Is it Time to Invest in Our Church?

As I watched dozens of employees (pastors and lay people) being laid off from our churchwide organization in the aftermath of an economic tsunami that hit our financial system over these last two years, I wondered how much mission in the form of new starts, renewed ministry, global mission, and seminary programs, will be lost.

As you might know it is people that undergird our Lord’s mission and when people are removed then mission is diminished. As I watch our synod staff reduced again this year, I wonder what relationships with our leaders won’t be built, or conflicts will be unable to be attended to, or call committees will need to wait their turn for a new leader, or support for a great missional idea will be lost for lack of support.

As I watch this diminishment I wonder if now isn’t the time to invest in our Church. I am fully aware that many of our congregations in the Minneapolis Area Synod give at least 10% of their budgets away to a variety of very worthy causes throughout the world. Might this be the time to alter our congregational budgets so that our Church is also supported, so that we can start those new missions, so we can help our church to grow again, so that we can find new leaders for our congregations, so that we can support global missions, so our seminaries and seminarians are not in want?

On the synod side, I believe we do not have an expense problem. We have a revenue problem. We have arrived at a bare bones budget with a challenged ability to care for the vital ministry for which we have been called. Our support to our co- and shared ministries has been decreased to the point where the synod’s next step is to contribute zero. But now I feel compelled to ask you to help us do our work, to invest in your church so that we can grow, thrive, and envision a new day in partnership with your congregation.

We have a great treasure in our denomination, which has shaped our life in profound ways. I am respectfully asking that you rethink your benevolent giving so we might continue to go and baptize making disciples of all nations, so that we can be present with suffering people, so that we do not starve our mission and our vital ministry, so that we can resettle new immigrants and refugees.

Imagine what expanded ministry could be accomplished if each congregation increased mission support by 1% in 2010. To date 23 congregations have indicated their intent to increase Mission Support. I am grateful to you.

I am also fully aware that for many (if not most) of the year has been challenging to remain financially afloat. But in these times of challenge perhaps now is the best time to invest in your Church.

Bishop Craig Johnson