What is the planned publish date for the Church Administration & Finance Guide 2025-2026? Will there be any changes to the calculations for Ministers’ Pension Fund payments?
There are significant fluctuations, both up and down, when comparing the average total base salary plus housing for a specific classis to the average reported in last year's finance guide. Would it be possible for you to publish the US average and median for this year's guide, the US average and median from last year's guide, the number of churches in each classis, the number of responses for each classis, as well as the median for each classis. Thank you!
Would you also please check the averages of $102,000 listed for both Grand Rapids East and Illiana. Considering the numbers are exact thousands and the averages reported in the 2021 guide, they seem to be outliers. Thank you!
Thank you for the response. Has anyone there compared the 2022 salary average for each classis to the corresponding 2021 average. I have done so, and there are dramatic increases (11 to 62%) in 11 classes and decreases (10 to 27%) in 7 classes. That's why I am asking for the median to be included. Also, listing the total number of pastors and the number of responses in each classis would help understand the reliability of the average. I would also ask for the salary data to be available in csv format. Thanks!
We use Planning Center for worship service planning. In 2021 after extensive evaluation of numerous church management systems, including Planning Center, we decided to implement One Church Software for our church's member database, children's ministry registration and check-ins, background checks, group management, events calendar, online giving and reporting, and smartphone app. One Church Software offers extensive features and functionality, but with less complexity and a lower overall cost. We have been very pleased with their ongoing support, help articles and videos, and no-cost training.
I am a member of the finance team at Community CRC in Roselawn, Indiana. We do not use a tap machine, but we offer online giving via ACH or debit card through our subscription to One Church Software. We also use their phone app. I have included a link to their website that explains their giving and other modules. We have been using One Church Software for a bit over 3 years and have been very pleased with the system functionality and also their support. Many church management systems offer online giving. If you are not presently using a ChMS, I would recommend implementing online giving as part of a ChMS rather than a standalone giving tool.
One option would be to ask the IRS to search for your EIN by calling the Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. This department is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. Or you could check with your state's department of revenue for more information.
One of the benefits of Google for Nonprofits is Gmail business email using your baldwinstreetcrc.org domain name. So your pastor could, for example, have an email address of [email protected]. Also access your Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Slides from any device, any time with 30GB of storage space per user across Gmail and Google Drive. Hope this helps.
I'm assuming your church is not using an envelope system. But if you're using a church management system that includes a contributions module, the system reporting tools should be able to provide the needed visibility. Except for those who may be giving cash. If you're not using such a system, but are interested in some advice, feel free to reach out to me.
Hello Justin, thanks for the informative article. I am a member of Community CRC in DeMotte, Indiana. I believe our membership is around 500 and weekly attendance around 400. We presently are using a number of different ChMS tools, PowerChurch (membership and attendance), QuickBooks (financials and budgeting), Vanco (online giving), Planning Center (children's ministry check-in and worship planning), Instant Directory (online and printed directory), Share Faith (graphics and videos), Microsoft Office 365 (not free version), and Adobe Acrobat Pro (not free version). I believe some tools have been added over time due to need or frustration in using existing tools. I should add that we are also looking into using G (Google) Suite for Nonprofits.
I think it's time that we look for a comprehensive cloud-based ChMS suite. From my initial research, it appears that Planning Center, Servant Keeper, and Elexio are strong players in the market. Are there others that you would recommend investigating? Are you aware of any detailed comparisons and/or reviews of these systems? I would also appreciate any insight you would be willing to provide regarding end-to-end functionality, ease of use, 'CRC' configurability, ease of custom reporting including configurable fields (also export to MS Excel or Google Sheets, mobile app and tool access, ease of mass updates, configurable security roles (such as office administrator, lead pastor, discipleship pastor, elder, deacon, ministry leader, event leader)?
Has there been any recent updates regarding the various ChMS software suites, particularly for US churches? Our church is using various software tools, including PowerChurch (membership), Vanco (online giving), QuickBooks (financials and budgeting), Planning Center (worship planning and children's ministry check-ins), and Instant Church Directory (online and printed directories). I believe it's time for us to look at replacing most of it with a cohesive and comprehensive cloud-based suite that offers strong best-in-class functionality, intuitive ease of use, 'CRC' configurability, excellent custom reporting including configurable fields, web app for use by pastors, support staff, council members, ministry leaders, event leaders, as well as members. I would appreciate any insight from the denomination staff or other churches that have experience (good or bad) with ChMS suites. Thanks!
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
What is the planned publish date for the Church Administration & Finance Guide 2025-2026? Will there be any changes to the calculations for Ministers’ Pension Fund payments?
Thanks, Bob Swanson
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
Thanks Kristen!
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
There are significant fluctuations, both up and down, when comparing the average total base salary plus housing for a specific classis to the average reported in last year's finance guide. Would it be possible for you to publish the US average and median for this year's guide, the US average and median from last year's guide, the number of churches in each classis, the number of responses for each classis, as well as the median for each classis. Thank you!
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
Would you also please check the averages of $102,000 listed for both Grand Rapids East and Illiana. Considering the numbers are exact thousands and the averages reported in the 2021 guide, they seem to be outliers. Thank you!
Posted in: Updated 2025 Church Administration & Finance Guide for US and Canada
Thank you for the response. Has anyone there compared the 2022 salary average for each classis to the corresponding 2021 average. I have done so, and there are dramatic increases (11 to 62%) in 11 classes and decreases (10 to 27%) in 7 classes. That's why I am asking for the median to be included. Also, listing the total number of pastors and the number of responses in each classis would help understand the reliability of the average. I would also ask for the salary data to be available in csv format. Thanks!
Posted in: Is Your Church Using Planning Centre?
We use Planning Center for worship service planning. In 2021 after extensive evaluation of numerous church management systems, including Planning Center, we decided to implement One Church Software for our church's member database, children's ministry registration and check-ins, background checks, group management, events calendar, online giving and reporting, and smartphone app. One Church Software offers extensive features and functionality, but with less complexity and a lower overall cost. We have been very pleased with their ongoing support, help articles and videos, and no-cost training.
Posted in: Do You Use a Tap Machine for Worship Service Giving?
I am a member of the finance team at Community CRC in Roselawn, Indiana. We do not use a tap machine, but we offer online giving via ACH or debit card through our subscription to One Church Software. We also use their phone app. I have included a link to their website that explains their giving and other modules. We have been using One Church Software for a bit over 3 years and have been very pleased with the system functionality and also their support. Many church management systems offer online giving. If you are not presently using a ChMS, I would recommend implementing online giving as part of a ChMS rather than a standalone giving tool.
https://onechurchsoftware.com/online-giving-for-churches/
Posted in: Google for Nonprofits
One option would be to ask the IRS to search for your EIN by calling the Business and Specialty Tax Line at 800-829-4933. This department is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. Or you could check with your state's department of revenue for more information.
One of the benefits of Google for Nonprofits is Gmail business email using your baldwinstreetcrc.org domain name. So your pastor could, for example, have an email address of [email protected]. Also access your Google Docs, Sheets, Forms, and Slides from any device, any time with 30GB of storage space per user across Gmail and Google Drive. Hope this helps.
Posted in: What's a Safe, Confidential Way to Monitor Congregational Giving?
I'm assuming your church is not using an envelope system. But if you're using a church management system that includes a contributions module, the system reporting tools should be able to provide the needed visibility. Except for those who may be giving cash. If you're not using such a system, but are interested in some advice, feel free to reach out to me.
Posted in: What Financially Struggling Families Need to Hear
Is a video of this meeting available? Thanks!
Posted in: Church Data Storage Tutorial for CRC Churches (Planning Center) - Part I
Hello Justin, thanks for the informative article. I am a member of Community CRC in DeMotte, Indiana. I believe our membership is around 500 and weekly attendance around 400. We presently are using a number of different ChMS tools, PowerChurch (membership and attendance), QuickBooks (financials and budgeting), Vanco (online giving), Planning Center (children's ministry check-in and worship planning), Instant Directory (online and printed directory), Share Faith (graphics and videos), Microsoft Office 365 (not free version), and Adobe Acrobat Pro (not free version). I believe some tools have been added over time due to need or frustration in using existing tools. I should add that we are also looking into using G (Google) Suite for Nonprofits.
I think it's time that we look for a comprehensive cloud-based ChMS suite. From my initial research, it appears that Planning Center, Servant Keeper, and Elexio are strong players in the market. Are there others that you would recommend investigating? Are you aware of any detailed comparisons and/or reviews of these systems? I would also appreciate any insight you would be willing to provide regarding end-to-end functionality, ease of use, 'CRC' configurability, ease of custom reporting including configurable fields (also export to MS Excel or Google Sheets, mobile app and tool access, ease of mass updates, configurable security roles (such as office administrator, lead pastor, discipleship pastor, elder, deacon, ministry leader, event leader)?
Thanks!
Bob Swanson
Posted in: Church Software
Has there been any recent updates regarding the various ChMS software suites, particularly for US churches? Our church is using various software tools, including PowerChurch (membership), Vanco (online giving), QuickBooks (financials and budgeting), Planning Center (worship planning and children's ministry check-ins), and Instant Church Directory (online and printed directories). I believe it's time for us to look at replacing most of it with a cohesive and comprehensive cloud-based suite that offers strong best-in-class functionality, intuitive ease of use, 'CRC' configurability, excellent custom reporting including configurable fields, web app for use by pastors, support staff, council members, ministry leaders, event leaders, as well as members. I would appreciate any insight from the denomination staff or other churches that have experience (good or bad) with ChMS suites. Thanks!