Chapter 8 · 60 min
Funding the Mission
Big idea
A traveling ministry was funded by supporters and stewarded by a treasurer. Money followed the mission; it did not set it.
Session objectives
- ◆Compare your budget against your stated priorities
- ◆Review who handles funds and what accountability exists
- ◆Name one resource decision that needs revisiting
Opening question
If someone read only our budget, what would they say our mission is?
Discussion questions
- 1.What percentage of our resources goes to maintenance versus mission?
- 2.Who can spend money here without a second signature?
- 3.When did we last stop funding something?
- 4.Do our givers know exactly what their giving accomplishes?
Group exercise
Budget-to-mission test
- 1Write your top three priorities on the board
- 2List your five largest expense lines beside them
- 3Draw a line from each expense to the priority it serves
- 4Any expense with no line becomes an agenda item
Commitment before next session
Reallocate one line item toward a stated priority before the next budget cycle.
JOI categories addressed
Stewardship & Resources
Facilitator note: open with the question, keep discussion to half the session, and end with every participant naming their commitment aloud.