Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are ministry shares?

Ministry shares — which used to be known as quota — are the financial contribution each adult member of the Christian Reformed Church is asked to make toward the shared ministries of our church. Years ago our churches recognized that some of the ministries to which Christ calls us can best be carried out together. They covenanted together to achieve that purpose and assessed "quota" as a means of raising the resources needed. The name was changed to "ministry shares" to better reflect the purposes for which these funds are used. The money is collected by congregations through ministry-share offerings and remitted to the denomination.

The system is a very cost-effective way of providing funds for ministry. That’s a big reason why our denomination is able to support a range of ministry programs that is unparalleled for a church of our size.

2. Where does the money go?

The money is divided among CRC agencies and institutions according to a formula set by synod. Most of it — more than 85 cents of every dollar — goes directly into ministry programs: helping to send missionaries around the world, starting new churches, training pastors and leaders, and reaching out to our neighbors through Christian radio and television broadcasts and programs of evangelism. The rest helps to pay for denominational services and synodical and fundraising expenses.

3. Do ministry shares pay for everything our denomination does?

No, but they are the foundation for much of it. Ministry shares provide about 40 percent of the budgets for our mission agencies, about 50 percent of the budget for Calvin Theological Seminary and about 80 percent of the budgets for pastoral ministries. They also support the work of the denominational office by funding a broad range of denominational and synodical services. Other sources of revenue include gifts, offerings and bequests, as well as product sales (CRC Publications) and tuition fees (Calvin College and Seminary).

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) is not funded by ministry shares and depends on regular gifts and offerings as well as some government grants.

4. Who gets ministry shares?

Ministry shares support the work of:
• Back to God Ministries International
• Calvin College
• Calvin Theological Seminary
• Faith Alive Christian Resources
• Home Missions
• World Missions
• Denominational and synodical services
• Safe Church Ministry
• Canadian Ministries
• Chaplaincy
• Disability Concerns
• Pastor-Church Relations
• Race Relations
• Social Justice & Hunger Action

5. Why don’t agencies raise all their funds directly?

Fundraising is expensive. Our agencies could have to spend millions of dollars each year to replace the money they receive through ministry shares.

6. How much should I give?

The formula is set by synod each year. For this year's totals, download the remittance file (Excel) found in the right hand column of this page. It works out to about $5 a week — less than the cost of a cup of coffee a day.

7. What if some churches don’t pay their share?

Unfortunately, that does happen, with the result that ministry-share giving has been declining slowly. Although in some years the actual dollars may have increased, receipts haven’t kept pace with inflation. That has a direct impact on ministry. It has meant that the Back to God Ministries International has cut back on broadcasts in some areas, Home Missions has reduced grants for church starts, and World Missions sends fewer missionaries. All agencies have been affected. It also means that agencies spend more money and time on fundraising.

8. Is my church paying its share?

Ask your deacon, elder, or church treasurer. Some congregations faithfully pay their full ministry shares every year — even if they have to borrow the money. Across our denomination as a whole, however, the average has slipped to about 72 percent*.

(*This figure takes into account the reduction formula for smaller churches.)

For more information, contact Jerry Dykstra, Executive Director, at 1-800-272-5125.