ECCU Blog

Where can you learn about important ministry financial issues like the impact of ethics on accounting? How do you stay informed on legislative issues affecting ministries? What about fundraising best practices or the challenging task of aligning your ministry’s money and mission?

And where can you network with a couple hundred other ministry leaders while learning about these important topics?

The place to go is the 2012 Financial Forum for Ministries. For the fifth consecutive year, ECCU is teaming up with CapinCrouse LLP to offer this event in three California locations—Brea, San Diego, and Livermore.

This year’s presenters definitely know whereof they speak. One example is John Thornton, professor and Leung Endowed Chair of Accounting and Ethical Auditing at Azusa Pacific University, who will talk about the impact of ethics on accounting. John will present at all four Forums (presenters and topics will vary by location).

There’s no cost to attend these events, which include lunch and allow you to earn up to 4.5 CPE credits¹ and 0.4 NACBA CEUs².

If you’d like to see and hear what the Financial Forum for Ministries has to offer, check out these videos from last year’s Brea Forum:

• Welcome and Opening Remarks by Mark G. Holbrook, ECCU president/CEO
• “How to Measure and Communicate the Financial Health of Your Ministry” presented by David Lee, ministry development officer with ECCU

In future posts I’ll introduce you to some of this year’s Forum presenters.

¹CapinCrouse LLP is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA), as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. State boards of accountancy have final authority on the acceptance of individual courses for CPE credit. Complaints regarding registered sponsors may be addressed to the National Registry of CPE Sponsors through its website: www.learningmarket.org.
²CapinCrouse LLP is a National Registered Continuing Education Provider (NRCEP) with the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA). This program is a premier comprehensive continuing education program related to administration in the local church. It is designed to enhance the ongoing professional development of NACBA members and other ministry professionals, through the offering of quality learning experiences. 0.1 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) will be granted to persons who properly register and attend one contact hour of a minimum of 50 minutes of lecture, presentation, or discussion on approved topics.

Matt Branaugh at Managing Your Church tweeted last week about a new resource that looks like it’s worth a look. The Essential Guide to Money for Church Boards ($19.95) is an eBook written by church legal and tax expert Richard Hammar. Topics covered include:

• Audits
• Internal Controls
• Securities
• Embezzlement
• Severance Packages
• Discretionary Funds
• Designated Contributions
• Housing Allowance
• Compensation Planning
• Excess Benefits
• Retirement Gifts
• Property Issues

What resources have you found helpful to help your board members better understand their role in overseeing the church’s finances?

A good budget can help your ministry plan for and stay focused on its highest priorities. Two new webinar recordings now available from ECCU present practical ideas to help you budget better.

Budgeting 101 is for ministries with annual revenues up to $2 million. It covers:

• Different budget approaches
• The importance of aligning your budget with your mission
• Specific steps for creating, approving, and implementing a budget
• How and why to monitor budgets carefully         

Vonna Laue, audit partner with CapinCrouse LLP, presents withIngrid Robinson, founder/CEO of LenShaw Financial Services, andMark Jones, ECCU vice president and senior banking consultant.

Advanced Budgeting, for ministries with annual revenues of more than $2 million, goes beyond the principles of basic budgeting to examine the greater complexities of budgeting for larger ministries. It covers:

• Why and how to align money and mission
• The importance of accurately projecting revenue and how to do it
• How to use your budget to stay on mission

Arthur Wilson, CFO of The Park Ministries (Charlotte,North Carolina), presents with Billy Burnett, executive vice president and CFO with Joni andFriendsInternationalDisabilityCenter, andMark Jones, ECCU vice president and senior banking consultant.

These webinar recordings are free. To watch them, follow this link.