Perception of Church Members on Stewardship and Financial Accountability in Lagos State, Nigeria

The growing scale and complexity of church activities have heightened public concern regarding financial accountability, transparency, and ethical stewardship among church leaders. While existing literatures have examined church governance and financial misconduct, limited empirical attention has been paid to how church members themselves understand and perceive financial stewardship practices. This study addresses this gap within the framework of stewardship theory. The study adopted a mixed-method approach. Data were collected from five Christian denominations in Lagos. Participants included pastors, elders, treasurers, financial committee members, and lay congregants. Primary data were obtained through structured questionnaires and complemented by semi-structured interviews. Findings revealed that participants identified stewardship as involving judicious spending, adequate planning, proper record keeping, income tracking, and accountability. Although the majority expressed confidence in existing financial structures, a proportion of negative responses indicated possible inconsistencies in the practical application of stewardship principles. The study concluded that church members conceptualize financial stewardship as both a moral and managerial responsibility. The study underscores the need for stronger institutional mechanisms to enhance transparency and sustain congregational trust in church financial governance. The study therefore highlights a central lesson for contemporary churches, that the credibility of financial stewardship depends not only on the values leaders profess, but on the systems through which those values are demonstrated. In this sense, stewardship becomes a bridge between spiritual conviction and organizational integrity, linking doctrine, leadership practice, member confidence, and institutional legitimacy.