Author: Michelle French-Holloway (Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles)

  Download/Printing is only available to registered users. Please login.

ABSTRACT

Clergy financial literacy has been discussed as a vital tool to help leaders effectively manage their personal finances and the financial responsibilities of church and parish governance. However, these discussions have not adequately addressed the issue of clergy whose denomination judicatories lack a formalized system of financial literacy training for local employees in leadership positions. This research focuses on Roman Catholic clergy. This case study addresses the issue of clergy who perform parish governance without the benefit of formal financial training. The study findings suggest that managing church finances without being taught how to do so results in feelings of uncertainty and the potential for errors in managing the organization’s financial affairs. The lack of financial oversight or assistance requires the pastor to take it upon himself to ensure that the Church is appropriately administered. In conclusion, by revealing the rarely acknowledged experiences of clergy who do not receive financial training, this case study sheds new light on the importance of clergy financial literacy training.