Stewardship

What We Believe About Stewarship:

Harvest Bible Chapel is a first fruits, biblical portion church. This means that our Elders will exhort the people to be obedient to the truth of scripture as it relates to stewardship. While God owns everything, the Lord requires of us a tithe (literally a 10th) of our increase. Offerings are beyond the tithe and each should examine themselves before the Lord and give cheerfully out of their abundance. Those that bring their tithe and offerings to the storehouse (The Local Church) can be confident of the protection of the Elders for their gifts to the Lord, that they will be effectively and efficiently administered for the Glory of God.

How the Deacons, Elders and Treasurer Steward the Tithes and Offerings:

Scripture is replete with references to effective stewardship. Jesus' parable in Luke 16 is a picture of our obligation to be wise stewards. The Deacons are charged with assisting people who desire to be blessed as first fruits, biblical portion stewards. The church observes the Canadian Council of Christian Charities standards for financial accountability.

The Elders will ensure that teaching of biblical stewardship is impressed in the teaching calender and bring additional teaching opportunities to assisting our people in living within Malachi 3:10Bring the full tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. And thereby put me to the test, says the LORD of hosts, if I will not open the windows of heaven for you and pour down for you a blessing until there is no more need.

Regular reporting of actual expenses versus plan will be completed by the treasurer and reviewed by the Deacons Board monthly. Quarterly updates of the financial results of the church versus budget will be posted on the website after approval by the Deacons and Elders.

Appropriate financial controls are established and monitored by the Treasurer and Church Auditor who prepares annual external financial statements. Financial control include separation of duties and expenditure controls and authorities. Donation receipts and weekly offerings information is segregated such that no Deacon or Elder has specific personal information.