Resource Browser Page
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Average Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| June 22, 2010 |
Some Thoughts about Pastoring the PastorPersonnel Part of the challenge of caring for pastors is trying to understand what it is like to walk in a pastor’s shoes. If we can gain some appreciation for the dynamics which are part and parcel of a pastor’s place in the community, we may be better able to care for them appropriately. Let me suggest at least seven ways in which the pastoral role carries extraordinary demands. |
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| June 8, 2010 |
Managing Temporarily Restricted Gifts and GrantsFinancial Management Gifts that are received with donor restrictions must be applied according to the donors' wishes. This article includes accounting procedures for handling the designated funds appropriately in the church. |
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| May 5, 2010 |
Expense Reimbursement PlanFinancial Management Pastor Gray attended a conference two months ago and today you received a handwritten note from him itemizing his expenses without any receipts. What are you to do? |
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| March 18, 2010 |
Crisis CommunicationCommunication Seventeen students and three leaders are going on a spring break service trip to Biloxi, Mississippi. What if they were at fault in an accident, or if another crisis developed out of the week? Every church needs to think about how they would handle a crisis if something in that “category” happened at their church. |
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| February 11, 2010 |
Electronic Systems Policy Needed?Risk Management Some of the areas related to telephone and electronic systems that may benefit from an electronic systems policy include use of online systems, ownership of electronic communications, copyright, maintaining system security, and system integrity. |
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| January 27, 2010 |
ABC's of Building Our Church BudgetFinancial Management Every year we give considerable thought and prayer to our budget planning process. This article provides some vision for how we need to think about our budget based on the principles of abundance, balance, and credibility. |
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| January 20, 2010 |
Getting Started in Church AdministrationOrganization Church administration is a science, an art, and a gift. Church administration is a science because it involves procedures, processes, and techniques that provide the organizational structure for ministry. As an art it involves sensitivity to people gifts, needs, situations, and timing. Finally, the apostle Paul also defines administration... |
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| January 14, 2010 |
Managing Churches WellOrganization One day I attended a conference on conflict management in the church. I sat around a table with mostly ministers. As we greeted each other and began some role playing on handling conflict, I engaged in conversation with one particular pastor. After I explained that I was a church administrator, he exclaimed, “administrative areas are where 90% of the conflict is in my church.” |
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| January 12, 2010 |
Risk and Insurance AssessmentRisk Management It is important to identify risks that are part of church activity--property, people, vehicles, and emergencies are considered the primary areas. Once these areas are identified, your church needs to decide if you have good internal controls in each of these areas. In addition to good internal controls, you will want to... |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Communicating EffectivelyCommunication The church is committed to effectively communicate our mission, vision, and values in an effort to help people develop in their Christian life as a part of the church community. As church members we want to communicate in an efficient, cohesive, and consistent manner that honors Christ and His church. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Who Leads Your Church?Personnel Pastor Stu’s first clue that it might be a long Monday came in an e-mail from Jane, one of the deacons at Friendly CRC. Jane had participated in the Sunday-morning worship service and was asking, not for the first time, why worship planning takes 20 hours a week. |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Ministry Shares: How a Little Church Does Big ThingsFinancial Management We all face tough questions about our charitable giving. Which of the many worthy causes clamoring for our attention will I choose to support? How much can I afford to give? Will my gift be used well? Will it help to transform lives and communities? I can’t give to everything—what will happen to the programs if I can’t support them? |
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| January 11, 2010 |
The ParsonageFinancial Management Also known as “the manse.” I lived in three of them—church-owned housing. What a joy! No taxes to pay. No repairs. No further assorted bills. Something wrong with the furnace? Call the Building Committee. Garage doors won’t work? Call the Building Committee. Leak in the roof? Call the Building Committee. Light bulb burned out?... |
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| January 11, 2010 |
Why Do We Pay Ministry Shares, and How Is It Used?Financial Management In the Christian Reformed Church we support our denominational institutions, agencies, and ministries from a broad range of financial resources including tuition, product sales, grants, and gift income. Gift income includes gifts and contributions from individuals, as well as special offerings, estate gifts, funds raised for disaster relief, and ministry shares. |
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| December 7, 2009 |
Personnel and the ChurchPersonnel Do you have a Personnel Team at your church? Depending on the size of your church, this responsibility may be a subset of elders or for a larger church an actual Personnel Team may be needed. It is important for churches to maintain a healthy relationship with the people who serve the church and having this responsibility defined can assist the church in healthy relationships. |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| December 15, 2010 |
Weather WarningRisk Management Several churches cancelled services last Sunday night in our area due to cold and blizzard conditions. Does your church have a policy for who makes the decision, how they decide, and how they communicate the decision? |
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| December 6, 2010 |
Tour of Tables ThanksOrganization This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending one of my favorite Christmas events at my church--Tour of Tables. I brought some friends to tour the decorated tables on Friday night and then also attended the brunch and program Saturday morning. Church members are encouraged to invite their friends and neighbors. |
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| November 18, 2010 |
Protecting IT from DisastersRisk Management Will your church data be available in the event of a disaster such as equipment failure or data theft? I came across this great article on "Protecting IT from Disasters" on Your Church. Because of the role IT plays in our ministries, CPA audits are increasing their focus on IT issues. |
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| November 15, 2010 |
Happy EmployeesPersonnel A church administrator asked me last week if I would blog on how to be encouraging to employees. Well, I immediately thought of that theory I learned in college about what satisfies. After googling and reviewing some information on Herzberg's Motivation Hygiene Theory from 1966, I'm reminded that certain things need to be in place (hygiene factors) to avoid dissatisfaction but they do not provide satisfaction. |
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| November 8, 2010 |
Letter of CallFinancial Management Last week someone requested information on how a church puts together a "package" when calling a minister. I knew I had used a form from the denomination previously and went on a quest to find it. The "Letter of Call" is available on theCRC website... |
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| November 2, 2010 |
"Theological" Search ProcessPersonnel Does your theology drive your search process for a pastor or staff members? My church is currently accepting applications for two full-time staff positions. |
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| October 26, 2010 |
Budget Time AssistanceFinancial Management Many of you are thick in budget matters right now. Are you interested in a budget template used by one church to look at various scenarios as you try to balance the budget? Check out the Church Finance and Administration Resources and select "Budget Template" under the "Financial Management" section. |
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| October 18, 2010 |
Ministry for $26 a MonthFinancial Management Did you know that each adult church member in the CRC is asked to contribute a base amount of $307.53 in 2010 for denominational ministries? If you were looking at this as a consumer asking "what you get" for this contribution, you would see that you are contributing: |
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| October 18, 2010 |
Delay of New W-2 ReportingFinancial Management On Tuesday, October 12, the IRS delayed the beginning of mandatory W-2 Reporting of Health Care Coverage Costs. The IRS notice delays the start to tax year 2012 in order to allow enough time for incorporating the change into payroll systems. |
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| October 12, 2010 |
Church Membership InformationOrganization How are you coming on that Yearbook questionnaire of CRC church membership information? I receive several phone calls and emails each year asking how the denominational office gets the member count for pension and ministry shares. Yes, it is from the front page of the Yearbook questionnaire that is due October 15. |
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| October 4, 2010 |
Church Compensation: Reasonable and Fair?Personnel Every church and its employees want to feel confident that their compensation plan is reasonable and fair. One resource where you can compare your plan with thousands of other church workers is the 2010-2011 Compensation Handbook for Church Staff. |
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| September 23, 2010 |
Embracing Kingdom LifeOrganization Are you familiar with asset-mapping for involving members in ministry? Do you want to learn some simple habits to show God's love to your neighbors? Would you like to hear some possibilities for youth empowerment? Do you know how to break through the isolation of the poor? Twenty-five workshops on a variety of topics are available at the Volunteers in Service Leadership Training happening in Grand Rapids on Thursday evening, September 30. |
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| September 21, 2010 |
Budgeting with VisionFinancial Management Do you include people who are active in ministry in your budgeting process? Does the Finance Team review the goals of the church and plan appropriately for them in the budget? If someone left $100,000 to your church in their will, what would you do with it? Do you have an action plan for meeting goals? What needs do you want to meet in the coming year? Do you plan for more and for less? |
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| September 15, 2010 |
Health Reform: Tips for Christian Reformed Churches in the U.S.Personnel The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act makes some major changes that affect employers. Here are some highlights from the CRCNA Human Resources Department that may help churches with understanding new W-2 reporting and dependent coverage to age 26. |
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| September 7, 2010 |
Interviews - What Do We Ask?Personnel You are responsible for interviewing candidates for a new position. What are you going to ask? What can't you ask? We kind of know, but a list would be helpful in putting together our list. I have just posted "Possible Interview Questions" and "Illegal Questions and their Legal Counterparts" on the CRCNA website. |
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| September 2, 2010 |
Are We Violating Copyright Law?Risk Management The Church Safety website has a twelve question assessment to make sure you're staying within copyright guidelines. |
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| August 24, 2010 |
Video ChurchOrganization Have you ever visited a video church? Do you wonder how a church works with video feed of the sermon? |
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| August 10, 2010 |
Rest and RelaxationPersonnel How do you find rest and relaxation from the business of church life? This weekend I had the pleasure of scouting out lighthouses, antiques, rocks, beaches, more antiques, hikes, quiet, sunsets, God's Word and more for 4 days in the Leelanau Penninsula. |
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| August 3, 2010 |
Update My Software - NO!Organization A few weeks ago my computer was upgraded to Microsoft Office 2007. I now know about the new feature, the Ribbon. My work capacity slowed down considerably as I figured out where everything was again. |
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| July 12, 2010 |
Visit Other ChurchesOrganization On Sunday I attended an outdoor service at another church. As we drove in I noticed the "stay off the median" signs, many members assisting with directing traffic, and then a "welcoming" person handing out bulletins. |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| November 8, 2010 |
Church Software OptionsOrganization Christianity Today lists and gives a brief overview of several software system options for churches. |
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| October 18, 2010 |
Permission Guidelines from Faith AliveCommunication Here are some guidelines from Faith Alive for staying within the permission guidelines when you use their resources. |
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| August 25, 2010 |
Cell Tower Leases--Do's and Don'tsFacility Here are basic suggestions for a church which is approached about leasing space for a cell tower or antenna. |
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| August 17, 2010 |
Designing Staff PositionsPersonnel This article looks at the four basic questions in the design of any staff position. |
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| August 12, 2010 |
Evaluation Essentials for Congregational LeadersPersonnel This training tool has been designed to move you from reading to understanding, to doing. After you understand and are ready to proceed further on evaluation as a church body, there are sample worksheets and tools that will help you design tools to promote understanding and serve faithfully. |
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| August 3, 2010 |
Records Management for CongregationsRisk Management This site includes information about how to submit your congregation's records to Heritage Hall at Calvin College. You will also find links to online archives. Also, guidelines are given in records management for congregations |
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| July 26, 2010 |
Worship LeadershipPersonnel This article from The Alban Institute discusses the importance of a good relationship between the pastor and worship planner for excellent worship. They need to understand the strengths, weaknesses, and personality types to create a spiritually nourishing environment. |
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| July 22, 2010 |
Funding for Today and TomorrowFinancial Management This article from the Alban Institute discusses how "members legitimately expect the congregation to serve them; at the same time, they know--or need to learn--that the mission is to transform the lives of people who have yet to cross the threshold" of faith. |
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| July 19, 2010 |
Impact of Health Care Reform Issues for NonprofitsOrganization The federal health care reform law and other recent tax acts will have some impact on churches and ministries. Dan Busby lists some of these for your review in this blog. |
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| July 1, 2010 |
Computer Policy MistakesOrganization A policy that limits use of computers to those with a church related need will help your staff work more productively and will help minimize support costs. This article from Your Church looks at four areas to consider in how you handle computers at your church. |
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| July 1, 2010 |
Setting Up an Automated External Defibrillator (AED) ProgramRisk Management Are you prepared for cardiac emergencies at your church facility? The CRC denominational building installed a few defibrillators a couple years ago and trained some of the staff in the building on its EASY usage. |
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| June 16, 2010 |
Resources for Planning Church ConstructionFacility If your church is planning a building or remodeling project, the CRC Loan Fund suggests some resources that you may find valuable as you begin the planning process. |
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| June 8, 2010 |
Architectural EvangelismFacility This article, by Mark Stephenson, Director of Disability Concerns, demonstrates the effort, time, and cost that many churches in our denomination have undertaken to make their facilities accessible to people with physical impairments. When you consider that 20 percent of the population in North America lives with a disability, churches make a good investment by making their facilities accessible. |
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| May 26, 2010 |
Debunking the Clergification MythOrganization Do you see a tendency for people to believe that if they need help with spiritual matters, they must seek a professional clergy member? In this article from Your Church, Ed Stezer believes that "ordinary" people have been disempowered to engage in the ministry God has called every believer to do. |
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| May 25, 2010 |
Buying and Placing MicsFacility This article provides critical steps for ensuring sound excellence during worship. |
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| May 12, 2010 |
Employee vs. Independent Contractor--Ten Tips for Business Owners from the IRSThis tip sheet from the IRS will assist you in determining the tests that the IRS considers regarding determining if workers are independent contractors or employees. |
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| May 10, 2010 |
Business Savvy-Church SensitivePersonnel "You need to get the right people on the bus." This article by Mike Bonem looks at how to get the right people on the bus and look for the 3 C's--competence, character, and chemistry. |
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| May 3, 2010 |
When Two Churches Become One: How to Merge MinistriesChurch mergers generally tend to fall into one of two categories: life cycle mergers and strategic mergers. It is important to understand each because knowing how to proceed through investigation and eventually to implementation will be based largely on the type of merger that is being considered. |
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| April 29, 2010 |
Conduct a Job EvaluationPersonnel Job evaluation is a tool used to evaluate the worth of each job in your organization. |
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| April 21, 2010 |
Conflict Management ArticlesMishandled conflict can wreak havok in church. People are traumatized and lives are turned upside down. |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
|---|---|---|
| March 3, 2010 |
Building for Ministry"Effect of Church Facilities on the Unchurched;" "Keeping your Facility Dry;" "More Space, Less Money;" "Signs of Life"--these topics are a few of the articles available on the site. |
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| February 15, 2010 |
Clergy Tax InformationFinancial Management This website features information related to clergy tax preparation by Richard Hammar. If you are interested in a book with excellent information instead, check out "Worth's Income Tax Guide for Ministers" by B. J. Worth. |
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| February 11, 2010 |
Faith AliveOrganization Faith Alive offers church leadership resources that may assist you in your role. |
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| January 27, 2010 |
Your Church by Christianity TodayOrganization This site called "Your Church" from Christianity Today has excellent resources available in the areas related to church administration, some available for free and others available for a fee. |
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| January 27, 2010 |
The Alban InstituteOrganization Congregational resources in a wide variety of ministry areas such as empowering change, reacting to people's wants and complaints, building issues and more. |
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| December 2, 2009 |
Church Administration and Finance ToolsChurch Administration Church Administration and Finance Tools |
