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Narrative Budget Step-by-Step

“You can do it!”-Pr. Tim Brown

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Step 1

“Narrative Budgets are a ministry snapshot for a world in need of pictures of impact and hope.”

Be Clear On Why You’re Doing a Narrative Budget

  • Narrative budgets tell the QUALITATIVE story, not just a QUANTITATIVE story
  • Narrative budgets are honest about impact, not just “cost”
  • Narrative budgets don’t hide costs, they reveal the mission priorities
  • Narrative budgets are future-oriented.

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Step 2

“What do you do?” –Anyone at a Cocktail Party

Decide your areas of impact.

  • Worship, Learning, Service?
  • Caring, Outreach, Praise, Education?
  • Grace, Peace, Hope, Love?
  • Faith Formation, Service to the World, Love of God?

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Step 3

“Show your work.”-Ms. Keller, My 4th Grade Teacher

Have Your Line-Item Budget Ready, and Be Ready to Split It Up With Your Areas of Impact In Mind

  • Color-coding can be your friend here
  • Some areas will need to be split between areas of impact (looking at you, mission outpost!)
  • Be as precise as you can without getting lost in the weeds
  • Highlight new mission-oriented goals!

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Comparison

St. Jude by the Butterfly Preserve

Line Items

Youth & Family Ministry

  • 6005 Sunday School
  • 6100 Confirmation Ministry
    • 6101 Curriculum
    • 6102 Confirmation Camp
  • 6200 Bibles
  • 6300 Service events

Worship

  • 7301 Communion Supplies
  • 7302 Copyrights
  • 7303 Organ Maintenance

Ministry Category

  • Partner Ministries
  • Faith Formation
  • Worship
  • Care & Outreach
  • Ministries Support

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Step 4

“And just what were you doing?!”-My mother to. my high-school self

For Staff (Including Pastor) Do A Time Audit

  • Ask your staff to audit their time and figure out how they split up their ministry across your impact areas…and you do the same. Rough estimations are ok!

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Step 5

Total Up Your Impact Costs

  • Your impact counts (literally).
  • Use your congregation members to help!

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How This Might Look…

It is OK to be Approximate!

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How This Might Look…

It is OK to be Approximate!

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Step 6

“Tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.”-Judges (not the book in the Bible)

Tell the Whole Story

  • Charts provide a visual aid in understanding your impact
  • Real Quotes of Real Impact
  • This is What Truly Matters
  • Use Canva, Word, or whatever medium works for your content, and have it available!

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How Does Our Mission Plan Change Lives?

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How Does Our Mission Plan Change Lives?

Take a Look-See

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Pro-Tip

“Smiley, happy people holding hands…”

Show the Story in Images

  • Use real photos of real ministry happening…unlike this presentation which used stock photos of nicely manicured hands. Photos of your people in action help tell the story in familiar ways!

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Step 7

“What’s new?” –My pops when he calls

Highlight What You’re Going to Do!

  • You can make this a different offering if you want to
  • Surround it with stories
  • Make it as exciting as it is

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How Does Our Mission Plan Change Lives?

Take a Look-See

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Step 8

“Is it here?” –My kids looking for Amazon packages

Make It Available

  • Mail
  • E-Mail
  • Printed in bulletins

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Thank You

Pr. Tim Brown

Director for Congregational Stewardship Support

Tim.brown@elca.org

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