ethics seminar
DESCRIPTION
Ethics Seminar . Rev. Dr. Todd Adams, Associate General Minister and Vice President . Time Together . Ministerial Code of Ethics Pastors, compensation and retirement Financial Ethics for Congregations Internal Controls and Auditing Budgeting and Accounting 101 Giving and Pastoral Care - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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ETHICS SEMINAR
Rev. Dr. Todd Adams, Associate General Minister and Vice President
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TIME TOGETHER • Ministerial Code of Ethics• Pastors, compensation and
retirement• Financial Ethics for Congregations
– Internal Controls and Auditing– Budgeting and Accounting 101 – Giving and Pastoral Care– Should the pastors know what people give? – Fundraising and stewardship
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TIME TOGETHER • Financial Ethics for Congregations
– Internal Controls and Auditing– Budgeting and Accounting 101 – Giving and Pastoral Care– Should the pastors know what people give? – Fundraising and stewardship
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INTRODUCTION• Who is the room?
–Who are you?–Where are you from? –Name a challenge you face as a local
church pastor related to finance? –What kind of financial training did you
receive in undergrad or seminary?
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INTERNAL CONTROLS FOR HANDLING OFFERING / MONEY• Trust and Accountability
–Trust: assured reliance on the character, ability, strength, or truth of someone or something b : one in which confidence is placed
–Accountability: an obligation or willingness to accept responsibility
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TRUST…• Trust in people and the systems that
protect people –Transactions–Decision making–Paperwork processes–Human contact with the system–Opportunity to catch and correct
errors• Trust is not an internal control
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BASIC PRINCIPLES OF GIVING• People give to people, not to
organizations. • They give to support a mission. • They give to organizations where
there are high levels of trust and accountability.
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WORD PROBLEM #1• Take about 10-15 minutes and
discuss the issue(s) you see in the word problem. –How typical is this of your
congregation? –What are the internal control
issues that need to be addressed?
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ROLE OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE• Monitors receipts, commitments and
expenses. • Budget development and
implementation• Reviews monthly financial reports
and statements.
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FINANCE COMMITTEE• Interprets spending in missional
language• Manages banking relations and
recommends policies–Check signers –Spending limits
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FINANCE COMMITTEE• Facilitates the transition of
Treasurers and financial officers • Ensures consistency in practices,
policies and procedures (internal controls)
• Advises the pastor, Board, planning/visioning teams
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BASIC INTERNAL CONTROLS• Gifts are always in dual control
–Counters collect, escort and process contributions
• Standardized form and process –Photocopy checks–Clear separation of duties
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BASIC RULES OF HANDLING MONEY
–No husband / wife teams –Money is counted at the church–Deposit is made immediately after
church–Treasurer and employees don’t
count the offering–Forms are filled out
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COUNTING DUTIES Counter #1 Counter #2Counts cash Opens and verifies information
on envelopes (if used)Photocopies checks Designations are noted
Runs tape from copies Runs tape of checksDesignations are noted Counts cash
Compare Tapes Compare TapesDeposit slip is prepared Counter Form is prepared
Form signed Form signedDeposit is made in locked bag Receipt is given to Treasurer
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FINANCIAL SECRETARY• Records the gifts
–Uses the photocopies of checks and envelopes with cash indicating donor
–Generates a report for the treasurer–Treasurer uses the report to match to
bank deposit slip and tapes.
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GIFT ACKNOWLEDGMENT • Send quarterly statements of giving• Add personal note from pastor • Add a letter updating on mission
– What has happened– What is coming up
• Tax statement – No goods or services were received in
exchange for the contributions
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AUDITING AND REVIEWS
–Ensures that established policies and procedures are being followed
–Reviews expenses and reimbursements–Recommends additional policies and
procedures –Provides donors with confidence in the
policies and procedures–Audit includes an opinion; review does
not
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RECOMMENDED LEVELS• $1 million plus = audit• $250/500k – $1 million = review• $1-250/500K = internal review
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INTERNAL REVIEW• 2 months of deposits• 2 months of checks• 2 months of bank statements • A group of 3-5
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BASIC QUESTIONS TO ASK• Do the deposit slips, bank statements
and receipts match? • Did the counters sign the deposit
information?• Are the checks signed within appropriate
limits?
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BASIC QUESTIONS TO ASK• Is there documentation and
authorization for payment? • Are receipts properly noted? • Have the bank accounts been reconciled
by someone other than the treasurer?
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SUMMARY REPORT TO THE CONGREGATION–Process
• What was checked and who did it?–Findings
• Errors and corrections• Accuracy regarding policy
implementation–Recommendations
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BUDGETS• Standard numerical budget
–Income categories–Expenses by department
• Narrative budget–Explains the missional components
of the budget–Connects the why to the what
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CATEGORIZING EXPENSES• Mission beyond the Congregation• Administration
–Personnel –Building Expenses
• Program by Department• New Mission Initiatives
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EXPENSE AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES FOR EMPLOYEES• Word Problem #2• Accountable Expense and
reimbursement policy• Review of Expenses
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WHAT ARE APPROPRIATE EXPENSES? • Travel:
–IRS guidelines –Employee rate .565–Charitable / volunteer rate .14–General Assembly expenses
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WHAT ARE APPROPRIATE EXPENSES? • Meals
–IRS per diem for travel–Staff? Members?–Alcohol? –Budget for staff lunches / celebrations?
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EXPENSES• Cell phones
–Shared expense or new IRS guidelines –Paid by the church or reimbursed to
the employee?–Shared family plans?
• Cash–Receipt requirements–Lost receipt documentation?
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ACCOUNTING• Basic means by which we track and
report income and expenses • Complexity depends on the amount of
money• Quicken for simple• Quick Books well suited • Good membership program, do not
include accounting software
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UBIT• Unrelated Business Income Tax
–Non-profits that have income from non-charitable sources.• Amway or Pre-Paid Legal• Rental of your parking lot • Advertising in church bulletin • Rental of facility @ fair market value
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501C3 STATUS • Blanket 501c3
– Held by the denomination– YearBook– Determination letter– Exempts you from IRS– Creates eligibility for state tax exemption
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Unique Situations for Pastors
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GIFTS AND HONORARIUMS• IRS guidelines
–Taxable income when received in exchange for services (wedding, funeral etc.)
–Not a charitable deduction
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GUIDELINES• Have the board set the parameters
for honorariums –Wedding policy–Funerals – consult with the local
funeral home for recommended amounts
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SITUATIONAL ETHICS• Use of a vacation home • Employing my spouse• Personal loan
–Member –Congregation
• Paying for additional education • Serving as an executor
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GUIDELINES• Transparency and accountability • Written plan • Sunshine Test • Every situation must have an exit
strategy identified up front• Amount of time consumed by one
family or individual
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DISCUSSION• What are the challenges you have
faced that you would like to discuss?
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• It is a spiritual discipline –How can you help people grow in
the discipline?–How can you effectively guide their
spiritual practices? • Opposition
–Lowest proportionate givers
SHOULD THE PASTOR KNOW??
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• Giving stops with or without explanation
• Giving pattern shifts - monthly, annually, etc.
• The giving patterns become completely erratic.
PASTORAL CARE
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• Regular weekly giver suddenly stops giving
• Regular offering decreases and special giving increases
• If envelopes are used and are consistently confused in order
PASTORAL CARE
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• Who attends worship• Who attends Sunday school• Who is involved in a prayer ministry• Who comes to bible study
WHAT THE PASTOR KNOWS
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• Pastoral care issues:–Surgery–Divorce–Problems in the bedroom–Mental health issues–Difficult children
WHAT THE PASTOR KNOWS
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• Leads the congregation –Sets a Stewardship vision for the
church–Tells the stewardship story–Encourages others in their giving
WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT WE KNOW…
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• Leads the congregation –Models the way–Celebrates the victories–Effectively leads the congregation
WHAT WE DO WITH WHAT WE KNOW…
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• Play favorites• Pick people for important positions for
their giving• Kyle’s story• Blackmail folks• Think poorly of folks
WHAT WE AVOID DOING…
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• Change in presentation of instrument–Consistent errors in numerical and
written amount–Portion of the check left blank–Handwriting changes significant or
appears to be written by someone else e.g. adult child
CHECKLIST FOR THE FINANCIAL SECRETARY
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• Gifts versus estimate of giving–Gift is significantly less or suddenly
decrease versus indicated gift–Gift is significantly more than indicated
gift
CONTINUED…
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• Estimate versus estimate year to year –Dramatic change in estimate of giving (increase or decrease)–Forward any comments included with instrument of giving–Estimate of giving is revoked
CONTINUED…
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Financial Evangelism
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FINANCIAL EVANGELISM• Define evangelism • Define finances / financial • Power of story
• Personal story• Gospel story• Donor’s story • Connection
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THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CONGREGATION• Middle Class church• 1 in 6 lives on less than $20,000 per year• The median is $45,000 per year • Less than 4% make over $100,000 / yr• 75% are white collar or self-employed• 61% have an education beyond high
school • Most strained for time and money
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HOW DOES THE MONEY COME?• Out of every $1,000
– 68% from people with post-high school education
– 90% from those employed in the middle class– 92% from those who earn more than $20,000– 76% from those who attend every week – 77% from those who consider their religious
commitment to be very important
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• Eg: monthly, automatic deposit, annually, etc• Cash flow practices of giving • You have to understand the culture of handling money for all the generations in the church
UNDERSTANDING GIVING PATTERNS
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• What is the unique culture of money in your community?• VANCO Services
– Electronic Funds Transfer– Online giving– Credit cards
UNDERSTANDING GIVING PATTERNS
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• Money One–Cash (IRS issues)–Check–This is money available for daily
operating e.g. medicine, food, utility bills etc….
UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE OF MONEY
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• Money Two–Legacies/Endowments–Capital project giving
• Money Three–Bequests / Wills – Christian Church
Foundation
UNDERSTANDING THE CULTURE OF MONEY
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• When you think of the word budget, what comes to mind?
• How involved are you in the budgeting process?
PROVIDING FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP
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• How knowledgeable are you about where your church stands today financially?
• We learn to read a balance sheet or a financial statement
PROVIDING FINANCIAL LEADERSHIP
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• Do people feel that their records are secure from public viewing?• Is there an accountable system expenses?• Do you have an audit, a review by a CPA or volunteers in the church?
COMMUNICATING INTEGRITY
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Average Per Unit
$5,146.07
$6,954.21
$4,661.56$5,709.23$6,044.00
$5,132.04
$6,347.78
$8,164.55
$-$1,000.00$2,000.00$3,000.00$4,000.00$5,000.00$6,000.00$7,000.00$8,000.00$9,000.00
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
Group
Amou
nt
1 – Choir; 2 – Board; 3 – Deacons; 4 – Youth/Children’s Workers
5 – Financial Officers 6 – Adult Sunday Participant
7- Adult Bible Study Participant 8 – Elder
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Strategies for Financial Evangelism
“The Annual Campaign”
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• Pastor and lay leader must have a working knowledge of the finances of the church.
• Know the needs of the church• Don’t ask people to fund a budget; pay a
bill; fix the roof or increase the Pastor’s salary
ANNUAL CAMPAIGN
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• Planning should start four to six months prior• Four weeks with a common theme, tied to the
mission
LettersPreachingPrayersMusic
Lay speakersCelebration timeE-mail & website
THEME
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Breaking the Cycle:It is not a Big T-Shirt
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$10 PER WEEK OR LESS• Under $5 and under $10 challenge
them to increase their pledge by 10%–Increase of .10 to $1 – different
approach to different folks –Change the pattern
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$11-50–Use the Everyday Life example
• Cost of a manicure• Cost of a carwash• Dinner for four
–Specific information related to their demographic• Tell this group what your want• Tell them why (mission) you want it • Tell them how they can do it.
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$51-$200 –Break into relational groups, don’t
send a specific pledge card–These members will increase their
giving as a spiritual discipline –Thank these members for being
leaders in the church–Encourage them in their giving
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$200 PER WEEK AND UP• Personal Visit from the Pastor• Key leadership in the campaign• Consult with them on specifics in
their giving• Expand their interests within the
church and beyond the local church
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PRACTICAL FUND RAISING STRATEGIES
• Make a 12-month plan• Choose leadership that has a proven
giving record• Eliminate the negative
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PRACTICAL FUND RAISING STRATEGIES
• Remind folks of all the positive things that are happening
• Set visitation teams up to visit folks along relational not geographic lines
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FOUR LETTER STRATEGY
• Week one –Introduce the theme–Connect to your congregation / mission
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FOUR LETTER STRATEGY
• Week two – tell me what we are doing that “feels good”–How many kids did we send to camp?–How many new members? Baptisms?
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FOUR LETTER STRATEGY
• Week three – tell me what we are doing for others–Feeding at the shelter?–Denominational giving?
• Week four – the ask letter
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CONTENTS OF AN ASK LETTER
• 1st Paragraph – What do you want me to do?
• 2nd Paragraph – When do you want me to do it?
• Closing Paragraph – How much?
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BASICS CONTINUED • Use the same criteria for letter
writing - - no more than three paragraphs, one side, one page
• Do it well• Do it in a timely manner• Include a self-addressed envelope
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WHEN IT IS OVER• Thank people immediately• If you use pledge envelopes, consider
a monthly mailing service• If you use box envelopes, never leave
them in the narthex beyond the last week of the prior year
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DURING THE YEAR• Include a letter telling them about
the mission and ministry they have accomplished and what is coming up
• Do you use blue ink?
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DURING THE YEAR• Send a quarterly statement and
thank people
• Do you have pens in the pews?
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TODD’S TOP 10• Pastors must tithe• Pastors and lay leadership must be
comfortable talking about money• Do not make assumptions about what
people give• Giving is a spiritual matter – your Pastor
should know what people give• Leadership should be faithful givers
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TOP 10• Your most faithful givers should chair your
annual campaign• Annual campaigns are not big T-Shirts – one
size doesn’t fit all • Preach it…year-round• Thank people at least 7 times for their gift• Pastor and Financial Secretary / Treasurer
must have a good working relationship
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS • This presentation is an ever evolving source of information influenced by
many people, authors and congregational experiences. Among those who deserve acknowledgement are:
• Sandy Lacore, former General Secretary on Finance and Administration for the United Methodist Church who introduced the term Financial Evangelism, the giving evaluation charts and required the development of a stewardship strategy for a D.Min. course.
• Lovett Weems, Director of the Lewis Center for Church Leadership at Wesley Theological Seminary.
• The D.Min faculty at Wesley Theological seminary and the required courses and reading that influenced and shaped the presentation.
• Memorial Drive Christian Church in Houston, Texas who allowed me to implement most of this presentation.
• Rev. Ed Taylor, who was an early influence in my theology of stewardship.• John Goebel, Assistant Vice President for Finance, Office of the General
Minister and President and James Oberle, Partner, Capin Crouse.