Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue poses critical church-state separation issues By Kimberlee Norris, attorney at law The Supreme Court will be deciding Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue this Term. The decision could be very important for Church Executive readers, particularly if it alters or clarifies the Court’s 2017 holding in Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley. […]
Read More >Strategies for using technology to encourage giving all year round Define ‘year-end giving.’ What months of the year are we referring to? B. Louie Cordovado: Year-end giving refers to giving during the last two to three months of a church’s fiscal year — usually October to December. Kacie Frazier: Year-end giving is the most charitable […]
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How to properly protect your parish from scammers By Elizabeth “Betty” Norman Cyber criminals seek out organizations that seem unsuspecting. Unfortunately, churches often offer just what they’re looking for. In late April 2019, Father Bob Stec of the Saint Ambrose Catholic Parish in Brunswick, Ohio found himself sending a note to parish members that no […]
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By Matthew D. Hoffman You have recently been named the executor of an estate — but, like many people, you might not be familiar with the scope of the task that you’re undertaking and the important information you need to know. An executor is the person responsible for managing the administration of a deceased individual’s […]
Read More >Emerging trends, outdated ones, and ministry-specific design movements What’s especially appealing about working with churches? Trung Doan: Churches are the hands and feet of faith, and we consider it a privilege to equip churches to continue making a difference. Rodney C. James: Mentoring, leading and helping pastors. Most didn’t get a class in church design, […]
Read More >By RaeAnn Slaybaugh Research shows pastors are twice as likely to experience financial stress as the average American. As Rev. Dr. Perry J. Hopper, MBA, Associate Executive Director of MMBB, explains, this is because clergy sustain significant levels of indebtedness with fewer resources to meet their financial obligations. Coupled with a theology that sometimes can […]
Read More >When Crossroads United Methodist Church, Washington, Illinois, concluded their vision for ministry was significantly larger than their current footprint could handle, they began the long and expensive journey of relocating to a new site. In 2001, they constructed the first of a two-phase construction project that would change the course of their ministry forever. Relocating […]
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By Troy Pollock As you and your team return from a summer season filled with vacations, conferences and enjoying time with family, it’s a great time to reset priorities and develop a plan for the rest of the year. What are your goals? Challenges? Opportunities for growth? And more importantly, what steps are […]
Read More >Annual Report Shows Americans Gave Over $427 Billion to Charity in 2018 In June, Giving USA Foundation, a public service initiative of The Giving Institute, released its latest annual report: Giving USA 2019: The Annual Report on Philanthropy for the Year 2018. According to researchers, 2018 was a complex year for giving due to a […]
Read More >Tried-and-true advice for driving predictable cash flow at your church For most churches, just how big a problem is sustained giving? Paul K. Knickelbein: For a nonprofit or church to succeed, it must have sustained giving from its members. Donations are what keep the doors open and the mission alive. As anyone who has managed a […]
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