Transforming mistrust to trust: Developing a new system of church financial management at the Metropolitan A. M. E. Zion Church, Hartford, Connecticut

Upon my arrival to the Metropolitan African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, Hartford, Connecticut, I discovered that the congregation was experiencing a significant lack of trust in the leadership of the church. The previous administration had been cited for the misappropriation of church funds. Such an indictment created a schism within the congregation, suspicion about the integrity of the board of Trustees, and a lack of confidence in the financial management program of the local church. Without question, the financial management program of the church was blemished. There was a need to create a new management system, restore confidence from the congregation, and to inspire the congregation for continued growth.;Not only did this situation impede the growth of this congregation, but also there was a concern regarding the role of the board of trustees in the management of church finances over against the board of steward's role regarding church finances. It was important to determine which of these boards should rightly serve the congregation as the church financial managers. Even after careful examination of the A. M. E. Zion Church Book of Discipline, the financial management responsibility regarding the two boards was perceived to be ambiguous.;With much prayer, pastoral care, research and discernment from God, the pastor engaged in the creation of a new system of church financial management was derived and placed it in operation after six months.