The Adventist Church in Minnesota is on a mission. It is our part of God’s global mission mandate to go into all the world and make disciples for Jesus Christ. That mission drives everything we do. You also know that this mission requires money to push forward, which is why we return tithes and offerings to fund that work.
Like many of our sister conferences, the church in Minnesota is facing some financial challenges. Tithe income has not kept pace with expenses, despite being extremely careful with spending. Over the past two years, reserves have been used to help cover the gap. That, of course, is not a sustainable solution. Therefore, the Conference board of trustees met on April 22 and carefully approved a list of recommendations to help stabilize the financial situation.
These changes include some difficult decisions because a few roles have been eliminated or paused, and certain programs will be put on hold for a while. We are doing everything we can to preserve the parts of ministry that are most closely tied to our mission. That’s why we have worked hard to protect pastoral and educational roles. Ministry in our churches and schools—especially with children and youth—is at the heart of what God is doing in Minnesota.
This is not merely a budget issue—it is a moment to pause and ask what God might be inviting us into. It is a spiritual opportunity. When our hearts are re-centered in Christ, generosity tends to follow. Not just financially, but in the way we serve, the time we give, and how we support each other. As Paul wrote to the church in Corinth:
“Each of us should give what we have decided in our hearts to give… And God is able to bless us abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that we need, we will abound in every good work.” (Adapted from 2 Corinthians 9:7–8)
Through trials, God is always calling us to return to the basics—to trust Him more fully, to follow Him more closely, and to keep His mission front and center in our lives and churches.
If you want more specifics, please check out the FAQ that has been made available below. In the meantime, thank you—for your prayers, your encouragement, and the quiet faithfulness with which you support God’s mission in Minnesota. We see it, and we are grateful.
God’s not finished with Minnesota. In fact, I believe the most meaningful part of the journey may be just ahead.
In Christ,
Pastor Jeff Scoggins
Frequently Asked Questions
SECTION 1: Understanding the Situation
1. What led to the current financial situation?
This is something leadership has been tracking closely for some time. Tithe income has been relatively flat for several years, while the cost of doing ministry—including salaries, benefits, insurance, and basic operations—has continued to rise. Like many organizations, we held out hope that income would increase again post-COVID, but that hasn’t happened in the way we needed.
The financial team has been taking action over the past year—slowing hiring, reducing expenses, and working through attrition to avoid deeper cuts. But when we finalized the 2025 budget, it became clear that more immediate adjustments were needed to protect our mission and avoid further strain on reserves.
2. Why is the Conference making changes right now?
Over the past two years, expenses have outpaced income, and we’ve been using reserves to cover the gap. That’s not a sustainable path, and after prayerful consideration, the Board of Trustees approved a set of changes on April 22 to bring things back into balance—so that ministry in Minnesota can remain strong long-term.
3. Is the Conference in a financial crisis?
Not a crisis—but a critical moment. We still have some reserves, and our financial team has been working hard to plan ahead. The actions we’re taking now are meant to prevent deeper issues later and allow us to continue focusing on mission.
4. What would turn this from a critical moment into a true crisis?
We’re calling this a “critical moment” because we still have time—and options—to make adjustments and stay on mission. A true crisis would mean running out of reserves with no plan in place, or being unable to meet basic obligations like payroll or ministry operations. Thankfully, we are not there.
We have plans in place that will continue to reduce expenses as necessary. However, the core issue we face is not an expense problem—it’s an income problem. What does that mean? It means we have ministry we’ve been called and mandated to do—both biblically and by our constituents. Those ministries come with fixed expenses. And at some point, if tithe income doesn’t increase, ministry will cease. That’s why this season is so important. It’s not just about making cuts—it’s about inviting all of us to return to the heart of the mission and take ownership of the future of our church in Minnesota.
5. Why didn’t we hear about this sooner?
We’ve communicated through newsletters, pastor meetings, and conference events—but if this is the first time you’re hearing about this situation, please know that we are trying intentionally to be completely transparent with regular updates, because we believe every member should be informed and connected to what’s happening in their church family.
SECTION 2: Who’s Affected & What’s Changing
6. Are pastors or teachers being laid off?
No current pastors or teachers are being laid off. One of our highest priorities has been to protect these frontline roles, because they’re at the center of how we carry out ministry in our churches and schools. Over the past year, we’ve already been realigning church districts and adjusting staffing through natural attrition. These longer-term shifts have allowed us to care for people while still keeping ministry strong across the state.
7. What changes are being made to ministry or staffing?
Several support roles in the Conference office have been eliminated or paused, including the receptionist and a few part-time administrative positions. As a result, some of the day-to-day services we’ve previously provided—like answering phones, greeting guests, or helping with copies and materials—will look different going forward.
For volunteer-led ministries (such as Prison Ministries, Disaster Response, Men’s and Women’s Ministries, and others), the office will remain open and available for you to use resources, but there will no longer be any staff available to assist with administrative support like printing, fielding calls, or managing event logistics. We’re thankful for the incredible work of our lay ministry leaders, and we’ll continue to support you however we can within these new limitations.
Some responsibilities have been reassigned among remaining staff to keep essential services running, and we’re asking for patience as we all adjust. We’re also adjusting how we fund events—some, like women’s and couples’ retreats, will now be sustained more fully by participant registration rather than Conference subsidies.
This list may evolve as we continue to monitor needs and income. What hasn’t changed is Minnesota’s commitment to ministry. You’ll still hear from the office, receive support, and see events and resources—but it may take a bit longer to respond or require a little more partnership from local leaders. We’re in this together.
8. Will these changes affect summer camp or youth programs?
North Star Camp, along with other youth programs, remains a priority. At this time, no changes are being made to how camp is operated. We recognize the important role these experiences play in faith development, and we’re committed to continuing them with care. Like other events, we’ll continue evaluating costs and registration fees to make sure these ministries are sustainable long-term.
9. How will this affect my local church or school?
Most members won’t notice a major change. Your local pastors and teachers are still here, and ministry is still happening. But you may hear about fewer conference-wide events or slower response times from the office as staffing shifts.
10. Will local churches or schools be asked to make financial changes too?
The financial changes currently under discussion are focused at the Conference level. Local churches and schools operate their own budgets, and the Conference doesn’t direct how those funds are used. However, because this is a broader challenge—across Minnesota, the North American Division, and even the world church—every local entity is encouraged to begin reflecting on its own financial habits and ministry priorities.
This includes reviewing how resources are used, how budgets align with mission, and how to strengthen overall health—not just financially, but spiritually. Are there missing members we could be seeking out with love and authenticity? Are there ways to engage new people in service and discipleship? Could we grow generosity by growing connection? These are conversations worth having in every local church and school as we all navigate this season together.
SECTION 3: Giving, Resources & Growth
11. Why don’t we just raise more money?
This situation isn’t just a financial challenge—it’s a spiritual one. The truth is, only about 30% of members currently return a full faithful tithe. If even a small portion of the remaining members joined in, the impact would be transformative. But this isn’t about pressure—it’s about hearts returning to Jesus and responding in trust.
12. Is tithe being misused?
No. Tithe is used in line with biblical principles and North American Division guidelines—to support pastors, evangelism, and other mission-related ministry. We’re committed to transparency and accountability with how funds are managed.
13. Are donations or offerings (besides tithe) also part of the solution?
Yes. While tithe is foundational for ministry—supporting pastors, evangelism, and frontline mission—offerings and donations allow us to go further. These gifts support areas that tithe doesn’t cover, such as worthy student funding, capital projects, local and global evangelism, camp ministries, and other special mission efforts across the state.
When we fund ministry through offerings and donations, we actually increase what tithe can do. That’s because we’re no longer stretching tithe to cover areas it wasn’t originally intended for. Your generosity in all forms—tithe, offering, planned giving, and volunteer leadership—makes a lasting difference. Together, we can do more.
14. What’s being done to grow income for the future?
We know that cutting alone is not a long-term solution. That’s why we’ve created a Strategic Initiatives department focused on growing income through stewardship education, planned giving, and fundraising efforts. We’re also looking at ways to increase grants and improve how we manage resources. Ultimately, the long-term health of the church depends on a spiritual renewal that leads to faithful generosity—not just more dollars, but more discipleship.
15. How will we know if things are improving?
We’ll continue tracking key indicators like income, reserves, and ministry capacity—and we’ll share updates along the way. You’ll know things are improving when it is possible to fund ministry without using reserves, restore paused programs, and begin growing again. Ultimately, the best sign of progress will be lives transformed for Jesus—and we believe that with God’s help, that work will continue.
16. What can I do to help?
The most important thing is to stay connected to Jesus. Pray for our churches, our leaders, and the decisions ahead. If you feel led, consider taking a fresh look at your giving—not out of guilt, but as a response to God’s goodness. And stay engaged in ministry. This is our mission—together.
SECTION 4: Leadership & Communication
17. How are decisions like this made? Who’s involved?
Financial decisions like these are never made lightly. The Conference administrative committee (ADCOM), finance committee, and Board of Trustees have all been involved in prayerfully reviewing our financial situation. These groups include pastors, educators, lay leaders, and members from across Minnesota. Recommendations are carefully considered, and decisions are ultimately voted by the Board of Trustees. The goal is always to act with wisdom, fairness, and faithfulness to the mission of the church.
18. Will there be more cuts in the future?
Our hope is that the steps we’ve taken now will prevent further reductions. We’ll keep watching the numbers and adjusting as needed—but our focus will always remain on protecting mission and ministry.
19. Where can I find more information or stay updated?
You can reach out to your local pastor for updates, or email us directly at communication@mnsda.com. We’ll also continue to share more through newsletters, churches, and town hall meetings in the months ahead.
20. How can I share concerns or ask more questions?
We welcome your thoughts and questions. You can always talk with your local pastor, who stays connected with Conference leadership. You’re also welcome to reach out directly to the Conference office at communication@mnsda.com. We’re listening—and we want you to feel informed, included, and heard as we move through this season together.
