OUR PHILOSOPHY
God owns everything
Everything we have belongs to God and He has entrusted us to be good stewards. It is a privilege to be God’s instruments on earth and distribute His resources to a broken, hurting world. When we give we are actually making a conscious decision to exchange our plans, agendas and priorities for God’s.
How we handle our money and possessions shows how fearlessly we abide in Him.
Jesus talked more about money than virtually any other subject in the Bible. He said, “Where your treasure is, your heart will be also” (Matthew 6:21). That means we declare something to be truly important when we invest our money in it.
Giving grows our faith.
Giving demonstrates our faith that the God who has provided for us in the past will provide for us in the future. It’s the opposite of fear. Fearful people hang on with white-knuckles to anything they can get. Faithful people see everything in life as a gift from God – including their money. Every time we open our hands in generosity, we are saying to God, “This is yours anyway – please use it for your purposes.”
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Kensington arrive at an annual budget?
Every year, Kensington’s membership votes to affirm our 12-month financial playbook. As a thriving church with eight locations and a worldwide ministry, it takes about $19 million a year to fuel our local and worldwide impact. Your giving to the Kensington Fund is what makes it all possible.
How can I keep track of how much I give?
Every three months, or each quarter, you will receive a giving statement mailed to your home that includes the total amount given that calendar year. In addition you can login to your giving profile at any time to see how much you’ve given.
What are Kensington's beliefs about money?
One of our core values is to “live openhandedly.” We believe that God has blessed Kensington because we’ve followed two principles from the beginning. First, we see ourselves as a pipeline God can use to bless His people through. Second, we see money as a tool to help accomplish God’s will in the earth. It was his to start with, and we are only his money managers.
Where does Kensington get its money?
It’s the financial generosity of the people in our community that fuels the incredible life change that we experience around here. Our support comes from many individual contributions and offerings, including the tithes of our attenders.
What is Kensington's view on tithing?
Under Old Testament law, Israelites were required to give 10% (a “tithe”) of their earning. The New Testament suggests a similar, but voluntary, pattern. Paul says believers should regularly set aside a portion of their income to support the church (1 Corinthians 16:1-2). The exact amount isn’t stated, but we see the 10% figure as a good benchmark.
How is Kensington's financial integrity monitored?
We’re committed to full financial integrity, and employ a system of strict internal controls. Plus, we have an annual external audit from the independent CPA firm of Tobias, Vandeputte & Skulsky, Inc. You can request a copy of the report to view how the money given to Kensington is well managed.
How does the budgeting process work?
Each ministry calculates their objectives and costs for the year. Then, appointed staff reviews the figures and may recommend changes based on the overall vision for the church. The final proposal covering all ministries and operations is developed by our Finance & Development Department and the Directional Team. The budget is submitted to the Elders for further review, then it’s submitted for a congregational vote at our annual meeting in June.
Does Kensington have an open book policy?
Come on in and check it out. We are glad to show our financial data to anyone who requests to see it. If you have questions, you may contact our Director of Finance, Dave Smith.
How much cash is Kensington staff bringing in?
In a church, releasing income info could lead to misunderstandings among staff members and in the congregation. People might make value assessments without being privy to performance reviews and other criteria used to set a salary. We believe you can trust our leaders and HR department to make wise decisions.
What principles are used in setting salaries?
We survey similar churches across the country to see what a similar staff position pays. Then we weigh in the cost of living in the area, the individual’s job performance, and the overall faithfulness and fruitfulness of the staff member. Across the board, our staff compensation is in line with (or below) comparably sized churches.
What happens with leftover money from the year?
In the unlikely event that would ever happen, there is a secret fund to bankroll our lead pastor’s private hunting lodge. Once that’s paid for, all extra monies will be set aside for his private jet. Joking! Leftover money is put back into the Kensington Fund for the following year.
Will I be pressured to give?
Never. We do receive an offering at our services, but there’s never, ever any pressure to give – especially for visitors. No guilt trips, no squeezing. Kensington is supported financially by people who’ve cheerfully chosen to make it their church home. Giving is a form of worship, not a form of torture.
Thank You
Your openhanded living is what allows us to reach more people with the message of Jesus. It fueled the expansion of our campus footprint with the addition of our new Traverse City campus. It’s your generosity that is helping our Clinton Township campus transform from portable to permanent. Your sacrificial giving allowed us to send Clint & Michaell Dupin to start a church in the San Francisco region. We could go on forever celebrating the unbelievable things that have happened this past year.
From the bottom of our hearts, thank you. As we look back and reflect on the monumental impact, we are blown away. We couldn’t do any of this without the faithful financial partnership of each person that lives sacrificially.
If you have any specific questions about the proposed budget or our annual external audit, our Development Office team is waiting to help. Fill out the form below, or send us an email anytime at giving@kensingtonchurch.org or call 248.786.0637. We’re here for you!