Only seeds that are sown turn into crops: Pastors, property and reserve funds

Apple Seed church’s pastor Linda is going to retire after Easter. She’s been half-time for eight years. Or more accurately, she’s received a half-time salary for eight years. Linda and her husband paid off their mortgage years ago, and Linda’s husband is retired with a pension and benefits.

Giving isn’t what it used to be, but Apple Seed can afford to pay a new pastor what they pay Linda without dipping into their reserve funds. They have $450,000 in reserve funds, from selling property and a bequest ten years ago. They’re trying to hang on to those funds to keep Apple Seed going as long as they can. The roof isn’t great, for instance.

Samuel attends a theological school in the big city. Tuition is low and housing costs are high. Rent takes all his funds and he frequently relies on a food bank to get by. Samuel will graduate in the spring.

Could Samuel afford to pastor at Apple Seed? Would he be able to pay for the dental work he’s been delaying?

Typically, stewardship in the church means stewardship of money. However, if a congregation worries about taking care of the reserve funds above all else, pastors and property can be neglected. Only seeds that are sown can turn into crops.

Here’s my main points:

Care for your pastor as tenderly as you care for the church’s reserve funds. Care for the property as a vehicle for loving your neighbourhood.

Apple Seed is a fictional church, but seminary students relying on food banks is a real thing. Can Samuel afford to pastor at Apple Seed? Can Apple Seed afford to hire Samuel? What about their reserve funds?

Apple Seed acts bravely

Marian is the resident prophet at Apple Seed. She jokes that she taught Noah in Sunday School, the original Noah. When Marian heard Samuel preach on the Parable of the Sower as part of his candidacy, she thought Apple Seed should hire Samuel. Full-time. Pay his moving costs.

“We can’t afford to hire someone full-time,” Rob said. Rob has known Marian forever, and he thought she had lost her grip on reality.

“If we can find him another half-time job, then maybe we could hire him half-time,” Marian said, “but if we’re worried about Apple Seed closing down, let’s go out swinging.” Marian and Rob are both big baseball fans. Rob understood that Marian meant trying mightily, even when the outcome isn’t guaranteed.

Marian continued, “Let’s preach the gospel and try to love our neighbours as best we can.” Samuel had imagination and that appealed to Marian.

“What if we can only pay him for a couple of years and then we close?” Rob countered.

“Samuel will be our gift to the wider church,” Marian said, “another church will benefit from an experienced pastor who has been well-supported and encouraged to build up the body of Christ.”

“Some seeds fall on rocky ground, but that doesn’t mean you should stop planting,” Marian said, recalling Samuel’s sermon.

“What if we renovate the church or redevelop the building, all these big ideas,” Rob protested, “and then some other church ends up running the show?”

“That would be great!” said Marian, “our legacy would continue. Better than becoming more condos, I think.”

“Truth of the matter is, I like the building just the way it is,” Rob said, “but in another ten years, it would probably just be torn down if we sold it.”

“You never know,” Marian said, “if we invest in equipping our pastor and adapting our building for use by the community, God might surprise us!”

“Only seeds that are sown turn into crops,” Rob said. Then he added, “Might as well go out swinging!”

“Amen!” exclaimed Marian, “Only seeds that are sown turn into crops!”