LEGAL Archives - Page 23 of 30

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LEGAL Archives - Page 23 of 30 - Church Executive

Year-end tax & portfolio planning for pastors

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pastor investment planning, pastor portfolio planning, pastor retirement planning, pastor tax planning, Pastor taxes, portfolio planning, year-end taxes

November 15, 2015 at 12:47 pm.

November and December are a busy time of year for most pastors. Following the Thanksgiving holiday, the liturgical calendar begins anew with the season of Advent. As preparations are made to celebrate the coming of the Christ child, extra services need to be planned, multiple sermons need to be written, rehearsals are in full swing for the Christmas pageant, and pastors are also ministering to those for whom the holidays are not such a joyous time.

Amidst all these preparations, pastors need to set aside some time to focus on year-end financial details that have tax implications for 2015 and 2016. Don’t let the following items slip past you.

Protecting children in the church: the true cost of stewardship

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church background checks, Church liability, Church risk management, church screening, church security, protecting children, screening solutions

November 15, 2015 at 12:40 pm.

Ministries have a bold task. You want — and need — to be good stewards of your communities and congregations. That can often lead to conflicting methodologies when it comes to balancing budgets.

While you want to devote the majority of your money to your missions, outreach and education programs, you also understand the importance of recruiting quality volunteers and employees, and prioritizing hiring procedures.

This, of course, has a dollar value, too.

Balancing religious freedom & employment rights

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church employment, church employment rights, Church liability, Church risk management, church risks, religious freedom

November 15, 2015 at 11:23 am.

The young woman had been a mathematics teacher at the church-related high school for more than seven years. She was beloved by her students; they praised her ability to convey difficult concepts in an accessible, clear and engaging style.

Church transportation: survey the safety landscape

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church bus, church bus driver safety, church bus safety, church bus selection, church buses, church driver safety, Church transportation, church vehicle selection, transportation ministry

September 16, 2015 at 2:15 pm.

Good bus drivers avoid potholes, speedbumps and potentially dangerous conditions on the road.

Church leaders should be just as vigilant about heeding potentially dangerous conditions — for themselves and their precious cargo.

Church accounting basics: EMPLOYEE — to be or not to be

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church accountant, church accounting, Church Finance, church finances, church financial management

September 16, 2015 at 2:12 pm.

If your church is anything like mine, you are constantly trying to navigate the requirements of our nation’s employment laws. When researching the topic of “employee versus independent contractor,” what I find is consistently inconsistent. It’s easy to get lost in the lack of interpretation.

Climate change: a better way to deal with bullying

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bully prevention, christian school bullying, christian school management, Church schools, managing bullies, school bullying, School management, school risk management

September 16, 2015 at 12:45 pm.

Schools are understandably concerned about bullying. It can create a corrosive school environment, disrupt learning and have a long-term effect on everyone involved. Recent research shows that schools can help reduce the rate of bullying if they put students in a safe, connected environment that teaches them how to manage conflict and stand up for what’s right.

The most common church claims — and how to protect against them

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Church insurance, church legal issues, Church risk management, common church claims, insurance protection for churches, insuring the church, protecting the church

September 16, 2015 at 11:44 am.

If your church is like many others, it probably has a limited budget. Plus, the staff is likely busy with ministry activities, and it is difficult to take on additional responsibilities. This can be an issue when it comes to risk management — improving safety for congregants and enhancing your facility’s security.

Protecting children in the church: background check myths

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children's ministry, church background checks, church screening, church volunteer screening, volunteer screening

September 16, 2015 at 11:20 am.

Background screening employees and volunteers is the most effective tool for keeping congregations safe. Yet, most ministries make major mistakes when implementing background check procedures.

Think you don’t need disability insurance? Think again

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church administration, church benefits, church disability coverage, Church HR, church human resources, Church insurance, Church leadership, church retirement planning, church staff management

September 16, 2015 at 11:16 am.

States require us to purchase auto insurance. Banks make certain we have mortgage insurance. Parents with children buy life insurance to protect their families in case of an unexpected death.

Yet, despite the fact that research shows we are much more likely to become disabled for more than three months than die in any given year, many of us do not have disability insurance.

Policies and parameters: How to protect your church before tragedy strikes

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church legal issues, Church liability, Church risk management, preventing child abuse, protecting children, risk management strategies

August 1, 2015 at 4:18 pm.

“[I]t wasn’t what occurred during the hiring process that put the children and church at risk; it was what didn’t occur after.”