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Bearing Fruit: A Financial Health-Check for Growth

Dr Linda Barker

Bearing Fruit is designed to help your congregation strengthen its financial sustainability. By completing a series of simple questions, you will receive a tailored report with practical advice and resources to help develop your church's stewardship, governance and financial practices, and grow its income.

You can download this printable question sheet to see all of the questions contained in the tool and then gather the information you will need to answer those questions before you get started online. You may wish to discuss your answers at a Kirk Session or Financial Board meeting first.

The report is solely for your congregation's use. Your responses to the questions and the generated report will only be seen by you and those with whom you share the material locally. The data is not being collected nationally.

You may request further support from the national stewardship team by indicating this on the same online form. That being the case, you will be given the option to share your report with that team if you so wish.

Start Your Journey Today

Ready to take the first step towards improved financial health? Click below to begin your congregation's financial health-check.

Start Health-Check

Find Out More

Bearing Fruit: A Financial Health Check for Growth is a new tool designed to support your congregation in the vital work of financial stewardship. Completing a series of questions about your congregation's stewardship, governance, and financial practices will give you a tailored report with practical advice and resources to support you on your stewardship journey.

Why has this Tool been Created?

Bearing Fruit is designed to support your congregation in the vital work of financial stewardship, providing practical guidance rooted in our call as disciples.

Colossians 1:10 encourages us to "live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God." Good stewardship of our financial resources is an essential part of this calling. By managing our finances faithfully, we enable our congregations to grow in mission, serve our communities and bear fruit for God’s kingdom.

Why Use this Tool?

Strong financial practices are essential for sustaining and growing your congregation’s mission and ministry. This tool will help you:

  • Identify areas of strength in your financial stewardship
  • Highlight opportunities for growth and improvement
  • Access actionable advice to ensure a solid financial foundation.

How Does It Work?

  • Gather Information:
    Completing this financial health-check only takes a few minutes but does require knowledge of your congregation's finances. Please download this printable question sheet to see all of the questions contained in the tool and then gather the information you will need to answer those questions before you get started online. You may wish to discuss your answers at a Kirk Session or finance group meeting first.
  • Complete the Online Questions:
    Fill in the digitised version of the questions using the link above. The tool asks a series of short questions on eight key areas. These include questions about your congregation’s financial, budgeting and giving practices. Completing the questions should take no more than 10 minutes.
  • Receive Your Tailored Report:
    Once completed, you’ll be emailed a generated, bespoke report containing insights and recommendations to help your congregation thrive.
  • Take the Next Steps:
    Use the report’s guidance to:
    • Reflect on your current practices
    • Prompt discussion with your Kirk Session and wider congregation
    • Implement positive changes
    • Explore additional resources
    • Access support from the National Stewardship Team.

I need assistance

If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the National Stewardship Team here.

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