Can I Buy That?

Twice last week, someone asked for permission for New Life to purchase some equipment. For those wondering, the correct answer is - as long as there's money in the budget. Truthfully, giving permission is not part of the treasurer's job. I can tell a ministry team if they have enough money in their budget (in these cases, they did). But permission comes from the church.

Did you realize that? New Life gave these teams the permission to buy something new. Last January, the Session approved a budget for this year. And that budget set spending parameters for every ministry team. We had a hearty discussion about it during the annual meeting.

Far too often, we view budgets as a chain. They restrain us from doing all of the cool and important stuff we want. Without such a tiny Worship team budget, we'd have a totally awesome mixer board, wireless gizmos, and hookups for all kinds of instruments. Imagine Bob's sermon in studio quality sound.

Now imagine there's no heat in December because New Life has zero cash left for the gas bill. And that fancy mixer board only produces silence without electricity. It's not so fun anymore, is it?

The budget is not a chain. The budget is a promise. Up until that final approval, every category is fair game for changes. But that approval, it seals the deal. It is a contract - a covenant - between the congregation, the church officers, and the ministry teams.

The contract does not prevent spending. It empowers spending. After that meeting, each team has the power to spend money on behalf of New Life Presbyterian. No permission necessary. The budget lets New Life spend without worry.

And the really cool part? This also works for your family. See, go back through the previous paragraphs. Everywhere it says New Life, replace it with your family name. Go on, I'll wait. Finished? Good.

Let this sink in a minute. You and your spouse covenant - promise - to spend money together. You agree on the limits. And then you spend it. Can you handle that? Couldn't you enjoy agreeing to spend money?

Without a budget, we argue about where the money went. "You spent $100 on shoes!" "Well, you spent $300 on a fishing pole. We don't even eat fish!" Yeah, I've survived those conversations too.

With a budget, we may argue over where the money will go. At some point we compromise and make a promise. And then we spend without fear, without worry, without stress.