PLANS Topic: 366 The Church Plan and Business

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Vincent C. Ragland is President PLANS.

PLANS can be reached at

(312) 286-6886 and by

E-mail at vncnt599@sbcglobal.net

Each week individuals visit their local churches for spiritual strength, greater understanding of their faith and renewal of the spirit. The church has long been the sanctuary away from the problems of the world and a safe haven for believers. In these dangerous and difficult times, the church has taken on the role of being both counselor and provider. With our youth being killed in the streets in record numbers, the church has become the death counselor. Helping grief stricken families deal with loss due to senseless violence in our streets. With so many out of work and homeless living in the streets the church has become the provider. Feeding individuals and families through food pantries and providing resources for the homeless. Often individuals begging for change and holding signs asking for assistance on city streets, at the end of the day, find themselves in church operated centers and homeless shelters.

So the role of the church continues to expand, meaning churches have to be prepared to take on the larger challenges of our communities and thus need to develop their Church Plan to meet these responsibilities.

Churches are needed to provide community social services as well as spiritual services. Many churches have community outreach programs, senior assisted living services, daycare and head start programs, family living centers and youth center facilities. The ability to acquire the necessary funds and resources to establish and run these programs requires the church to have a financially stable Church Plan. A Church Plan is the equivalent of a small business having a Business Plan. The church must show fiscal responsibility and manage its operations like a business to be successful. The following represents items to be maintained in the Church Plan:

1. A Mission Statement detailing the churches spiritual and business goals, objectives and strategies.

2. Past three years to current financial statements of the church.

3. Programs and an outline of the churches financial plan and structure.

4. Operational church budget and three to five year projections.

5. New programs and initiatives that will assist the community and help existing membership.

6. A history of the church, from its origin to current including any national affiliations.

7. Breakdown of funding contributions, special offerings, pledge drives, special programs (food pantry, prison ministry etc.)

8. Biography of church minister, directors deacons, elder and major financial leaders of the church.

9. Explanation of the Financial Controls and Fiscal Policy of the church.

10. Church incorporation documents, bylaws and resolutions. The aforementioned information should be a part of the Church Plan. Churches have to prepare to address the needs of their communities, and to do this effectively they must have a plan. The Church that fails to plan, is planning to fail.

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