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Diaconal Ministries
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How do you determine the balance between too much or too little organization? Leaders need to understand their mission and clearly see that the structure and organization assists in accomplishing ministry.
Gift income includes gifts and contributions from individuals, special offerings, estate gifts, funds raised for disaster relief, and ministry shares. Among all these sources one of the most important, though often the least understood, is ministry shares.
We all face tough questions about our charitable giving. In tough financial times, these questions are even harder to answer. That’s one reason why the Christian Reformed Church in North America has a system called ministry shares.
It may be helpful for your church to have some definition of expectations of staff and monitoring to provide clear communication regarding electronic system expectations.
“Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." Luke 6:38
Let's look at some of the questions your church should review each year related to policies and procedures to eliminate hazards in relation to people, facility, and programs.
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.
There is a growing awareness in the CRC that the relationship between members of the church council and members of the church staff can present challenging dynamics. Why is this, and why is it happening now?
If you don’t have a written policy regarding how expenses are reimbursed, you will have a hard time enforcing accountability for reimbursable expenses.
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?
Gifts that are received with donor restrictions must be applied according to the donors’ wishes. Here are the key steps to manage them.
Today more ministers live in their own houses than ever before. But not all. Local situations vary. But where pastors live in church-owned housing, consistories do well to think about their retirement days.
Salesforce, like Google Apps, is available to non-profits for free. I am writing this article to tell you about how I've set up Salesforce for our church to track membership and our offerings.
As you start your role, you are called to first understand the current situation and develop relationships with those involved in areas of ministry where you will be serving.
I started using the Zondervan "Church and Nonprofit Tax & Financial Guide" by Dan Busby a few years back. I just ordered the 2011 edition for 2010 tax returns and received it from Amazon. I recommend that every US church own this book as a resource for their church treasurer, administrator, and/or bookkeeper.
How do we best get local compensation data for church secretaries, administrative assistants, youth directors, custodians, Kids Hope directors, music directors, and a variety of other very important staff positions at our churches?
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.
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.
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?
Every person needs to feel appreciated. Pastors, and their spouses, are no exception. I remember getting movie tickets in the mail. No note, just tickets. It brought tears to my eyes. A small thing? Some would think so, but to us it was huge.
Are you looking for information on what annual filings are required by churches? Here's a great resource from the IRS, "Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations."
It is comforting to know we serve a God who promises to one day set us free from the boundaries of time. But, until then, serving God involves discerning how best to use our gifts and resources – including time. Many Christians choose to offer a portion of their time in the form of
Church Administration is a gift that takes a mix of science (procedures, processes, and techniques) and art (sensitivity to people gifts, needs, situations, and timing). If you have the gift or passion for administration please consider volunteering as a guide, regular contributor, or guest blogger.
The 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:
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.