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Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate: A New Vision for Financial Stewardship
Hearing a young attorney speak of the faith-based reasons for which he had just made a substantial monetary gift to a community youth center, Clif Christopher asked the speaker if he would consider making a similar contribution to the congregation of which he was an active member. "Lord no, they wouldn't know what to do with it" was the answer.
That, in a nutshell, describes the problem churches are facing in their stewardship efforts, says Christopher. Unlike leading nonprofit agencies and institutions, we too often fail to convince potential givers that their gifts will have impact and significance . In this book, Christopher lays out the main reasons for this failure to capture the imagination of potential givers, including our frequent failure simply to ask .
Written with the needs of pastors and stewardship teams in mind, Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate provides immediate, practical guidance to all who seek to help God’s people be better stewards of their resources.
Also The engaging follow up book - Whose Offering Plate is It?
That, in a nutshell, describes the problem churches are facing in their stewardship efforts, says Christopher. Unlike leading nonprofit agencies and institutions, we too often fail to convince potential givers that their gifts will have impact and significance . In this book, Christopher lays out the main reasons for this failure to capture the imagination of potential givers, including our frequent failure simply to ask .
Written with the needs of pastors and stewardship teams in mind, Not Your Parents’ Offering Plate provides immediate, practical guidance to all who seek to help God’s people be better stewards of their resources.
Also The engaging follow up book - Whose Offering Plate is It?
123 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2008
89 people are currently reading
202 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 78 reviews
January 20, 2014
I am giving this book 1 star because it was not possible to give it less. To be fair, I only got to page 33 before I threw it across the room.
The church is not just one more 501c3. Treating disciples like donors will make them just that… walking checkbooks. The title of Chapter Three is what ended my reading: "All Members Are Not Equal." For a pastor to take this position is blatantly unbiblical, and leads to unfounded conclusions like "The Pastor Must Be A Fund-Raiser" (the title of Chapter Four). This suggests that buildings, budgets, and capital campaigns are required to "do church." They are not. To think that they are is to buy into one of the greatest fallacies of the past two centuries.
A pastor needs to do nothing but pay taxes and die… but to be a good pastor requires making disciples, and making disciples requires no resources… period. If you don't know how to make disciples with zero resources, then you don't understand how to make disciples. Now, if you are running an NFP, many of the authors points are applicable: Of course you don't treat all donors equally… and a visionary organizational leader must be a fund-raiser. If you're running an orphanage, soup kitchen, or hospital, then check it out. But if you're a pastor, you should pass more than the plate; you should pass on this book.
The church is not just one more 501c3. Treating disciples like donors will make them just that… walking checkbooks. The title of Chapter Three is what ended my reading: "All Members Are Not Equal." For a pastor to take this position is blatantly unbiblical, and leads to unfounded conclusions like "The Pastor Must Be A Fund-Raiser" (the title of Chapter Four). This suggests that buildings, budgets, and capital campaigns are required to "do church." They are not. To think that they are is to buy into one of the greatest fallacies of the past two centuries.
A pastor needs to do nothing but pay taxes and die… but to be a good pastor requires making disciples, and making disciples requires no resources… period. If you don't know how to make disciples with zero resources, then you don't understand how to make disciples. Now, if you are running an NFP, many of the authors points are applicable: Of course you don't treat all donors equally… and a visionary organizational leader must be a fund-raiser. If you're running an orphanage, soup kitchen, or hospital, then check it out. But if you're a pastor, you should pass more than the plate; you should pass on this book.
June 2, 2011
I think I have a love/hate relationship with this book. Christopher admits at the end that he is laying some HUGE expectations on parish ministers, a job he no longer performs himself. He's basically saying, "Be the Steward" and let everyone else learn from your perfect example. If he approached his own pastoral ministry at the breakneck pace he suggests for others, it's no wonder he burned out and moved into consulting on financial matters.
That's the "hate" part.
On the other hand, I think he's got great ideas, meaningful ideas, for churches and for pastors. I realize I'm unusual among my UCC colleagues in that I don't mind talking about money at or in church. Honestly, we have to talk about it, don't we? And I love many of the approaches suggested, including narrative budgets and targeting different age groups according to their styles of communication and letting the pastor in on the big secret of who gives and how much.
But in my current setting, I think I'm about as likely to get (and be able to use) that last bit of information as I am to fly to the moon. I doubt this guy has ever worked with dyed-in-the-wool Congregationalists. I am not their boss, or their CEO, even if it's true that I would be best-suited to do mission interpretation to potential givers.
I finished the book feeling glad that I have already put it into the hands of our Stewardship committee and wondering how they will respond to it.
That's the "hate" part.
On the other hand, I think he's got great ideas, meaningful ideas, for churches and for pastors. I realize I'm unusual among my UCC colleagues in that I don't mind talking about money at or in church. Honestly, we have to talk about it, don't we? And I love many of the approaches suggested, including narrative budgets and targeting different age groups according to their styles of communication and letting the pastor in on the big secret of who gives and how much.
But in my current setting, I think I'm about as likely to get (and be able to use) that last bit of information as I am to fly to the moon. I doubt this guy has ever worked with dyed-in-the-wool Congregationalists. I am not their boss, or their CEO, even if it's true that I would be best-suited to do mission interpretation to potential givers.
I finished the book feeling glad that I have already put it into the hands of our Stewardship committee and wondering how they will respond to it.
January 13, 2014
Very challenging book that I hope my board will read--and any church member for that reason. My only disagreement is highlighting the donors who give the most over those who sacrifice the most. They don't necessarily need to be separated--I do agree that we shouldn't treat members equal.
That sounds wrong, but you'll have to read the book to find out what he means ;)
That sounds wrong, but you'll have to read the book to find out what he means ;)
December 21, 2021
Definitely some food for thought. For churches/pastors with no sense of fundraising, this contains some really helpful principles.
But there is so much to disagree with on principle: a la, he recommends pastors know what their members give. He raises the interesting tension of knowing where your members hearts are and I think more importantly, placing people in positions of financial stewardship who may themselves not be faithful givers.
But it lacks a robust ecclesiology underneath it to describe that purpose of the church and the purpose of church funds.
But there is so much to disagree with on principle: a la, he recommends pastors know what their members give. He raises the interesting tension of knowing where your members hearts are and I think more importantly, placing people in positions of financial stewardship who may themselves not be faithful givers.
But it lacks a robust ecclesiology underneath it to describe that purpose of the church and the purpose of church funds.
Read
June 6, 2023A very quick read that makes the principles of fundraising applicable to those in church leadership. A good companion read (also mentioned in this text) would be Spirituality of Fundraising by Henri Nouwen.
June 30, 2011
About 15 years ago, I was naive enough to swear up and down that I would never, ever, ever, NEVER serve on another church committee. Ever. You can guess how this story ends: the committee I currently serve on is reaching the tail end of a three-year commitment, and has provided all the vagaries, drama, strong personalities and occasional satisfaction that characteristically accompany such endeavors. And please understand--a certain portion of the vagaries, drama, et al, are the result of my presence on the committee. I have no stones to throw.
Perhaps it is a manifestation of the Divine Sense of Humor that Christendom accomplishes things through committees. I've read in the Book of Acts about the committees chaired by the first apostles; I understand that certain church fathers met in committees to determine which books and letters should be considered canonical. Two thousand years later, we are still sitting in committees, sniffing, posturing, throwing looks, comparing shoes. And somehow, glory to God, things get done...evidently! We are still here, after all, are we not?
Our committee read this book together, and then had--you guessed it--group discussion. I realized during the discussion that, although this book provides truly great perspective and information, perhaps its greatest strength is that it does not dismiss the reality of modern church life. We are busy. We are needy. We are fragile and sometimes very worried, and we mostly want this committee meeting to end so we can go home and nap on the couch. The author's sympathy is evident, and provides a vision for a giving, healthy, and generous church family in the midst of our reality. I enjoyed the illustrations provided by the author, and benefited from the discussion. I can say we even approached genuine, Christ-like fellowship as we compared notes on the text. We grew as a committee and even as friends. I am grateful for this book.
Perhaps it is a manifestation of the Divine Sense of Humor that Christendom accomplishes things through committees. I've read in the Book of Acts about the committees chaired by the first apostles; I understand that certain church fathers met in committees to determine which books and letters should be considered canonical. Two thousand years later, we are still sitting in committees, sniffing, posturing, throwing looks, comparing shoes. And somehow, glory to God, things get done...evidently! We are still here, after all, are we not?
Our committee read this book together, and then had--you guessed it--group discussion. I realized during the discussion that, although this book provides truly great perspective and information, perhaps its greatest strength is that it does not dismiss the reality of modern church life. We are busy. We are needy. We are fragile and sometimes very worried, and we mostly want this committee meeting to end so we can go home and nap on the couch. The author's sympathy is evident, and provides a vision for a giving, healthy, and generous church family in the midst of our reality. I enjoyed the illustrations provided by the author, and benefited from the discussion. I can say we even approached genuine, Christ-like fellowship as we compared notes on the text. We grew as a committee and even as friends. I am grateful for this book.
November 26, 2015
The Good:
Christopher offers solid fundraising advice, much of which manageable for churches of various sizes. He is at his strongest when he notes that people give to support mission, and that therefore testimonies of what God is doing in the life of congregants are a part of good stewardship, and in showing a way to re-organize a budget to show how money benefits mission instead of merely line items. If I were using this book to raise money for a secular non-profit, or even a non-congregational religious non-profit, I would give it four stars.
The Bad:
I do not believe church serve "customers," nor do they offer "products." Stewardship and fundraising are often completely conflated and I would like to hear what the differences in a few clear paragraphs. The notion that giving outside of "religion" (read: congregations) is not the same sort of faithful giving is abhorrent to me. The assumption that wealth is a gift of God is questionable to me at best. Given my theological disagreements with a good deal of the advice, I left off some stars.
Christopher offers solid fundraising advice, much of which manageable for churches of various sizes. He is at his strongest when he notes that people give to support mission, and that therefore testimonies of what God is doing in the life of congregants are a part of good stewardship, and in showing a way to re-organize a budget to show how money benefits mission instead of merely line items. If I were using this book to raise money for a secular non-profit, or even a non-congregational religious non-profit, I would give it four stars.
The Bad:
I do not believe church serve "customers," nor do they offer "products." Stewardship and fundraising are often completely conflated and I would like to hear what the differences in a few clear paragraphs. The notion that giving outside of "religion" (read: congregations) is not the same sort of faithful giving is abhorrent to me. The assumption that wealth is a gift of God is questionable to me at best. Given my theological disagreements with a good deal of the advice, I left off some stars.
March 29, 2013
This is a kick in the pants for all churches who don't recognize that people give to organizations that deliver transformation or make a real difference in the world. People don't just give because they "should" any longer. Now churches are competing with nonprofits for the same dollars; those who enjoy greater financial success are those that can demonstrate that they change lives. This book is for church leaders everywhere. Ignore its message at your peril.
April 7, 2016
I just bought this book for my stewardship team
This book is challenging. This book feels like it's written for bigger churches. This book I think will help my small rural church be better stewards of the gifts God has given us and to fulfill our vision of planting seeds of God's Light.
This book is challenging. This book feels like it's written for bigger churches. This book I think will help my small rural church be better stewards of the gifts God has given us and to fulfill our vision of planting seeds of God's Light.
January 3, 2025
3.5 stars. Didn’t love all the things he proposed and didn’t always like the way he phrased things (the church isn’t the business world) but do think he raises some very valid points and proposes several things those of us in the church can learn from NFP organizations.
Full disclosure… as a CPA focused in NFP organizations am likely biased to like this book.
Full disclosure… as a CPA focused in NFP organizations am likely biased to like this book.
never-finished
July 31, 2012I read at least a quarter of the book. It was an easy read. But I learned recently that my church (denomination) does stewardship differently. One major difference is that a priest is not a fundraiser. So now I am reading a different book.
September 11, 2012
One of those thing I wish I could have taken a class on in seminary...
November 4, 2025
This book is quite an easy read, which is a plus. I liked a lot of the content of this book and I feel like it gave me a lot of practical ideas of how to approach fundraising in a church. One of the things that the author does really well is reiterate and cementing why people, mission, and fiscal responsibility are the core components of good stewardship. The only thing I didn’t particularly like about this book is that the author was maybe a little too sympathetic to businesses and organizations that may use unethical practices or are very much caught up in the spiral of capitalism. Other than that, this is a helpful book for pastors and church leaders and a quick read.
June 3, 2019
This book was surprisingly conservative. The theologies it espouses are second only to its main presumption - that churches need to raise funds (both in capital campaigns and in monthly "donations" of tithes and offerings) by operating more like secular organizations and non-profits. I don't find this to be a valid or a compelling premise. Additionally, he suggests that communication must be customized to each generational group; however, he does not lay out any concrete strategies for doing so. I found this book quite obtuse, and do not recommend it.
December 12, 2024
I sort of hate this book. The chapter 4: All members are not equal in stuck in my craw. The crappy theology around the story of Zacchaeus completely misses the point.
There are some helpful tips, but it’s all directed toward the pastor. How can the entire church get around this? What are the roles of council and stewardship? When the fundraiser (aka the pastor) leaves, then what about the church left behind with no resources or skills to fundraise? It’s gotta be communal. This feels too individual.
There are some helpful tips, but it’s all directed toward the pastor. How can the entire church get around this? What are the roles of council and stewardship? When the fundraiser (aka the pastor) leaves, then what about the church left behind with no resources or skills to fundraise? It’s gotta be communal. This feels too individual.
February 4, 2025
This book presents a wake-up call to struggling churches and Clif Christopher's statistics are sobering. The church needs to adapt to a different way of looking at stewardship in order to survive and he uses practical examples to share his message of ideas and approaches. The only thing that concerned me is the enormous responsibility he places on pastors; I don't think they are magicians who can do everything he suggests, however, the ideas are valuable. I certainly understand that churches need to look at other ways of fundraising and what does it hurt to try his approach?
April 5, 2018
Excellent resource
This is the book to read of you want to be serious about stewardship. Personally, professionally, and pastorally J. Clif Christopher challenges the reader with thought-provoking questions and challenges each pastor to take a hard yet crucial look in the mirror. This book will not let you stay where you are, but will motivate you to learn and adapt to the world where you Church already is. Highly recommended.
This is the book to read of you want to be serious about stewardship. Personally, professionally, and pastorally J. Clif Christopher challenges the reader with thought-provoking questions and challenges each pastor to take a hard yet crucial look in the mirror. This book will not let you stay where you are, but will motivate you to learn and adapt to the world where you Church already is. Highly recommended.
April 24, 2018
The Best Book on Improving Church Finances
I have worked in the financial industry for over 15 years, and this is the best book on why church’s should focus on fundraising in the light of their mission to connect people to God. It gives you a great understanding of how to put in place actions steps to take in order to more effectively manage church finances. This is a must read for every church leader.
I have worked in the financial industry for over 15 years, and this is the best book on why church’s should focus on fundraising in the light of their mission to connect people to God. It gives you a great understanding of how to put in place actions steps to take in order to more effectively manage church finances. This is a must read for every church leader.
September 18, 2018
This book had some interesting ideas but was mainly geared towards pastors instead of lay ministers, as the book advertises. The ideas in the book are repeated constantly, so that by the end of the book I felt like I was reading the same thing for the fifth time. There are some good thoughts, and I appreciate how the author is trying to compare churches to other nonprofits and how churches should be thinking about better, more effective ways to fundraise.
February 20, 2020
I'm involved in a capital gifts campaign at church as was given this book to read. It has some very interesting statistics on giving today compared to previous generations. The main thought being that there are more non-profits competing today than there used to be. The interesting thoughts to me were around telling a story of what you are doing with money rather than just trying to get money. In some regards, it reminded me of marketing books I've read by Seth Godin.
July 3, 2018
People give to a church if they believe in its mission, have high regard for its leadership, and are convinced of its fiscal responsibility. People want to make the world a better place to live - to be a part of something that changes lives. This book offers helpful insights on how to most effectively lead an organization in wise stewardship of its resources and mission. Highly recommended!
August 10, 2018
This book makes church leaders really re-evaluate how you approach stewardship. So much of what we do is the way it has been for years and many of our assumptions are wrong because times have changed and there is more competition for charitable donations. It's a great read and not all recommendations will fit all churches, but there are ideas that everyone can use.
January 1, 2019
There are some good tips in here, but I find his tone aggravating, patronizing, and I think if he claimed one more things was "clergy malpractice," I might have screamed. Theologically, I don't feel like we're on the same page about faith and giving, and some of the practices he recommends seem far from the heart of Christ to me.
November 7, 2019
For church leaders: this is a must-read, even if some of the info and methods are outdated (the second edition is from 2015). The author assumes you are a leader of a large church, but overall, I'd say 4.5 stars. It's an important resource with some good advice and tools for talking about money and stewardship. It's short and practical. Well worth your time.
September 22, 2025
Challenging and insightful. Worth a close look, with a self examination of how our church properly calls our members to Godly stewardship. Right on target identifying our church is competing against every other 501C-3 organization seeking support from our members for their available dollars to donate. Well said and worthy of close examination and reflection!
September 28, 2017
The Theologian in my has some real disagreements with the way he frames certain ideas and phrases certain topics. Outside of that, I think he hits on some really practical and sensible advice when it comes to thinking about and practicing stewardship in the church.
September 23, 2018
While I appreciate much of the content and insights from the nonprofit fundraising world, this book could do with a much less condescending tone and avoiding the use of the phrase "pastoral malpractice" in every other paragraph.
March 18, 2019
This slim volume is easy to read and provides plenty of food for thought, although I found some of the author’s comments troubling on a philosophical level. Definitely enough workable advice to be worth a read for all organizations struggling with finances, not just churches.
December 29, 2019
Wow! If you're a pastor, staff/leader, or simply passionate about Christ's church, read this book. Discuss it with your church leaders. It's really good for educating, information, and developing stewardship within the church. It also helps in terms of finance, mission, and pastoral leadership.
February 18, 2017
Helpful in thinking about fundraising from a Christian perspective
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