Order your copy of the 35th Annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide! Known as the most comprehensive, accurate yet easy-to-understand tax guide available for church leaders you will find yourself regularly referencing key topics, charts, sample forms, and real-life illustrations for all your tax and legal questions during tax season and throughout the year. Find comprehensive help understanding United States tax laws as they relate to pastors and churches with Richard Hammar's 2024 Church & Clergy Tax Guide. Tax law in general is highly complex and ever changing. Add to that the many unique rules that apply to church and clergy and you're set up for a challenging task that requires an expert's guidance. The guide helps clergy: Prepare 2023 tax returns Understand tax laws Correctly report federal income taxes and social security taxes Distinguish relevant exemptions Reduce tax liability The guide helps church treasurers, board members, bookkeepers, attorneys, CPA's and tax practitioners: Define "income" for the church Handle and report employee business expenses Understand the substantiation rules that apply to charitable contributions and designated contributions Grasp federal tax reporting requirements that apply to churches and church employees Beyond help preparing annual tax returns ministers, churches, and their advisers find the guide indispensable throughout the year with in-depth coverage on: Charitable contributions Clergy retirement plans Social Security taxes Church reporting requirements Housing allowance Business-expense reimbursements

Order your copy of the 35th Annual Church & Clergy Tax Guide! Known as the most comprehensive, accurate yet easy-to-understand tax guide available for church leaders you will find yourself regularly referencing key topics, charts, sample forms, and real-life illustrations for all your tax and legal questions during tax season and throughout the year. Find comprehensive help understanding United States tax laws as they relate to pastors and churches with Richard Hammar's 2024 Church & Clergy Tax Guide. Tax law in general is highly complex and ever changing. Add to that the many unique rules that apply to church and clergy and you're set up for a challenging task that requires an expert's guidance. The guide helps: Prepare 2023 tax returns Understand tax laws Correctly report federal income taxes and social security taxes Distinguish relevant exemptions Reduce tax liability The guide helps church treasurers, board members, bookkeepers, attorneys, CPA's and tax practitioners: Define "income" for the church Handle and report employee business expenses Understand the substantiation rules that apply to charitable contributions and designated contributions Grasp federal tax reporting requirements that apply to churches and church employees Beyond help preparing annual tax returns ministers, churches, and their advisers find the guide indispensable throughout the year with in-depth coverage on: Charitable contributions Clergy retirement plans Social Security taxes Church reporting requirements Housing allowance Business-expense reimbursements

“It all starts with mission and purpose.” These opening words by author Mike Batts sum up the proper role of financial administration in the church. Financial administration is a critically important and unique calling. Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations provides you with the information and resources to successfully lead your church’s financial operations in keeping with your church’s unique mission and purpose. Whether you’re new to the role or experienced, you’ll appreciate Mike’s come-alongside style blended with proven expertise. Whether you serve as treasurer, accountant, controller, CFO, business administrator, executive pastor, finance committee member, or in any other role responsible for church financial operations, Mike will help you: Evaluate and adapt your budget in keeping with your church’s mission and purpose Reduce and manage expenses wisely Create practical and effective financial reports for decision-makers Use key metrics for financial health that work for almost any church Manage the liquidity and financial position of your church Understand and properly administer nontraditional gifts including restricted, planned, deferred, noncash, and other types of gifts Understand the ins and outs of alternative revenue sources Properly establish compensation for your leaders and staff Use and manage debt, plus negotiate debt terms with a lender Maintain sound internal controls Understand the fundamentals of federal tax law for churches Determine what tools and practices (audits, accreditation, etc.) are available to enhance accountability Employ ministry-wide risk management Understand and evaluate insurance coverage And much more What's new and why you should update to the 2nd edition of Church Finance: Tax information is updated to reflect the major changes arising from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act Accounting and financial reporting information is updated to reflect recent changes in generally accepted accounting standards (GAAP) New sample GAAP financial statements and notes All-new chapter on financial policies for churches with multiple sample policies Sample conflicts-of-interest policy Sample giver privacy policy Sample gift acceptance policy Sample budget administration policy Sample record retention guidelines for churches Sample executive compensation-setting policy Sample fraud, dishonesty, and whistle-blower policy And more Updated content on alternative revenue sources All-new chapter on compensation and benefits for churches All-new chapter on tax compliance for churches All-new chapter on risk management for churches

You've completed your theological training. You're eager to serve God and His church with your gifts and talents. So why is someone asking if you want to opt-out of Social Security? If you're like most new ministers, you're probably overwhelmed by the legal and tax issues that confront you in the ministry. Who is a minister for federal tax purposes? Should I report my taxes as an employee or as self-employed? What is the housing allowance? What are the tax consequences of living in a church-owned parsonage? What is the clergy-penitent privilege? What legal requirements apply to the performance of marriage ceremonies? Look to church law and tax expert and Richard R. Hammar for the answers you'll need to begin your ministry with legal and financial clarity and integrity. 12 Law & Tax Guidelines for New Ministers features a convenient Q&A format and is written in understandable and concise language. Get the insights you need to make potentially significant legal and financial decisions with confidence.

Church leaders need to know principles of legal giving and receiving to safeguard the coffers, as well as the church's reputation. For instance, if one of your members decides she wants to surprise your pastor with a monetary gift, and she wants to benefit from a tax write-off at the same time, she's making what the IRS would call an illegal contribution. Our government frowns on people funneling money to a particular person in the church's name just for the benefit of tax-savings. In simple terms, when people make a charitable contribution, they give up control of the offering and let the church manage the donation. This download is designed to provide you practical help and clear understanding on some of the issues surrounding charitable contributions.

Learn how to talk about giving and inspire people to live generously. Discover strategies to cultivate a culture of giving at your church, including how to teach on giving and how to live by example.

Providing receipts for donors and following Internal Revenue Service guidelines are essential to keeping your church financially accountable; it also will help further the generosity of church members and friends. In this downloadable resource, we have assembled 16 letters and forms for providing receipts to donors for several different kinds of donations. You also will learn which Internal Revenue Service guidelines and forms you will need to be in compliance as a donation recipient in receipt of tangible, non-monetary gifts.

Raising thousands of dollars for a special project is no simple task for churches. Use this guide to determine if it's worth hiring a professional fundraiser, learn about the availability of grants, and discover tips on raising and borrowing money.

Did you know pastors and other church staff may be required by law to report child abuse and that laws on this vary state by state? This resource will guide you through finding how each state defines child abuse, who is required to report abuse, and—if a person is required to report—details on requirements on what must be done, according to the law, including: How to report abuse. Find out if your state requires you to call or allows you to fill out a digital form. Where to report abuse. Different states may require reporting to different agencies. How soon you are required to report abuse. Some states require reporting abuse "immediately"—others may allow for more time. If clergy-penitent privilege applies. Learn how the clergy-penitent privilege affects the mandatory reporting requirement in each state. Penalties for not reporting and if there's civil liability for not reporting. Not reporting abuse when you're a mandatory reporter could result in criminal charges and civil lawsuits. If your identity can be revealed after you report abuse. All 50 states and the District of Columbia are covered in this resource. In addition to this information, an article explains 22 facts about child abuse reporting laws to help you understand them.

Child abuse is tragic for all those involved. This download will help you put a plan into action to prevent child sexual abuse from happening in your church. You'll find help with addressing suspected abuse and how to handle sexual abuse accusations. Once you know the typical profile of a sexual molester you can plan to prevent these heinous acts from happening to the children of your church. You'll also learn about the church's legal responsibility for reporting allegations of abuse as well as how to help victims of abuse cope.

An easy-to-use reference for all the copyright issues churches encounter in the course of their weekly activities. From photocopying sheet music to posting Internet content, noted church attorney, Richard Hammar, explains how to avoid copyright infringement, as well as how to protect the copyrighted works of ministers and staff. Richard Hammar has years of experience interpreting complex laws that affect churches and clergy. The Essential Guide to Copyright Law for Churches is fully updated and easy-to-understand for church leaders, musicians, clergy, choir directors and other professionals as well as lay leaders. This comprehensive guide should be part of every church office's library of resources! Especially helpful is the "Application of Copyright Law to Church" chapter which offers quick answers to the most common questions churches face regarding copyright issues. This valuable ministry resource contains accurate information (reviewed in 2023) and provides an easy-use reference for key copyright questions. Take advantage of this great sale price!

Church leaders are faced with an overwhelming number of questions related to keeping the church safe, legal, and financially sound. Richard Hammar receives thousands of questions every year and shares his answers to 20 of the most widely asked and relevant tax and finance questions for church leaders.

Learn the steps to better plan, organize and allocate your organization’s financial resources today with the 12 Steps for Sound Ministry Budgeting, complimentary download. Whether you lead the finances of a church or a nonprofit, certain basic budgeting principles hold true. Through this resource, based on renowned CPA Michael E. Batts's Church Finance and Nonprofit Finance books, you'll learn 12 of those basics. This PDF will help you and your team establish, step by step, basic building blocks needed to achieve a sound foundation for budgets.

What Churches Need to Understand about the Legal Limitations of Waivers and Release Forms Introducing Church Issues—an in-depth resource created to help church leaders gain clarity and direction on a specific topic that challenges religious freedoms or exposes a congregation to legal risk. Does your church use waivers and release forms for events and activities, especially ones involving children and youth, thinking it will prevent a lawsuit? Unfortunately, many church leaders get lulled into a false sense of security about these documents which explains why personal injuries remains one of the top reasons churches end up in court each year. It's crucial for church leaders to understand what these documents do—and don't do—based on statutes and court decisions made nationwide. In Church Issues: Waivers and Release Forms and Church Liability attorney Richard Hammar addresses: Purposes of waivers and release forms; Legal requirements for a valid form; Reasons why courts generally disfavor the use of release forms, and Special matters a church should address whenever a release form is used in conjunction with children and youth activities. Included: Valuable 16-point checklist to follow when creating and using waivers and release forms (there are no sample forms included). The step-by-step guidance of this checklist, along with the explanations Hammar provides, offers a tangible framework that leaders can use in tandem with qualified local legal counsel to reduce the legal and risk liabilities that their churches may face. WHO SHOULD READ THIS? Senior and Executive Pastor Board members Children's and Youth Ministry Leaders Missions Board Leaders

Today more and more church board members are being sued. As a church board member it is crucial for you to be aware of the ways you can expose yourself to personal legal liability. In this resource by Richard Hammar, you'll discover steps you can take to protect yourself.

Find answers to your virtual business meeting questions in Your Complete Guide to Virtual Church Meetings: A toolkit for legal and compliant business meetings by Sarah E. Merkle, JD, CPP-T, PRP. This downloadable resource is a step-by-step guide to determining whether virtual business meetings are permitted for your organization, making decisions when virtual business meetings are not an option, and preparing to hold a compliant virtual business meeting. The toolkit includes numerous practical tools, including: an outline of the standards governing business meetings and the hierarchy of those standards; examples of state statutes and a chart listing website addresses leading to each state’s governing law for meetings conducted by incorporated entities; a virtual meeting decision tree; and, a checklist of special rules for conducting virtual church business meetings.

In this updated and expanded edition of Church IT, authors Nick Nicholaou and Jonathan Smith provide valuable insights from their decades of experience serving churches and ministries. They give practical guidance on careful, strategic approaches for leveraging IT effectively to advance the church’s mission. The book covers timely, relevant topics, including: Staffing strategies such as outsourcing and volunteers Processes for selecting hardware and software Approaches to WiFi, disaster recovery, monthly maintenance tasks, and security Ways AI can strengthen ministry Whether you lead a church or work as an IT professional in a faith-based organization, Church IT will equip you with knowledge and tools to manage your church’s resources well and maximize the impact of fulfilling its God-given mission.

The Social Media Report aims to enhance communication, provide valuable insights, and enable you to deliver meaningful content to your audience. It offers detailed insights into your church community’s social media behavior, allowing you to identify successful strategies and areas for improvement. The demographic data provided will facilitate a better understanding of your audience, enabling you to tailor content to better serve them. By meeting your community where they are and offering relevant content, you can transform your ministry and meet people where they are.

The Church must be prepared on all fronts, mainly when serving children, youth, and families. It is crucial to have protocols and measures in place and to ensure everyone knows what to do should an unforeseen situation arise. Church leadership must know the legal ramifications if issues or difficult situations arise. Take advantage of the opportunity to get equipped easily. These five downloadable resources are available for you. Don’t wait, be prepared. Family Ministry Safety Bundle Includes: Check-in and Check-Out Procedures This is a comprehensive guide outlining the steps and protocols for efficiently and securely managing the check-in and check-out processes for children and youth in ministry settings. Contributions by John R. Throop Before You Welcome Children to Your Ministry - Are Your Policies Safe?Keeping Young Children Safe at Church Ensuring Physical & Emotional Safety for Kids - Practices for a proactive and preventive approach. Check-In Security - One church’s security identification system.Sample Pick-Up Forms - When someone other than a parent picks up a child.A Note to Parents - What to tell parents to help you keep their kids safe.Who’s Got Johnny? Using check-in/check-out to keep kids safe.Child Sexual Abuse Response PlanThis resource includes the information your ministry needs to follow should you encounter the unprecedented difficulty of child sexual abuse in your church. Contributors to this Response plan include Richard R. Hammar and Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company.If You Suspect, what steps should you take?How Will You Respond to Child Sexual Abuse?Recognize the signs of abuse and the profile of abusers.Report Child Sexual Abuse and what to do to be ready.The Church’s Legal Vulnerability Prevent Child Sexual Abuse in the Church by reducing risks as you improve selection, supervision, and education.Essential Guide to Youth Ministry Safety This guide covers risk management strategies, safety protocols for various activities, emergency procedures, and best practices for ensuring youth participants' physical, emotional, and spiritual well-being.Selecting Qualified Leaders and VolunteersCreating Appropriate AccountabilitySetting Boundaries for Safe CounselingMinistering DigitallyKeeping Activities SafeVenturing into Missions and Outreach Resources Mandatory Child-Abuse Reporting LawsThis resource will guide you through finding how each state defines child abuse, who is required to report abuse, and—details on requirements on what must be done according to the law.How to report abuse. Find out if your state requires you to call or allows you to fill out a digital form.Know where to report child abuse considering that different states may require reporting to other agencies.How soon you are required to report abuse? Some states require reporting abuse "immediately" while others may allow for more time.If clergy-penitent privilege applies. Learn how the clergy-penitent privilege affects the mandatory reporting requirement in each state.Penalties for not reporting and if there's civil liability for not reporting. Not reporting abuse when you're a mandatory reporter could result in criminal charges and civil lawsuits.Know if your identity can be revealed after you report abuse.All 50 states and the District of Columbia are covered in this resource. In addition to this information, an article explains 22 facts about child abuse reporting laws to help you understand them.Essential Guide to Children's Ministry SafetyChildren's workers are sensitive to many safety and liability issues surrounding our young ones at church. From food allergies to preventing access by sexual predators, it's vital to understand and implement best practices to protect our kids.Creating Safe Spaces for ChildrenPreventing AbductionEssentials of Waivers and Release FormsAvoiding Food AllergiesSafe Church, Safe KidsWorker Screening and SelectionSimple Tips for Screening and Selecting Underage WorkersDiscipline and Behavior IssuesTailor-Made DisciplineLoving Discipline that WorksWhen the Teacher Needs DiscipliningPreventing Child Sexual AbuseBest Practices for Protecting ChildrenSimple Tips for a Response Plan to Child Sexual Abuse

This clean and professional church media design effectively communicates important details for a Church Business Meeting. The minimalist layout and contrasting color scheme ensure that the essential information stands out, making it an ideal choice for church announcements and administrative communications. Includes an easy-to-edit Photoshop file with multiple artboard resolutions and 5 pre-made JPG graphics.· HD Title Slide· HD Notes/Blank Slide· Square Social Media Image· Stories Social Media Image· FB Cover Image Created by Remix Church Media