Beyond the Numbers: Strengthening Ministry Through a Pastor-Finance Leader Partnership
Guest Author: Bill Cox , CEO and Founder, Martus Solutions
The role of the church finance leader is not simply about controlling spending—it’s about setting priorities that support and grow the ministry. For the senior pastor, building a strong partnership with your finance leader ensures that every dollar is connected to the mission, reinforcing both the church’s financial health and its spiritual impact.
Creating a budget should primarily focus on establishing financial priorities that align with a ministry's mission. While collaborating with a church leader on their initial church budget, we identified numerous expense items that lacked any discernible benefit to the ministry. These expenses were allocated to activities that persisted solely due to tradition, without anyone questioning their contribution to the ministry's objectives. Meanwhile, more impactful opportunities remained unfulfilled due to funding limitations.
This example highlights the importance of thoughtful collaboration and honest discussions that can lead to a more focused and mission-driven financial strategy.
At the heart of this financial alignment is humility and transparency.. Read on for six ways pastors and financial leadership can work together to support a financially resilient church that is rooted in purpose.
Foster Mission-Driven Financial Discussions
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and he will establish your plans.” — Proverbs 16:3 (NIV)
Stewardship begins with prayer and planning. In The Conversations: The Message Bible With Its Translator, Dr. Eugene Peterson contrasts how God led Joshua to victory at Jericho through divine intervention but provided a detailed strategy for the battle at Ai. Likewise, churches must approach financial planning with both faith and strategy.
Pastors and finance leaders should begin their financial discussions with prayer, seeking God’s guidance for how to best steward the church’s resources in alignment with its mission. Financial discussions should always come back to the core question: How do our resources serve God’s purpose for our ministry?
Empower Your Finance Leader Beyond Numbers
“Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.” — 1 Peter 4:10 (NIV)
To carry out the church's vision, pastors and finance leaders must recognize that effective stewardship is essential. After all, visions need resources! Churches often fail when they do not adequately manage financial resources, which are critical to ministry growth.
The finance leader brings valuable insight into how to allocate these resources effectively, supporting everything from new ministry initiatives to personnel decisions. Collaboration between the vision and resources ensures that financial strategies align with the church's broader spiritual goals.
Connect Giving with Ministry Impact
“Each one must give as he has decided in his heart, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” — 2 Corinthians 9:7 (ESV)
Many church plants or ministries struggle financially because they keep their needs hidden from their congregation. Early in the ministry of Willow Creek Church, Bill Hybels relates how bearing the financial burden of a church alone is not only ineffective but highly stressful. When he decided to share the burden with his congregation, the lack of adequate resources disappeared! He discovered that transparency about financial needs invites generosity. The finance leader can play a key role in making sure that giving is stewarded wisely for impactful ministry efforts. They can also identify potential financial challenges by closely monitoring giving and resource allocation.
Pastors must work closely with their finance leaders to foster clear communication between church leaders, support staff, and the congregation, ensuring that everyone understands how their gifts contribute to the ministry’s vision. This builds trust and encourages ongoing generosity.
Cultivate Financial Discipleship Within the Congregation
“Moreover, it is required of stewards that they be found trustworthy.” — 1 Corinthians 4:2 (ESV)
Part of the pastor-finance leader partnership involves teaching the congregation about the biblical principles of stewardship. Money is a tool for advancing the Kingdom, not an end in itself.
Offer workshops or stewardship campaigns that teach church members how to manage their finances in a way that aligns with biblical principles, empowering the congregation to give generously and manage their own resources well.
Align Long-Term Ministry Vision with Financial Health
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?” — Luke 14:28 (NIV)
Strategic financial planning is essential for long-term ministry growth. Having responsible cash reserves and avoiding debt for operating expenses are key to maintaining financial health. The finance leader plays a crucial role in ensuring a church has enough financial resources to sustain its mission and growth.
Pastors and finance leaders must work closely together to plan for future ministry needs, ensuring that financial strategies support the church’s long-term vision. This collaboration helps the church avoid the common pitfalls of poor financial management and positions it for sustainable growth.
Partner in Building a Culture of Generosity and Stewardship
“Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the firstfruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine.” — Proverbs 3:9-10 (NIV)
A church thrives when its members understand the purpose of stewardship and generosity. This purpose is not to check a “requirement-met box” but an act of investment in kingdom growth. Together, the pastor and finance leader can build a church culture where financial health is connected to spiritual growth, encouraging the congregation to view their giving as part of their discipleship journey.
Working in partnership to model good stewardship and cast vision for how financial resources advance the Kingdom, pastors and finance leaders create an environment where money is used to serve, not dominate, the mission of the church.
By embracing these principles, pastors and finance leaders can build a strong partnership that ensures the church’s resources are used effectively to fulfill its mission. Whether through prayerful financial discussions, transparent communication with donors, or long-term strategic planning, this collaboration strengthens the church’s financial health and empowers its ministry impact.
About Martus Solutions
Martus helps ministries bridge the gap between their mission and finances through collaborative budgeting. We integrate with your existing ERP or accounting system to provide real-time data and actionable insights so you can focus on what matters most: answering the call to serve. We’ve helped over 200 faith-based organizations transform their financial planning process and cut their budgeting time by 50% over traditional spreadsheets.
For Further Reading
How to Cultivate a Culture of Transparency in your Church
3 Things Jesus (Never) Said About Money, Wealth, and Possessions
3 Giving Conversations to Have with Members
Why Churches Should Leverage Teaching on Investing to NextGen as a Discipleship Opportunity
Diagnosing the Health of Church Giving
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