Newstart's Financial FAQs
“We are careful to be honorable before the Lord, but we also want everyone else to see that we are honorable.”
2 Corinthians 8:21
“All churches care about is getting your money!” Sound familiar? This perception is often fueled by the actions of a few high-profile preachers on TV and social media who promise financial blessings in exchange for donations. However, the vast majority of churches are not out to "get your money." Instead, they aim to be the body of Christ, meeting people’s needs and spreading the good news of God’s grace. In these churches, people give their tithes and offerings not out of spiritual manipulation but because they are generous individuals who believe that Jesus Christ is the world's hope and that the church is His expression on earth.
Newstart Church is committed to financial integrity and accountability, and we want to address some frequently asked questions about money and the church. Before diving into the specifics, we want to share an important thought: if you never give a single penny in the offering, you are still welcome here. This is not a trick, spiritual manipulation, or reverse psychology. It is simply the truth. We hope you never feel obligated to give at Newstart. Thanks to the generosity of those who believe deeply in our ministry, we can offer a welcoming environment where you can fully participate without financial obligation.
At the same time, Newstart will always teach what the Bible teaches about finances. Jesus taught us that how we use our money indicates our values and priorities. We teach that God calls us to be diligent earners, generous givers, wise savers, cautious debtors, and prudent consumers. These teachings are essential to leading people to be fully devoted followers of Jesus Christ.
So rest assured, you will never be pressured to give AND will consistently be taught Biblical financial principles.
How is Newstart funded?
Newstart is funded through tithes and offerings. We receive our money to operate Newstart from what comes in the offerings.
Many occasionally give a few dollars in the offering, while others donate regularly. Some give their whole tithe (10% of their income), and others go even further, giving above their tithe because they firmly believe in the work our church is doing.
Who oversees Newstart’s finances?
Newstart runs on a fiscal year budget from June through May. Each year, the staff and ministry team leaders meet in January, February, and March to determine how much money they will request for their ministry budgets for the upcoming fiscal year. In other words, the people leading the ministries (staff and Ministry Team Leaders) determine the church's ministry priorities and create a budget request that reflects those priorities. The budget request is then given to the church board.
In April and May, the church board studies the budget request line item by line item. They can question the staff and MTLs and ask for a justification for requests. They can also recommend that the staff and MTLs increase or decrease budget requests. When the board is satisfied that the budget reflects the mission, values, and priorities of the church, and they are satisfied with the total budget amount, the church board votes to approve the budget for the following year.
Throughout the year, the church board monitors spending through the treasurer’s report given at board meetings. At these meetings, they may question spending for any line item in that report. If the staff or MTLs want to spend money that is not approved in the budget, they must submit a request to the church board, and the board will vote on whether or not to approve the additional spending.
In short, the staff and MTLs set the budget, and the church board provides accountability by approving and overseeing all church spending.
How is financial accountability assured?
Newstart considers financial accountability the highest priority of the church's business. We hold ourselves accountable in five main ways:
Financial Separation—To maintain transparency and prevent conflicts of interest, those who handle incoming funds do not handle outgoing funds, and vice versa.
Board Oversight – Members of our congregation serve on the church board and oversee all church financial decisions and spending.
Financial Reviews—Newstart conducts internal book reviews, and the reports are provided to the church board. If any discrepancies are discovered, the church board may ask for a full audit of the books for that year.
District Oversight—Newstart Church is a Church of the Nazarene in the North Central Ohio District. At the end of each year, we give an exhaustive report on our ministries and finances to our district and general church leaders.
Open books—Newstart’s board comprises congregation members (Partners) who are not staff and can access every financial expenditure.
How is incoming and outgoing handled?
When we receive tithes and offerings in person and online, they are counted, recorded, and deposited by our Offering Counters Team, which our Giving Records Secretary leads. Our Giving Records Secretary then gives the deposit information to our bookkeeper, who handles all disbursements and budget reporting. Our treasurer closes out the monthly books and double-checks them. The board then reviews the monthly reports.
Miscellaneous Notes
Only our Offering Counting Team is permitted to handle incoming monies. The pastoral staff is not permitted to handle incoming funds.
Your giving privacy is also important to us. Only our Giving Records Secretary and Pastoral team have access to giving records. The Offering Counting team can only input giving information and not view giving records.
Our Giving Records Secretary is responsible for accurate accounting of tithes and offerings and is required by the IRS to send out charitable year-end giving statements.