Financial Ethics for Ministers and Workers

Introduction and Why Financial Ethics

“For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows”. 1 Timothy 6:10

Many criticisms have been levelled against the Church because of finances.

And within the Church, we have also received reports of cases of misconduct between Ministers, Workers and Members that bother on financial integrity.

While we cannot avoid criticisms, we must minimize the opportunities that people have to speak against us. We therefore, need to adopt certain standards and ethics in the area of finances.

“So that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as light in the world”. Phil. 2:15

FINANCIAL ETHICS (1 of 4)

• Pay your tithes and give offerings generously as a good Minister and Worker

You will come across as a hypocrite if you do not pay tithes and give offerings yourself (teaching one thing, and doing another).

• Do not receive money on behalf of the church.

Ask the church members to put their tithes and offerings directly into the offering basket.

• Do not personally count the offerings.

You will appear greedy and very interested in the money.

• Do not allow money to be counted in the full view of everyone in church.

Some people may think the church has a lot of money, or others may be tempted to steal from the church.

• Do not take Sunday’s or any other offering to your house.
  • It will seem as though all the offerings are being given to you personally.
  • If the money were stolen from your home, you would have created for yourself a neat little scandal.
  • There would be little anyone could say in your defense.

FINANCIAL ETHICS (2 of 4)

• If you receive an unusually large gift, personally or in the offering (for instance, an expensive car, wrist watch, etc), you must question the source of it and the motive.

The money could be from a dubious source and receiving it could lead you into some serious problems.

• Generally speaking, do not borrow money.

Try to manage with what you have.

• Do not borrow money from the church nor from the offerings.

You may be accused of stealing from the church.

• Do not borrow money from church members.

• Do not borrow cars, televisions, or other material items from church members.
  • Church members will lend things to you with a smile, but they may lose respect for you.
  • The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is servant to the lender ( Proverbs 22:7)
• Do not ask church members for material things or for money.
  • This is also offensive.
  • E.g, can I have one of your radios since you have two and I don’t have any?

FINANCIAL ETHICS (3 of 4)

• Do not receive money on behalf of church members.
• Do not hold church members money for safekeeping.

You are not a bank. What will you say if the money gets lost?

• Do not act as a surety or guarantor for your church members.
• Do not bail someone just because he is your church member.

This is very risky as all sorts of people find their way to churches. You may find yourself in prison for trying to help your church member (who may be a bona fide criminal).

• Do not lend money to church members.
  • If a church member asks you for money, give what you can without expecting any repayment. What you give may be a percentage of the original sum requested.
  • This is better than lending money because when it is time to reclaim it, you may find all kinds of ugly situations developing.
  • You may even lose your church member in the process of getting your money back.

•  Do not allow money and gifts to be the basis of relationships you have with people.

Such relationships are very unstable. Therefore, do not give unusually special treatment to rich people.

FINANCIAL ETHICS (4 of 4)

• Do not demand or charge a fee as a condition for praying for someone or for prophesying to someone.

Freely you have received and freely give. (Matt. 10:8).

• Find a decent and honorable way of receiving free will offerings

It is important to ensure that your motives are not misjudged.

• Do not ask people directly how much they earn or how much they have.

This could be offensive.

• Do not announce your salary and assets publicly.
  • Revealing your processions may be dangerous in a culture of jealously and poverty.
  • People may not understand why you should have what you have, especially if they don’t have some of the things you have.

• Your financial needs should not affect your preaching and speech.
• Your preaching should not include insinuations about your lack of money.

Some Ministers do this in order to gain sympathy and receive donations.

• If you make a large financial pledge do not announce it publicly.
  • You may not have the opportunity to explain the source of all your blessings.

AND SO WHAT!

Question

1. Are we now saying that Ministers, Workers and Members cannot get any form of financial assistance or help from the Church or from Church Members?

• What then are we brethren for!

• Is it that we are not aware that things are hard for many people in the Church, including Ministers and Workers!

Answer

1. The Church as part of its Welfare initiatives will continue to give a helping hand within available resources to support Ministers, Workers and Members who are in need.

• But we have established channels for financial support and help within the Church.

• Ministers, Workers and Members MUST follow these established channels.

CONCLUSION

Beloved, together we can create a culture of accountability, financial integrity and responsible conduct that will engender trust, love and a harmonious and spiritually uplifting relationships in our Church.

This is the essence of financial ethics.

Let us make it work!

God bless you.

THANK YOU

By Assistant Pastor Benson Evbuomwan

RCCG CTL, Lekki

Thank You Jesus,

Salvation Prayers

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