Resource Browser Page
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| 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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| May 15, 2013 |
The Double Edged Sword of Email ListsCommunication I joined a church just after graduating from college a few years ago and suddenly started receiving emails from a number of people all at the same time. I wondered what was going on and then realized my email was published in the directory.Without giving consent I was immediately subscribed to the church “weekly update”, prayer chain, and social justice club list. |
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| May 7, 2013 |
Security and the Church’s DataOrganization, Risk Management Churches have always had data. In the 21st century there is more to it than just being able to put address labels on envelopes or send out yearend giving summaries. Like it or not, churches need to be aware of cyber security issues. |
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| April 25, 2013 |
Facility Keyless EntryDo you know who has all of your outer door church keys? Many times members have lost their key or somehow a distributed key didn’t get added to the list. If you are thinking of changing the locks because keys are lost, maybe you also want to consider a keyless entry system. These systems, also known as external managed access control, are increasingly popular for controlling your keys and security. |
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| April 1, 2013 |
Start the Car!Financial Management As a mom who tries to get the most bang out of her budgetary buck, I stock up on a few specifics each season—beach toys and towels at the end of summer and gift wrap and greeting cards after Christmas. As a church administrator there are likely a few key times when you also load up on supplies. From pens to toilet tissue, candles to printer ink, you know when and where... |
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| March 11, 2013 |
Go Green on LightingHave you thought about upgrading the light fixtures inside and outside your facility to more energy efficient LED or high-efficiency fluorescent lights? Many of the new products have reduced energy consumption, a much longer lifespan and almost no maintenance cost. Here's the story of one church that has completed an outside and inside upgrade with a good return on investment. |
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| February 12, 2013 |
Short Term Leaves of AbsenceUnfortunately we often write policies or establish practices after we are presented with a question or event and we establish a policy in a reactionary mode. We may even write a new policy geared to the specifics of a situation without much regard for what similar events might come up down the road. |
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| February 4, 2013 |
Membership TransferOrganization Someone asked me last week if the Christian Reformed Church had membership transfer forms. Yes, the form for transferring the membership of a professing member is available as a sample from Faith Alive Resources. What if a request comes in for a transfer of a baptized member? |
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| January 8, 2013 |
IRA Charitable Gift Opportunity in JanuaryDid you know that the newly enacted tax legislation provides opportunity for those over 70 1/2 to make a tax-free IRA rollover gift for 2012 if you make the gift to charity prior to February 1, 2013? |
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| December 13, 2012 |
Cultivating the Blessing of GivingOur church announced a giving project a few weeks ago to replace our parking lot, remodel a youth space and upgrade our church van. Pastor Paul had members stay a few minutes extra after a service to share the need to raise these funds and pray about the project. |
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| December 3, 2012 |
Rolling Out a New Perception in the Parking LotAccessibility The most common symbol for accessibility features an image of someone in a wheelchair—lifeless, helpless, passive. Temporarily able-bodied people tend to look at people who have disabilities that way, seeing need without recognizing capability and giftedness. A new icon pushes that stereotype aside. |
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| October 29, 2012 |
Foreign Bank Accounts (US)Financial Management Do you hold funds in foreign bank accounts? You may want to check out the Report of Foreign Bank and Financial Accounts (FBAR) rules for annual filing requirements for a United States person. |
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| October 1, 2012 |
Clergy Finance Webinar Oct. 10Financial Management The upcoming webinar "Clergy Finance: Pointers for Pastors and Church Leaders" is scheduled for Wednesday, October 10, at 12 ET through CRC webinars. John Bolt, the Director of Finance and Administrator for the Christian Reformed Church in North America, will review taxes, housing, pensions, and retirement planning. |
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| September 17, 2012 |
Digital Security is Your ResponsibilityHow-To Don't rely on your websites to protect your information – that's your responsibility. Your accounts are all linked because they belong to you and use your personal information, and that can make you vulnerable to a chain reaction. But never fear: there are some little things you can do to make a big difference in your security. |
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| September 4, 2012 |
It’ll Only Take a Few MinutesOrganization Believe it or not, there are some folks whose hearts beat a little faster when they get to fill in a form. Yup. They actually like filling in all the boxes. If you’re one of these people, you understand. If you’re not, please don’t quit reading. This post is really for you. |
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| September 3, 2012 |
Prevent Payroll Mistakes Webinar-U.S.Financial Management On Wednesday, September 12, 11am CDT, a free webinar "Prevent Payroll Mistakes-What Churches Need to Know" will be presented by Richard Hammer, sponsored by Christianity Today and Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. Topics of the webinar include definitions of taxable income, W-2's, tax treatment of pastors, and reporting requirements for churches. |
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| August 27, 2012 |
Clergy Finance WebinarFinancial Management The upcoming webinar "Clergy Finance: Pointers for Pastors and Church Leaders" is scheduled for Thursday, September 6, at 12 ET through the Barnarbas Foundation. John Bolt, the Director of Finance and Administrator for the Christian Reformed Church in North America, will review taxes, housing, pensions, and retirement planning. |
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| August 6, 2012 |
Property and Liability Insurance - Who Needs It?Financial Management, Risk Management Cost considerations aside, the topic of insurance in a church setting can be a hot one. Some have the perspective that “with the Lord on our side, who even needs insurance?” Some arrive at the same conclusion by taking a pragmatic approach, determining that the risk is just too low and the premiums too high to warrant coverage. |
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| July 25, 2012 |
Health Insurance Webinar-U.S.Are you interested in knowing more about the health insurance plan available to U.S. Christian Reformed Churches? Check out the upcoming webinar that will provide more information on the plan. |
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| July 17, 2012 |
Free IRS Webinar for ChurchesThe IRS is hosting a free webinar for churches and other exempt organizations on July 25 at 2pm. Virginia Richardson, a Senior Tax Law Specialist, will cover topics including: |
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| June 7, 2012 |
Defective Receipt LetterFinancial Management On May 17, 2012, the US Tax Court filed a ruling that disallowed a taxpayer’s charitable donation to their church because the church “failed to provide a properly completed contemporaneous written acknowledgment of the contribution.” Does your church receipt letter comply with the IRS substantiation requirements? |
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Date |
Average Rating | |
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| 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 |
