s kingdom to come and God’s will to be done on earth as it is in heaven.
- Create Awareness. Alert other leaders and members to the need for advance stewardship (similar to estate planning for individuals). Impress upon them the need to preserve congregational assets for use in current and future disciple-making and evangelistic ministries.
- Identify Early Warning Signs. A definitive clue that should prompt action to protect church assets is declining or stagnant membership. Specifically, when a congregation has existed 50+ years, the attendance falls below 50, and the average member age is greater than 50, the church is likely in a precarious position. Other warning signs include eight or fewer giving units, the inability to hire a half or full-time evangelist, and internal disputes that divide the congregation.
- Seek Legal Protections. Strengthening corporate documents provides legal control over church property. Churches often rely too heavily on Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and/or deed restrictions to protect church assets. While these documents provide some legal protection, they are limited. Congregations should carefully examine and strengthen two things in their governing documents: the provisions that determine how assets will be distributed upon dissolution and the membership vote required to amend those provisions. The legal system is not adequate or appropriate to settle disputes among competing church interests. Courts will often refuse to honor deed language that attempts to permanently restrict how a property may be used. Further, legal language is of little use when emotions are elevated.
- Be Open To Christian Mediation. As Paul encourages in 1 Corinthians 6, mediation by fellow Christians is a worthwhile option when conflicts arise. When pursued early, legitimate differences of opinion can be resolved with the help of a sensitive mediator. Waiting too long may have a disappointing result, as a willingness to submit to one another is likely absent.
- Request Alternative Title-Holding. A viable option for declining congregations is to temporarily deed the property to a stable entity that can ensure the property is preserved for use by the Churches of Christ. That entity may include another nearby, strong congregation with a heart for evangelism; a stable Church of Christ organization whose leadership shares the goals of the declining congregation; or a title-holding trust or corporation with faithful leadership. Heritage21 has successfully worked with several churches in the U.S. to provide this service, preserving church assets for use in God’s kingdom as directed by the dissolving church.
Conclusion
Church leaders have a sacred responsibility that demands more than good intentions. Scriptural guidance on stewardship is clear and compelling. Stewarding church property requires a bent toward action rather than inaction. Church leaders should ensure that their thriving congregation is protected in advance of future challenges. Leaders of challenged churches have a more acute issue, but it is not too late to take action. The first step is to contact Heritage21. Our team will listen and learn about your unique situation, then walk with your leadership team to discern and discuss helpful and relevant next steps. The call is clear and help is available. Now is the time to prove faithful!
You may also be interested in these free resources:
Spiritual Discernment for Challenged Churches