The way churches approach giving has changed dramatically over the past few decades. The pandemic accelerated shifts that were already in motion, leaving many churches today with an interesting reality—offering plates have disappeared, and in many cases, so has the offering moment altogether.
This shift raises an important question: Have we lost something valuable along the way?
The History of the Offering Moment
In the 1970s, the offering moment was oftentimes the most celebrated moment in the Sunday worship service. It would happen right in the middle of the program. As the final hymn was being sung (minus the third stanza of course) the deacons would all march in perfect unison from the back of the building to the front, distributing their plates from the altar table, and standing at attention in their suits. One of them would approach the microphone to pray, then a well-organized dispersion would occur across the auditorium as they approached their assigned sections. The most talented singer in the church would appear on stage, backed by the choir and orchestra, to bring the house down while the offering was being received.
The 1980s arrived-the internet didn’t exist so we all gathered around the television at night or read the newspaper in the morning to learn what was going on in the world. Unfortunately, the headlines for a long season were financial and moral scandals related to popular television evangelists. The church was not looking good at all.
A few pastors began to introduce a phrase just prior to the offering to help mitigate the earned reputation of church leaders being terrible at handling money. The pastor would say something like, “As the offering plate comes your way, guests you can take a pass. This worship service is our gift to you. It is a gift of our members’ faithful service and generosity.” This led many churches to no longer talk about money, the spiritual gift of giving, or the power of unified generosity toward a greater good.
However, the church still needed resources. Yet it would be largely silent on the Sunday morning offering then run like mad at a three-year capital campaign when it needed to fund its vision. In essence, the poor money reputation outside the local church was fostering a fundraising mentality in the church. Pastors didn’t look forward to this season nor did their people. The idea of chasing money under pressure to fund vision was basically the only option.
By the 2000s, digital giving options emerged-giving kiosks, online donations, and apps. Which meant many people no longer needed an offering plate to give. Many wondered, why are we even doing it? However, the greatest impact on the offering plate was the recent pandemic.
When Covid-19 started shutting things down in March 2020, church leaders knew the offering was going to be a problem. I was in the digital giving business at the time and I can remember waking up in early March to over 300 inbounding leads of churches needing to upgrade their online giving. Over the next few weeks, we would handle thousands of conversations. It was a crazy season for 90 days then as the dust settled, the offering ended up not being a problem at all. Churches spent less because of scaled back programming and people gave more because our country was hurting.
The pandemic actually turned out to be one of the most generous years in history. Many large congregations were able to pay off their debt. Churches were taking in more, spending less, and saving more. This trend has continued for many churches today. It is not uncommon for me to be working with a large church that has recently retired its debt, has millions in the bank, experienced rapid growth, and needs to fund new space.
Because the church by and large is not in a financial crisis, many have quit passing the offering plate or even talking about it. We have traveled a long way from celebrating the offering moment to being silent.
Practical Ways to Bring the Offering Back to Your Services
Here are some thoughts to ponder as the church looks to its future and what shape the offering may take right around the corner.
- Sustain Financial Momentum – Keep the pattern of increased giving and reduced spending. Building financial reserves opens the door to new ministry opportunities.
- Teach Generosity as Worship – Talk about giving as an act of faith and a spiritual discipline, not just a financial necessity. A culture of generosity should be ongoing, not just when funds are needed.
- Shift Away from Crisis-Based Giving – Instead of highlighting budget shortfalls, focus on the impact of giving. People are more inspired to give when they see their generosity fueling meaningful ministry.
- Restore the Offering Moment – Reintroduce a dedicated time in your service to celebrate generosity. Reinforce the message of biblical giving and responsible stewardship. This is where your Theology of Generosity can come in handy.
- Thank and Celebrate Donors – Acknowledge every gift, big or small. Show appreciation and communicate how donations are making a tangible impact.
- Prepare for Future Needs – If generosity isn’t discussed regularly, a sudden financial push can feel jarring. Build a culture of giving now so that future needs aren’t met with hesitation or shock.
Generosity is already happening—let’s make it a central part of the conversation. People willingly make donations every week to your church. No one is forcing them to invest and they do not begrudge it. Giving is a great experience any way you cut it, so let’s celebrate both the giver and their contribution to the vision. Just imagine what it would be like to unleash generosity with all the potential it holds for the future. To do that you need to carve out some time for the offering.
You may not need to pass a plate, but let’s throw it back to the 70’s by making a big deal of giving back to God from what he first gave us.
Todd McMichen has spent over 30 years as a senior leader and consultant driving growth, fundraising, and strategic planning initiatives for churches and nonprofits, while also launching Lifeway Generosity.
In working with churches across the country, he has navigated some of the most challenging financial and stewardship situations ministries face. And he’s helped them raise hundreds of millions of dollars for Kingdom impact.
Want to discuss some of these topics with generosity expert, Todd McMichen? Request a meeting and gain invaluable insights and personalized guidance to inspire generosity within your congregation.