Whose Offering Plate Is It?: New Strategies for Financial Stewardship

by J. Clif Christopher

In Not Your Parents' Offering Plate , Clif Christopher challenged churches and pastors to take a lesson from the leaders of not-for-profit organizations: if you want people to give to your church, first offer them a compelling vision of the good that their giving will accomplish. The book encouraged an entire culture change for many in the Christian community in how they viewed the offering plate. It also unleashed a barrage of questions on specifically how to create this new culture while maintaining the foundations of one's faith tradition and  mission.

In this sequel, Christopher responds to these questions in the same forthright manner that he originally laid forth his propositions. He offers simple, strategic advice on such difficult questions as:

“Exactly how do I go about gaining access to the donor records when my church has prohibited it for a hundred years?”
“How do I explain a meeting with just those who are strong givers without alienating those who are not?”
“How can we advocate online giving without encouraging some to abuse their credit cards?”
“What should letters to different giving constituencies look like?”

Genres: Christianity, Church

144 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2010

Reviews

[Winnie McDonagh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved it spoke to me. Echoed concepts I learned in my career about motivating people. At the same time I now have to rethink and define these practices in terms of my faith.

Strongly recommend the book. I have been a treasurer in my church, bookkeeper and part of finance committee. Always saw my pledge or tithe as a moral responsibility. Now I am understanding it as an integral part of helping the church to fulfill it's mission and an integral part of my spiritual journey.

[Jeff Krahn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical and biblical

As a pastor of a church that has lived through many struggles in the past ten years I have found this book rich with practical helps.
By drawing from biblical principles and his experience in the real world, Christopher has offered God-given tools that look deep into the individual person as well as the corporate church body to bring about healthy change and ultimately glorify God by making true disciples of Christ.
Tough questions will need to be asked and hard conversations are encouraged by the author with that aim of true discipleship always at the forefront.
Easy to read and well worth the time.

[Stephen Mims · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great book, nut not on Kindle

This is a great stand-alone book, but it’s even better when it’s read as a follow-up to “Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate.” My one and only issues with this book is the editing for Kindle. Many, many times when I was highlighting particular passages, it would draw my attention to the fact that quite a few words had no spaces between them. I can understand once or twice, but it happens throughout the book.

[Tom · Rating 4 out of 5]

Practical responses to questions raised by his first book (which you should read prior to this one). Good stuff. Challenging to no end.

[Lydia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very helpful companion to his first book. Clarified and expanded a few things.

[Dan Griffiths · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a follow up to Not Your Parents Offering Plate. Christopher continues to develop his experience with NPO's and churches.

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good follow up addressing some of the questions that arose from Not Your Parents Offering Plate

[Mike · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good stuff.