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Health Insurance Credit US Churches

Posted on February 7, 2012, 9:42 am | 2 comments

Last May I blogged about the health insurance credit available for small tax-exempt organizations under the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Several US churches applied for this credit as a result of this blog and received checks for thousands of dollars. Your church may qualify for this "health insurance credit" for 2011 also. The credit is up to 25% of the cost of qualifying health insurance premiums. You may qualify if your church has: Read more »

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	Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation Posted on January 23, 2012, 2:39 pm \| 3 comments Every church should have Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. If you are an administrative leader in your church, do you know where to find a copy of your Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation? Last week a church called looking for models as they could not locate their Bylaws. This winter may be a good time to Read more »
	Recent Court Cases and the Church Posted on January 16, 2012, 4:19 pm \| 2 comments Late last year, the US Supreme Court announced that it would not review a lower court ruling banning churches from meeting in public school spaces in New York City. Last week the US Supreme Court decided that religious employees of a church are not allowed to sue for employment discrimination. Read more »
	The Next Christians Posted on January 9, 2012, 12:12 pm Gabe Lyons says that Christianity has an image problem. Why do we care? Because what people think about Christianity affects how we interact with others. How can we move to more accurately represent Jesus? Gabe challenges us to live our faith with true concern Read more »
	Healthy Decision Making Posted on December 19, 2011, 4:39 pm \| 2 comments Today I read a blog from Susan Nienaber at the Alban Institute that clearly communicated some healthy ways to handle controversial decisions in a church. Instead of lining people in rows in the sanctuary and letting the most vocal air their beliefs, consider gathering a planning group of a few members to outline a process whereby people can gather in small groups and discuss the possibilities in a way that enhances dialogue, discernment, and better decision making. Read more »
	Last-Minute Christmas Planning Posted on December 12, 2011, 12:48 pm Here we are in the midst of the Christmas season. You’re well on your way with plans for Christmas. With just a few weeks left, are there still some things you can do to make sure your church has the best impact that it can? Read more »
	Clergy Housing, Tax Free - Canada Posted on December 6, 2011, 9:17 am \| 6 comments Much has been written about the clergy residence deduction (CRD) which is available to clergy and other eligible individuals in Canada. To be eligible, an individual must meet both a status test and a function test. Read more »
	The Hope of the World Posted on December 5, 2011, 2:41 pm \| 1 comment Bill Hybels is known for his quote "the local church is the hope of the world." When you are dealing with church administration, you need to keep your focus in the right place. All the budgets, forms, procedures, programs, and guidelines can become the main thing instead of Jesus... Read more »
	Ministers and Taxes Posted on November 28, 2011, 3:07 pm \| 1 comment Did you know there are books written on the subject of taxes and ministers? The annual paperback I most frequently recommend to a U.S. minister or church who is asking questions is Worth's Income Tax Guide for Ministers by B.J. Worth. This book provides information on income and fringe benefits, parsonage allowance, professional expenses, social security/retirement planning, and overseas missionaries. Read more »
	Need a Sample for Your Church? Posted on November 14, 2011, 4:08 pm As a church administrator working with various teams, I would often see a need to write something down to clarify a mandate, policy, or how to. The hard part was getting started. So I would often get a draft created and send it around to others. This really helped us to clarify what needed to be Read more »
	Volunteer Ministry Covenant Posted on November 8, 2011, 8:54 am \| 2 comments Do you provide some guidance for your leaders and volunteers in ministry as to what is expected of a Christian serving in your church? Our churches provide guidance for elders and deacons and staff members, but would it be helpful to have a covenant of expectations for others serving in ministry? Read more »
	Worship Services in School Buildings Posted on October 31, 2011, 4:16 pm \| 3 comments Yesterday I worshipped at a new church plant that meets in a public school building. Every Sunday, the setup/takedown team hustles to change this space from a public school auditorium to a place of worship. As I sat there, I wondered about a recent article I read about the controvery over use of public school buildings for churches in New York City.. Read more »
	Six Dollars a Week [Video] Posted on October 24, 2011, 3:39 pm \| 5 comments It was suggested that more information was needed by the churches as to what is funded with Ministry Shares. A team of gifted communication leaders has just put together a mailing to more effectively communicate Ministry Shares. Did your church receive your Council member packets this week? Did you check out the new Ministry Shares website Read more »
	Wheaties and More Posted on October 18, 2011, 2:37 pm This past weekend I had the privilege of serving as a "Wheaties" adult leader for a weekend retreat ministry called "Teens Encounter Christ." This student led ministry shows God's love in amazing ways to high school students and challenges them to grow in their faith through talks by students and other well thought out activities. What contributes to the amazing effectiveness of this ministry? The strong administrative backbone behind the scenes. Let me tell you more. Read more »
	Short Term Salary Continuation Posted on October 10, 2011, 2:48 pm Your full-time administrative assistant at your church discovers she needs surgery and will be out for 4 weeks. She has worked at the church for 15 years. Each employee earns time off each year and she has 4 days available for this surgery. Does your church provide salary continuation coverage for her time off after she uses her 4 days of leave? Read more »
	It Doesn't Have to be a Big Thing to be a Big Deal Posted on October 4, 2011, 9:02 am \| 1 comment I don’t even remember thinking much about the pastor (embarrassing to admit now). He was just there. He preached on Sunday which, as the bad joke goes, was the only day he really worked. I had no idea what he did with his time during the week, the pressures he was under, the fishbowl he and his family lived in, Read more »

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	Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation Posted on January 23, 2012, 2:39 pm \| 3 comments Every church should have Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation. If you are an administrative leader in your church, do you know where to find a copy of your Bylaws and Articles of Incorporation? Last week a church called looking for models as they could not locate their Bylaws. This winter may be a good time to Read more »
	Recent Court Cases and the Church Posted on January 16, 2012, 4:19 pm \| 2 comments Late last year, the US Supreme Court announced that it would not review a lower court ruling banning churches from meeting in public school spaces in New York City. Last week the US Supreme Court decided that religious employees of a church are not allowed to sue for employment discrimination. Read more »
	The Next Christians Posted on January 9, 2012, 12:12 pm Gabe Lyons says that Christianity has an image problem. Why do we care? Because what people think about Christianity affects how we interact with others. How can we move to more accurately represent Jesus? Gabe challenges us to live our faith with true concern Read more »
	Healthy Decision Making Posted on December 19, 2011, 4:39 pm \| 2 comments Today I read a blog from Susan Nienaber at the Alban Institute that clearly communicated some healthy ways to handle controversial decisions in a church. Instead of lining people in rows in the sanctuary and letting the most vocal air their beliefs, consider gathering a planning group of a few members to outline a process whereby people can gather in small groups and discuss the possibilities in a way that enhances dialogue, discernment, and better decision making. Read more »
	Last-Minute Christmas Planning Posted on December 12, 2011, 12:48 pm Here we are in the midst of the Christmas season. You’re well on your way with plans for Christmas. With just a few weeks left, are there still some things you can do to make sure your church has the best impact that it can? Read more »
	Clergy Housing, Tax Free - Canada Posted on December 6, 2011, 9:17 am \| 6 comments Much has been written about the clergy residence deduction (CRD) which is available to clergy and other eligible individuals in Canada. To be eligible, an individual must meet both a status test and a function test. Read more »
	The Hope of the World Posted on December 5, 2011, 2:41 pm \| 1 comment Bill Hybels is known for his quote "the local church is the hope of the world." When you are dealing with church administration, you need to keep your focus in the right place. All the budgets, forms, procedures, programs, and guidelines can become the main thing instead of Jesus... Read more »
	Ministers and Taxes Posted on November 28, 2011, 3:07 pm \| 1 comment Did you know there are books written on the subject of taxes and ministers? The annual paperback I most frequently recommend to a U.S. minister or church who is asking questions is Worth's Income Tax Guide for Ministers by B.J. Worth. This book provides information on income and fringe benefits, parsonage allowance, professional expenses, social security/retirement planning, and overseas missionaries. Read more »
	Need a Sample for Your Church? Posted on November 14, 2011, 4:08 pm As a church administrator working with various teams, I would often see a need to write something down to clarify a mandate, policy, or how to. The hard part was getting started. So I would often get a draft created and send it around to others. This really helped us to clarify what needed to be Read more »
	Volunteer Ministry Covenant Posted on November 8, 2011, 8:54 am \| 2 comments Do you provide some guidance for your leaders and volunteers in ministry as to what is expected of a Christian serving in your church? Our churches provide guidance for elders and deacons and staff members, but would it be helpful to have a covenant of expectations for others serving in ministry? Read more »
	Worship Services in School Buildings Posted on October 31, 2011, 4:16 pm \| 3 comments Yesterday I worshipped at a new church plant that meets in a public school building. Every Sunday, the setup/takedown team hustles to change this space from a public school auditorium to a place of worship. As I sat there, I wondered about a recent article I read about the controvery over use of public school buildings for churches in New York City.. Read more »
	Six Dollars a Week [Video] Posted on October 24, 2011, 3:39 pm \| 5 comments It was suggested that more information was needed by the churches as to what is funded with Ministry Shares. A team of gifted communication leaders has just put together a mailing to more effectively communicate Ministry Shares. Did your church receive your Council member packets this week? Did you check out the new Ministry Shares website Read more »
	Wheaties and More Posted on October 18, 2011, 2:37 pm This past weekend I had the privilege of serving as a "Wheaties" adult leader for a weekend retreat ministry called "Teens Encounter Christ." This student led ministry shows God's love in amazing ways to high school students and challenges them to grow in their faith through talks by students and other well thought out activities. What contributes to the amazing effectiveness of this ministry? The strong administrative backbone behind the scenes. Let me tell you more. Read more »
	Short Term Salary Continuation Posted on October 10, 2011, 2:48 pm Your full-time administrative assistant at your church discovers she needs surgery and will be out for 4 weeks. She has worked at the church for 15 years. Each employee earns time off each year and she has 4 days available for this surgery. Does your church provide salary continuation coverage for her time off after she uses her 4 days of leave? Read more »
	It Doesn't Have to be a Big Thing to be a Big Deal Posted on October 4, 2011, 9:02 am \| 1 comment I don’t even remember thinking much about the pastor (embarrassing to admit now). He was just there. He preached on Sunday which, as the bad joke goes, was the only day he really worked. I had no idea what he did with his time during the week, the pressures he was under, the fishbowl he and his family lived in, Read more »