Seven Principles We Live By
1. Tithing (giving roughly 10% of your income) is encouraged, but not demanded. However, it’s expected that members will be supporting the church through consistent giving.
2. God wants us to give freely and joyfully, not because we are made to feel guilty. We will not talk about financial needs in a way that provokes guilt-motivated giving, and we will not allow a guest speaker to give a guilt-inducing appeal.
3. We see tithes and offerings as part of our worship to God; therefore, they are taken in the Sunday service as an extension of our worship time.
4. We intentionally invite visitors to feel free to pass the baskets by without putting anything in. They are free to give if they want, but we also want to diffuse the cultural perception that "all the church wants is my money."
5. If the church isn’t doing well financially and we need to talk about it, that will not happen during a worship service but during a separate "family meeting."
6. We are stewards of God’s money; therefore, we manage/use it in a way that reflects His priorities and purposes.
7. "…We are taking pains to do what is right, not only in the eyes of the Lord but also in the eyes of men." (2 Cor. 8:21) We operate in compliance with IRS regulations, run audits on our books, have a system of "double checks," etc.
Who Handles the Money
Official Members
Members of Grace Fellowship approve the yearly budget at the annual meeting in January.
Board of Deacons
The deacons manage the budget that is approved by the official members. They monitor giving, handle requests, oversee finance-related projects, monitor ministry spending, keep the congregation informed (primarily through the newsletter), and bring issues to the congregation when needed.
The deacons for 2012 are Wayne Rogers, Tony Santorella and Valerie Santorella. (Valerie and Tony are daughter-in-law and father-in-law.)
Finance Officers
Three finance officers are appointed by the members each year:
- The Treasurer handles general bookkeeping — paying bills, submitting monthly reports, taking care of IRS paperwork, itemizing ministry leader spending, etc. Eugenia Fountain is the Treasurer for 2012.
- The Assistant Treasurer maintains individual giving records and produces gift letters at year-end for tax purposes. Rob Baker is the Assistant Treasurer for 2012.
- The Missions Treasurer manages Missions Fund activity, which includes monthly support for missionaries and managing the funding for missions trips. Money directed to C&MA missions is processed through our General Fund and the church treasurer. Elaine Blanchette is the Missions Treasurer for 2012.
Offerings
The Sunday offerings are counted and recorded by two people every Sunday morning.
Giving Options
General Fund
All undesignated money given to the church (Sunday morning offerings or other) goes into the General Fund and is managed under the discretion of the Board of Deacons according to the budget approved by the members at the annual meeting.
Great Commission Fund
Gifts designated to this fund support the international work of the Christian & Missionary Alliance. C&MA missionaries are fully funded through the Great Commission Fund so they can focus their time and energy on ministry and not worry about fundraising. The church allocates a percentage of our General Fund giving to GCF, to which gifts from individuals in the church are added.
Missions Fund
Money may be designated to support one or more of Grace Fellowship's missionary partners and Grace Fellowship members going on short-term missions trips.
Deacons’ Fund
Money designated to this fund is used to care for Grace Fellowship members with severe financial needs. This money is accessed by submitting a written request to one of the Deacons. The Deacons will evaluate the best way to care for the need before giving a gift.
Special Offerings
Special offerings are taken a few times each year. They usually are related to caring for the needy, funding a C&MA missions project, or funding a Grace Fellowship missions trip. Special offerings must be approved first by the Deacons, who monitor the frequency and purpose of the offerings so the congregation isn’t inundated.