Jeff – you’ve got me curious about what “pay
off” means as part of this conversation.
It’s used in the context of education here, but that sense of investment
is an interesting way to look at spending.
In a congregational setting, being able to explain how these investments
“pay off” is probably an important skill.
Can we attach a congregation’s stated values to spending? Is it more Christ-like to have a new coffee
pot, or children’s books available for restless young congregants? When both/and can’t prevail, how do we coach
people to make decisions based on their larger belief system?