Understanding and Implementing the Minister’s Housing Allowance
December is a busy month for churches. You’re planning Christmas services, tracking year-end giving, finishing the budget, and trying to give your staff a breather. In the middle of all of that, there’s one important item that’s easy to overlook: Setting your pastor’s housing allowance for next year. The minister’s housing allowance is one of […]
A Guide to Healthy Church Budgets
A church budget isn’t just math … it’s ministry. It reflects your church’s vision, priorities, and plan to disciple people over the next year. This blog provides church leaders a quick guide to healthy church budgets. Why Budgets are Important Scripture commends wise planning (Proverbs 21:5), faithful stewardship (Luke 14:28–30), and kingdom-first priorities (Matthew 6:33). When […]
Why Churches Need a “Rainy Day Fund”
Summer often brings a slower pace for churches. Whether it’s fewer events, vacations, or a chance to catch our breath, it’s also the perfect time to check on the church’s financial health and plan for the future. In this blog we will explore why churches need a “rainy day fund.” What Are Cash Reserves? Think […]
5 Essential Internal Controls Every Church Should Implement
Churches are built on trust, but when it comes to finances, trust alone isn’t enough. Implementing strong internal controls is essential to protect your church’s resources, maintain donor confidence, and ensure compliance with legal and ethical standards. In this guide, we’ll explore common vulnerabilities, 5 essential internal controls every church should implement, and practical steps […]
Protecting Your Church’s Tax-Exempt Status
As a church leader, you’re entrusted with both spiritual guidance and the stewardship of your organization’s resources. One critical aspect of this stewardship is maintaining and protecting your church’s tax-exempt status. We can see what the IRS says a church must do to qualify as a 501(c)(3) and look at common pitfalls that could jeopardize […]
Creating an Accountable Reimbursement Plan
Ministry often goes beyond the church building. Whether it’s buying supplies for an outreach event, traveling for a conference, or grabbing coffee with a new visitor, pastors and church staff often cover ministry-related expenses out of their own pocket. But how those expenses are reimbursed matters … a lot. If your church doesn’t have a […]
5 Common Accounting Mistakes in Churches
Church accounting is unique to any other industry, and because of that it is prone to mistakes. Most of them are never intentional, just inexperience and misunderstanding from well-meaning volunteers or part-time help. I see common accounting mistakes in these five areas. 1. Inaccurate or Incomplete Books This is the biggest mistake I see in […]