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What’s Up:
Posting your church’s finances in the bulletin or newsletter isn’t creating generosity … it’s a donation repellent that’s killing your mission momentum.
So What:
Transparency matters. But public “spreadsheets” don’t build trust, inspire giving, or grow churches. They distract from what really counts: transformation.
The Point Is:
Spreadsheets Don’t Inspire
Nobody walks out of worship thinking, “Wow, those numbers moved me!” Giving goes up when lives change, not when columns add up.
Visitors Don’t Need It
First-time guests are watching everything. If the bulletin says “We’re $4,000 behind,” they’re not thinking, “How can I help?” They’re thinking, “Hard pass.”
Deficit? People Bail
If you’re running a shortfall, publicizing it creates panic, not generosity. People jump off sinking ships, not throw money at them.
Surplus? People Opt Out
Running a surplus? Great. Now your givers feel justified in keeping their wallets closed. They assume you don’t need their help.
Tell Stories, Not Stats
Skip the numbers. Share the stories. Talk about lives changed, families restored, people baptized. That’s what inspires generosity and mission buy-in.
And … ?
There’s a myth out there that posting your financials is what responsible churches do. Let me be really, really blunt: there’s nothing responsible about scaring off your guests or numbing your congregation with line items. It’s not just unnecessary … it’s counterproductive.
Yes, transparency matters. But that doesn’t mean you need to turn your worship bulletin into a P&L sheet. If someone wants the numbers, let them ask. THEN hand them the report. But don’t let your weekend bulletin become a barrier to donations. And don’t give your visitors one more reason to assume your church is just another religious business trying to guilt them out of their cash.
Instead, fill your communications with proof that your ministry matters. Show how lives are being changed. If you don’t have those stories, then stop everything and fix that first. Because if lives aren’t changing, it’s not the bulletin that needs editing – it’s the church.
Action!
Do a “spreadsheet” audit of your public publications. If the numbers are in your bulletin or your newsletter, replace them with an inspiring life transformation story starting this week.
