Opening your find
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Opening your find
Richard Garrigan's new book Financial Survival Guide for Catholic Churches, Schools and Local Organizations addresses a significant challenge facing the Church today--financial--rather than the hot button issues and pronouncements on church doctrine.
Specifically, it is the inability of local churches to fund their missions to take the Gospel message to more people. Finances at the local church level (parishes, schools, service organizations) are at a tipping point. Reason? Not enough money.
Not enough professional financial practices to attract the resources required to accomplish their mission ... thus ...not enough ministry. Richard Garrigan--in his new book explains how and why "No money--No ministry is a zero-sum game and why "Talking about Money" is the Local Church's Third Rail.
Local churches need more professional approaches to raise funds. 60% of all Catholic schools--more than 8,000--have closed over the last several decades. "Experts" tell churches that good preaching, good music and hospitality is the formula for a successful parish which will attract new people--too simplistic and not nearly enough!
A decades old, flawed funding model, misguided diocesan policies, often treating local churches as competitors and a tried, true but "tired" Stewardship of Treasure approach and what Garrigan calls the error of chasing the suburban parish funding model which favors mega church demographics and--trying to be something they are not-- is a recipe for failure.
Services which meet people's needs (education, healthcare, clinics, childcare, counseling, housing, food, shelter, etc.)--a wide range of services to engage people--are required and require funding--honoring the "I Come to Serve" mandate proclaimed by Jesus.
Garrigan cautions that many of the services once provided by churches, charities and religious institutions are now being replaced by government with government mandates that are secular, anti-faith and even hostile to religion. The outcome? "Secular
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