Leading Your Church Through a Renovation: Tithing

My church is in the process of finding a contractor so that we can make much needed upgrades to our physical space. As part of that process, I’ve solicited advice from pastors in my conference as to how to fundraise without wearing out the congregation. I shared one pastor’s experience here. You’ll find another below.

From Don

We were looking at a renovation/upgrade/delayed maintenance issue in Massachusetts (The College Church) and I asked the congregation to consider us tithing our project. For every $10.00 raised we would find some cause outside of the church to support. It could be a local battered women's shelter or an orphanage somewhere or... whatever.  They voted it and we did it.

If I remember correctly the project was upwards of $900,000 in total and they did it.  Every month 1/10th of whatever came in for the project went to good causes and I thought that was majestic. It kept our eyes beyond just our own needs and desires. The church sent money to several very necessary things in Madagascar. We had a personal contact there who could get it done in a kosher fashion and ADRA became our conduit. They took nothing but got the money to Madagascar in a clean, legal fashion. (Other than the legal part, of course, I don't know if they'd use the same process today.) We also supported several good things locally. 

In the end the church paid that loan off about eight years early (after I left) AND still gave away 10%. It's one of the things of which I've been most proud.

Check back to learn how other pastors have navigated the fundraising process in their contexts. If you have insight to share from your experience, be sure to email Michaela at bestpractices-ministry@nadministerial.com.

Michaela Lawrence Jeffery pastors the Athens Georgia Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Athens, GA.