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Designing an Effective Chart of Accounts for Churches

“Why can’t we just keep the weekly ‘flower fund’ on the church books?” This was a question recently posed by a passionate church volunteer who uses a small $50 fund to make sure there are fresh flowers at the front of the sanctuary each week. 

Letting Staff Go with Integrity

In the next year it is likely that your congregation will have to fire someone. As we come out of the pandemic, every congregation will have to reevaluate its staffing structure. Do you have the right people with the right skills to lead your congregation through the next chapter? Some new hires may be needed...

Employee Retention Credit
Are Churches Leaving Money on the Table?

With new rules in play, churches may benefit from a much improved employee retention credit.  While the potential credit for 2020 is $5,000 per employee, it has been increased for 2021 to  $28,000 per employee.  Even though...

Getting on the Same Page

Buildings are reopening and in-person engagement is slowly coming back. As leaders look to the future, many wonder how to build consensus about the next chapter. Over the past several weeks, my phone has been ringing off the hook with clients looking for help with planning.

Apple M1 Macs – Yes or No?

Apple introduced Macs with a new chipset late last year, and many are excited about it! Honestly, I am too! The specs suggest great improvements in processing power and speed, and like the Tom Cruise character said in Top Gun,  “I feel the need… the need for speed!”  And the fact that it’s from Apple has those we affectionately refer to as the fanboys especially excited!

Addressing the Budget in Difficult Times 

Many churches find themselves in a challenging situation regarding their budget because of COVID-19 or other reasons. You may find yourself responsible for having to cut huge chunks from your existing budget. It is a daunting task, and where do you start? I have been involved with church and mission finances for more than 30 years and have been through this process more than a few times. The following is a process I have used with some success.

Staff Working Remotely

An increasing number of church and ministry staff members are working remotely. Whether at home, a coffee shop, or a community center, facilitating their needs is becoming an important part of leadership policy setting. What are the pros and cons? And what tools help?

5 Practices for Coaxing Order out of Chaos

Chaos is a natural by-product of innovation. Innovation happens best in conditions of upheaval, disturbance, and dissonance. However, people expect their leaders to keep things calm, predictable, and orderly. How do we coax order out of chaos without squelching innovation?

7 Ways to Avoid a Financial Train Wreck

In church governance, high attention must be given to the spiritual aspects of the church—focusing on the spiritual health of the body. All too often there is a tension in church governance between spiritual matters and faithful administration of financial resources.

How to Deter Fraud in Not-for-Profit Organizations

Any organization can be a victim of fraud. According to the most recent Report to the Nations on Occupational Fraud and Abuse, issued March 30, 2016, by the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners (ACFE)...

Your New Building Concept Looks Great!

 When a congregation intends to build, or undertake significant renovation, church leaders will invest a lot of time and energy in developing a building concept, a picture of the future church building or renovation. Significant dollars will be invested in blueprints that are used for competitive bidding, or for a design-build process

Why Get Certified If You Know How to Do Your Job?

With the 2018 national conference just a few weeks away, we are busy gathering and finalizing all the details to recognize individuals who have completed work to become Certified Church Administrators (CCAs) and those who have completed retention work to maintain their certification. It is a highlight focus at the conference each year.