Know the true meaning of stewardship
FINANCE, Financial Services Monday, January 2nd, 2012As a stewardship pastor I have often been asked why so few churches are investing in a comprehensive stewardship ministry.
How to reduce health care costs with taxes
FINANCE, Financial Services Monday, May 2nd, 2011Frequently ministers complain about rising health insurance costs.
How to use financial controls
FINANCE, Financial Services Tuesday, March 1st, 2011Churches often see media coverage as a great way to get the word out about their ministry.
Cash reserves are key to your church’s financial health
FINANCE, Financial Services Monday, November 1st, 2010Churches these days receive regular reminders of the need to take stock of their financial health.
For the well-positioned church, now is a great time to borrow
Capital Campaigns, FINANCE, Financial Services Wednesday, September 1st, 2010The vast majority of banks have emerged from one of the most difficult periods in recent history somewhat battered and bruised, but fundamentally sound.
Get a handle on the new retirement regulations
FINANCE, Financial Services Wednesday, April 28th, 2010The Internal Revenue Service issued new rules and regulations affecting all 403(b) retirement plans in 2007. Most elements became effective January 1, 2009, with some delayed until January 1, 2010. You should be aware of three important issues about these new regulations as they relate to your church.
No retirement savings at age 55? Here’s what you can do
FINANCE, Financial Services Wednesday, April 28th, 2010If you’re not confident about your financial situation at retirement age, you’re not alone. According to the latest research from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, retirement confidence is at an all-time low. Only 13 percent of workers reported a high confidence about their financial future.
How one church recovered from the brink of financial disaster
FINANCE, Financial Services, Giving Friday, January 1st, 2010When Crossroads Christian Church in Corona, CA, accumulated $500,000 in debt — in addition to falling behind on their mortgage payments — financial ruin and foreclosure seemed imminent.
Lessons for church leaders from the recent economy
FINANCE, Financial Services Sunday, November 1st, 2009Remember when it was easy to manage church finances? Income approximated expenses. New programs were launched to meet people’s needs. Lives were changed; more people came, and expansion became necessary; capital campaigns followed, which met or exceeded expectations. Then the bottom fell out as the economy plunged into a recession unparalleled in our experience.
Avoid the foibles in preparing church financial statements
FINANCE, Financial Services Sunday, November 1st, 2009In recent years the issue of corporate financial accountability has become increasingly important, even for churches. As a result, more and more churches are providing annual financial reports to their congregations. Unfortunately, many of these reports are simply based on business financial reporting models and therefore may not convey the church’s finances as clearly as they could.
