A “love offering” is meant to bless your pastor but if the church organizes it, the IRS might see it as taxable income. Many pastors and treasurers are unaware of how love offerings should be handled, reported, and designated. This post breaks down what the law actually says, how to distinguish a true gift from taxable compensation, and how to protect both your pastor and your church from unintentional mistakes. Generosity should bless, not burden and with the right process, it still can.

During this season of giving, many pastors are encouraging their churches to live generously. But behind the scenes, some are quietly struggling to make their own finances stretch. This honest reflection explores the tension between leading generosity and living through financial pressure — and how pastors can find peace in both.