Money can be a touchy subject in church. Many people are careful to keep their personal finances private. And members of the congregation often have specific ideas about what the church should do with the money they give. How do we as leaders respond to these expectations?

One consideration is whether the pastor should be looking at the books. The question we’re asking in this issue’s Perspectives is this: Should pastors know how much people in their church give?

Do you have the right to access personal giving records? If so, should you look at them?

Of course, someone on staff has this information. For tax recording purposes, someone must compile and share the data in some way. But the question comes down to how much the senior pastor should be involved in that process. On the one hand, knowing all the details could lead to favoritism. However, there is also a question of discipleship and development.

Ultimately, it’s up to you to decide. Weighing and addressing expectations is key to finding the right balance. We hope these two perspectives will provide clarity on this somewhat controversial subject.

No

I don’t think a senior pastor should know what each member of the congregation gives. It just makes things too complicated, and it hinders a leader’s ability to lead. Let me explain.

When people give, they expect a level of privacy, especially in today’s climate of data security concerns. Most people believe that even non-anonymous giving should not be accessible for staff to view. In other words, not letting the left hand know what the right hand is doing allows giving to remain a secret between the giver and God (Matthew 6:3-4).

The reason privacy is held in such high esteem is the connection with integrity. The temptation for pastors to prioritize certain givers over others based on the amount of their giving is too great. If one member gives a regular tithe that is much larger than the amount others give, the pastor may change his or her approach to keep that individual happy. Keeping records private removes the potential roadblock of favoritism, something Scripture forbids (James 2:1-13).

Privacy issues can also affect a giver’s motivations. If people in the pew knew their pastor looked at their giving reports, I wonder what they’d think. I wonder how it would affect their relationship with the pastor and their motivation for giving. I believe it would have a negative impact.

The phrase from the Sermon on the Mount I referenced earlier is not instruction to pastors about keeping offerings anonymous. After all, Jesus once watched to see what people were giving in a public setting (Mark 12:41).

Weighing and addressing expectations is key to finding the right balance.

But Jesus’ teaching about giving in Matthew 6:2-4 is actually directed to the giver. It’s about our motivation for giving; it contrasts those who want people to view them as overly generous with those whose hearts are pure. Jesus challenges us to give from sincere motivation. When pastors are unaware of a member’s giving, it removes another stumbling block.

True motivation for giving comes from a heart committed to God. It’s not due to pressure, and it’s not done for persuasion. Each of us should decide in our own hearts what to give (2 Corinthians 9:7). When members suspect their pastor is looking over their shoulders while they’re writing their tithe and offering checks, how does this affect their decisions?

This doesn’t mean that no one on staff knows what a person gives. Obviously, someone is keeping records for tax reporting purposes. But I think we should draw a line at the senior pastor. To lead effectively, we must lead objectively.

Yes

The idea that pastors should not know what people in their church are giving because they will play favorites is narrow-sighted. First of all, it implies that pastors are weak leaders, easily tempted by favoritism. It also suggests that somehow money is a special issue we must handle in an extreme way.

Pastors should use every opportunity to teach their congregations clearly about stewardship. Talk about money, talk about giving, and honor generosity. The only way to develop good stewards in our churches is by leading the charge. And knowing the giving patterns of your people is one way to gauge how often you need to be up front about it.

Financial guidance can be part of encouraging your congregation to grow in Christlikeness. In other areas, people do not criticize pastors for taking a personal approach.

When it comes to marriage, you ask your members how things are going in their relationships. When it comes to their personal devotional lives, you ask them how often they read their Bibles and pray. When it comes to witnessing, you ask them whom they’re inviting to church or how many conversations about faith they’ve had. The same should be true for giving.

Giving is part of spiritual growth. You can’t separate it. And a pastor who isn’t aware of what people are giving won’t be at his or her best to lead them.

Knowing what people give allows you to be more involved in their lives. Being able to honor your givers when they increase their regular tithes because of a raise, when they make a faith commitment and stick with it, or when they make a large donation at the end of the year is crucial in building a culture of generosity in your church. Without those key indicators of personal giving, you won’t be able to identify the opportunities for encouragement.

Church members want their pastors to be personally invested in their lives. They seek them out for counseling when times are difficult. Pastors celebrate with them at weddings and childbirth. Finances are as much a part of someone’s life as these other things.

When we are aware of someone’s giving patterns, we are more in tune with their flow of life. And when we’re up front about it, we can better earn their respect.

This article originally appeared in the January/February 2018 edition of Influence magazine.