Several years ago, while attending camp meeting, I listened to an older conference president discussing an important financial problem with his workers. From this wise administrator I learned the valuable lesson that conference finance is everybody's business!
The problem was not a new one. Simply stated—expenses had been climbing without a corresponding increase in income. Some drastic action needed to be taken. The president might have solved the problem with his treasurer and other members of the conference committee. The rest of the workers would have "gone along." But this was a problem whose solution would touch every worker in the field. The wise old leader knew he could depend upon his working staff to come up with the right solution, and it would be their solution, not merely a conference committee action. The financial crisis would be met, the workers would be happy to cooperate, and the program would go forward with little hindrance.
It is neither practical nor desirable to settle all financial problems in such a manner. The conference president and treasurer, working closely with a well-informed conference committee, are, of course, primarily responsible for the safe financial operation of conference business. Secondarily, however, every worker is responsible to God and the committee for the income and expenditure of the Lord's money.
It is in the interests of every worker that the conference should be financially strong. Workers have their monthly bills to meet, and feel responsible for paying these bills promptly. If one's salary check is late because the conference cash is short, it is embarrassing to the worker not to be able to pay his rent or light bill on time. No conference treasurer likes to send out the monthly checks late. He wants to be prompt and to assist his workers in every way possible, but he cannot do this if cash is depleted and he has to wait until some "early" church remittances come in to save the day. Every president and treasurer wants to see the workers treated as generously as policy and cash permit. Available funds, of necessity, influence policy interpretation. Every worker can have a part in keeping his conference strong!
Spending Wisely
The conference treasury is not a "dollar morgue"—a place to hoard excessive reserves of inactive dollars that should be working diligently for God in these last hours of earth's probation. Careful administration will lead conference officers and committees to bend every effort to build up an operating surplus of cash or readily convertible securities that "shall be not less than 20 per cent of the operating expense of the previous year" (General Conference Working Policy, p. 182). But conferences do not exist as banking organizations to build up vast reserves beyond these safety margins. God gives His people this money to spend—to spend wisely—but nevertheless to spend in the proclamation of the everlasting gospel, and in the furtherance of His work both at home and abroad.
The conference treasury is not a bonanza or a treasure trove to be raided by workers eager to gain selfish advantage. God would have His workers put more into the cause than they take out. A worker who is constantly seeking what he "can get out of" the conference is unworthy of his high calling. Fortunately, there are but few such persons in our ranks.
Salary rates are set with the understanding that under certain circumstances additional fringe benefits shall accrue to the worker. These subsidies and payments provided by policy are not charity. A worker has a right to know about their existence and to receive such payments as he is eligible to receive. Conference policy booklets setting forth these emoluments should be placed in the hands of the workers. But, as workers, we should, in turn, seek to keep our expenses to a minimum commensurate with efficiency, and endeavor at every turn to help protect the Lord's treasury. God loves a "cheerful giver," not a "cheerful grabber."
Careful Planning
Careful planning on the part of each of us will help conserve the Lord's funds. For instance, in some conferences extra budgetary allowance is made for district pastors to follow up Bible school interests. Most workers carefully integrate such calls with their pastoral visitation and other district work, thus saving many dollars every month. If such calls are made with little thought or planning, much time and money can be consumed. This is but one illustration of how conference finance can be everybody's business.
It is in the best interests of every church congregation that the conference should be financially strong. Churches frequently make requests for financial assistance in church or school building or remodeling. Often there are other local plans and projects requiring help from the conference. Every administrator likes to be able to help where such help is needed. He can do so only when funds are available —in cash—and not just in book entries.
It is in the best interests of the union conference that the local fields be financially strong. A union can be no stronger than its component parts. Well-ordered, carefully administered, safely financed local conferences make for strong healthy unions.
Obviously, conference finance is everybody's business. The conference officers and committee, together with all employed workers and church members, constitute a great team who have joined hands in a united responsibility to do all in their power to help finish the work of God in this generation. In the accomplishment of this purpose we must make every dollar do its utmost for God.
