Legally speaking, churches are non-profit organizations. The budget of a local church is supported entirely by the free-will contributions of those who attend the church on a regular basis. In biblical times, it was typical for the individuals within a church to take up a collection for those who were performing the pastoral work. Paul writes to the Corinthian Christians, “In the same way, the Lord has commanded that those who preach the gospel should receive their living from the gospel” (1 Cor. 9:15). In the Old Testament, the people were commanded to set aside a tithe (10%) of their earnings to give to the Levites – those individuals who performed the priestly duties. In addition, the people often gave free-will offerings and fellowship offerings beyond their tithe. It is through tithes and offerings that the local church is still supported today.
Stewardship in the Bible means being faithful managers of all that God has given to us. Jesus tells his disciples in the book of Luke, “Whoever can be trusted with very little can also be trusted with much, and whoever is dishonest with very little will also be dishonest with much” (Luke 16:10). Throughout the Bible, there are several clear principles about what it means to be a good steward. Being good stewards of our resources means that we recognize that everything belongs to God. He is the one who gives us the ability to earn a living (Deut 8:17-18). Being good stewards means exercising self-control and living within our means (Prov. 13:11). Being good stewards means giving sacrificially to the Lord’s work. Jesus praised the widow who put her last two copper coins into the offering (Luke 21:4). Good stewardship means giving from the heart, not out of obligation (2 Cor.9:7).
The practice of tithing (giving 10% of one’s income) was given as a command to the Hebrew people of the Old Testament and is not specifically commanded in the New Testament. However, tithing is always presented positively in scripture, and Jesus told the Pharisees they should tithe (Matt. 23:23). Tithing teaches us to trust that God will provide for our needs if we honor him first. This is a personal decision; however a helpful phrase we use at Trinity Fellowship is “not equal giving, but equal sacrifice”. We realize that each person must take a step of faith and respond to what the Lord is calling him or her to give. We also keep records private so that only the financial recording secretary knows how much each individual is giving.
Giving FAQs
How do I give? Why isn’t an offering plate passed during services?
Giving should not be done out of compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver (2 Corinthians 9:1-15). We believe it is the responsibility of the members and regular attenders of Trinity Fellowship to support the ministries of the body of believers to which they belong. At the same time, visitors and guests should never feel obligated to give, which is one of the reasons we do not pass an offering plate during our worship services.
Instead, we provide offering boxes so that giving can be a cheerful and intentional choice. There are multiple offering boxes at Trinity Fellowship (BR Campus)—located at the back of the multi-purpose room and near the main entrance, and there is one near the double doors of our sanctuary at the NWG Campus. We trust that God will sovereignly provide the resources needed to accomplish what He desires, and we believe it is the responsibility of each individual or couple to prayerfully determine before God what He would have them give.
Gifts may also be given online at www.trinityinfo.org/give, where you can place a one-time gift or set up recurring giving.
For those who give by cash or check, offering envelopes are available at the offering boxes. These envelopes are numbered to assist with accurate record-keeping and tax receipts, though their use is optional. For those aged 70.5 with an IRA that requires minimum distributions, there is a tax-advantaged way to give a qualified charitable distribution (QCD) directly to Trinity from their IRA. Be sure to seek the advice of a financial advisor on how to do this.
How do we know church finances are being handled wisely?
We carefully follow strict accounting procedures to handle our finances with integrity. We also undergo external professional audits so you can be confident that offerings given to the Lord’s work are managed in accordance with the congregation’s directives. In addition, at least two individuals count each offering, and all deposits are double-checked to ensure accuracy and accountability.
Who can see my giving information?
Giving is kept as confidential as possible. Pastors, elders, and ministry leaders do not have access to individual giving information. Only a small number of trusted individuals have access to the giving system for administrative purposes with that access limited to only what is necessary to perform their assigned duties. Only a single individual - the financial recording secretary - accesses individual giving records annually to issue tax receipts. Offering counters also rotate regularly to maintain confidentiality and integrity.
Can I designate a gift?
Since we are a congregational form of government, we have relatively few designated funds at Trinity Fellowship. Currently, the regular designated funds are the General Fund and the Missions Fund.
General Fund: Most of the giving for Trinity Fellowship is undesignated to the General Fund which supports the majority of the expenses of the church's ministries.
Missions Fund: We believe it is wise for our church family to help determine how much support is directed toward missions locally and around the world. Our missions board researches and prayerfully evaluates opportunities to ensure resources are used wisely for the glory of Jesus. To have your gift applied to missions, simply designate all or a portion of your offering to “Missions” on your check, giving envelope, or online transaction.
Is there a Building Fund?
Yes, but it is only open to give to at certain times. Whenever a special building project is planned or underway, money may be designated to the “Building Fund," and it will be used to expand the current campus facilities or provide for the facility needs of future church plants and/or future worship venues. Giving designated to the “Building Fund” will not be used to fund normal facility maintenance, capital expenses or the capital reserve.
Can I give a gift-in-kind (non-monetary donation)?
We understand that individuals may wish to support the church through gifts-in-kind, such as donated items or services. All gifts-in-kind are reviewed by church leadership to determine whether they can be accepted. Donors are responsible for substantiating the value of these gifts for tax purposes.
The church also accepts gifts of appreciated property or stock to approved funds. These types of gifts can benefit both the church and the donor, as the church may sell the assets at full value while the donor may receive charitable tax benefits and potentially reduce capital gains taxes.