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Giving Generously: Resourcing Local Church Ministry, by Rod Irvine

Giving Generously: Resourcing Local Church Ministry, by Rod Irvine

Let me acknowledge upfront a conflict of interest in reviewing Rod Irvine’s book, Giving Generously. Rod was my mentor for three years and I did read, and importantly applied, the content of the early drafts of this book.

When it comes to talking about money the Christian literature seems to fall into one of two categories: either they are theologically bereft or they are mostly pragmatic and lacking any biblical backbone. This book brings together both theology and practical wisdom.

Its strength is that it treats the important issues of financial giving as a matter of the heart. Rod is first and foremost concerned not with a church’s ability to make budget as with the issue of changing hearts. Its other strength is that it’s not theoretical. It was birthed in the experience of pastoring a growing suburban church which Rod clearly loved.

As the book’s title indicates, Rod’s focus is how to help the community of God’s people to grow in faith and generosity, in view of God’s grace, with the resources he has entrusted. The opening chapters articulate areas of responsibility for the senior minister. Rod urges the pastor to be clear on articulating, promoting and celebrating the church’s God-honouring vision. He then lays at the feet of the pastor the responsibility of resourcing the vision.

Giving-generously

It is a paradigm shift for many pastors to move from ‘tolerating’ the money topic to embracing it as part of making disciples. The book then fills the gap by equipping pastors to do just that. There is a thoughtful reflection on how to teach on generosity, followed by a helpful critique on the prosperity gospel, and then a chapter on the whole thorny issue of tithing. Rod comes down on what I call the ‘how much more’ argument. While acknowledging the wide range of giving expectations in the old covenant, Rod concludes that if the Israelites at least tithed prior to the cross, how much more reason have we, who live after the death and resurrection of our Lord, to be more generous?

The helpful chapter on how to ask graciously, using the pattern of 1 Chronicles 29, brings up the issue of whether a minister should lead from the front by sharing with the congregation his own pattern of giving. I’m persuaded that Rod is correct and that it fits within the broader framework of imitation theology.

The unique element of this book is its wisdom in walking through a step by step process on how to connect vision with financial giving toward four types of needs:

  • weekly support for local church ministry
  • small but significant projects
  • mission support
  • large expensive projects

There is a very helpful timetable to follow which climaxes at the end of each year with a commitment preaching series culminating in pledges for the following year’s budget.

I saw the fruit of this book in my own church before it was written. I gave the unpublished manuscript to my deacons to read and we decided to play it by the numbers when it came to the chapter on the commitment series and pledge-shaped budgets. We were scared to introduce pledging but the congregation responded far better than I or my leadership team could have imagined. While the pledges need to be named and not anonymous I do differ from Rod in that I want the staff to remain ignorant of the amounts pledged. I just don’t trust myself.

There was a gap in my knowledge which needed filling between the gospel of grace, biblical principles on money and wise application to a church, and this book fills that gap. My suggestion is to read it and get copies for your deacons, wardens and parish council to start helpful conversations. While you may not agree with everything, I will be surprised if you’re not significantly impacted by its conclusions. In the end, it’s a powerful story of how one man and one church wanted to ‘excel in the grace of giving’.

Finally, I do love the fact that each chapter ends with a summary and a helpful set of questions.

Giving Generously can be purchased for $30 from Barton Books.

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