ECCU Blog

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

You can learn about these topics and network with other ministry leaders at the 2012 Financial Forum for Ministries in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2012. For the fifth consecutive year, ECCU is teaming up with CapinCrouse LLP to offer this event.

This year’s presenters include John Thornton, professor and Leung Chair of Accounting Ethics at Azusa Pacific University. John will talk about the impact of ethics on accounting.

There’s no cost to attend this event, which includes lunch and allows you to earn up to 5 CPE credits¹ and 0.4 NACBA CEUs².

Two presenters at the Colorado Springs forum—John Thornton and ECCU Ministry Development Officer David Lee—are also presenting at the three financial forums in California this week. I introduced them in past blog posts. Joining them in Colorado will be Brian Kluth and Dave Moja, who I’ll introduce to you in the next couple of weeks.

¹ _{CapinCrouse 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.}

² _{CapinCrouse 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.}

This is the fourth in our series of email interviews with presenters for the upcoming 2012 Financial Forum for Ministries.

Gary Hoag serves as the Generosity Monk, providing spiritual and strategic counsel for denominations like the Evangelical Free Church of America and the Anglican Mission in theAmericas, and for ministries like Prison Fellowship and International Health Services. He will speak at each of the three 2012 California forums about your stewardship responsibilities as a leader and encouraging others to generously participate in your ministry despite tough times.

Here areGary’s responses to my questions.

MBG: How will your presentation help attendees better serve their ministries?

Gary: My prayer is that people go away informed and inspired to do their work in a way that is biblically faithful and financially fruitful. I will seek to accomplish this objective by presenting biblical principles, inviting interactive discussion, and sharing an amazing story about a ministry leader who is a good example for us all.

MBG: What are three important takeaways attendees will learn during your presentation?

Gary: Call it going the extra mile if you wish, but I want attendees to learn six important lessons from Scripture—three tips for practicing faithful stewardship in tough times and three tips for encouraging Christian generosity in tough times. It’s my clearest and best advice for leaders who want to be found faithful and fruitful                                                   

MBG: How will the format of the forum make it an even more valuable learning experience?

Gary: This session is content oriented, so a formal presentation and the detailed outline will contribute substantially to the experience. The opportunity to ask questions will help attendees firmly grasp the concepts presented.

Next up will be Pastor Brian Kluth with Maximum Generosity, who will be presenting on creative ways to move ministry forward even in the midst of tighter budgets and a challenging fundraising climate.                         

Follow this link to learn more and sign up for the financial forum in your area.

Okay, admit it. You work on your church’s administrative team and prefer that behind-the-scenes role to an up-front one. Well, for at least a day, you’ll have to accept a little public recognition. Thursday, October 18, is National Church Administration Day.

Sponsored by the National Association of Church Business Administration (NACBA), this day “is a service event of local chapters to share their knowledge of accurate, current information and resources to assist Ministers and Laity in congregations with the administration of their churches.”

To learn more about how this purpose will play out at the NACBA chapter in your area, visit their website.

This is the third in our series of email interviews with presenters for the upcoming 2012 Financial Forum for Ministries.

David Lee is a ministry development officer with ECCU. He will speak at all four forums about how to evaluate your ministry’s mission/money alignment and adjust spending to improve it. Here are David’s responses to my questions.

MBG: How will your presentation help attendees better serve their ministries?

David: Misaligned ministries, like cars with wheels out of alignment, can develop serious problems if the alignment problem is not corrected quickly. This presentation will challenge attendees to evaluate their current alignment and suggest possible solutions for issues of misalignment. The goal is to uncover not only the best practices of ministries that seem to have true alignment between their mission and money, but more importantly, to learn from mistakes ministries have made and identify the appropriate corrective action. 

MBG: What are three important takeaways attendees will learn during your presentation?

David: First, we’ll identify the risks and factors that contribute to misalignment of a ministry’s money and mission. Then we’ll talk about how to determine whether your ministry’s money is aligned with its mission. Finally, we’ll discuss methods for adjusting ministry budgets and spending priorities to improve alignment.                                            

MBG: How will the format of the forum make it an even more valuable learning experience?

David: In addition to focusing on the learning objectives I just listed, we’ll incorporate testimonials and examples from various ministries that have experienced misalignment of their mission and money.  

Next up will be Gary Hoag, the “Generosity Monk,” who will be presenting on executing your stewardship responsibilities as a leader and encouraging others to generously participate in your ministry despite tough times.

Follow this link to learn more and sign up for the financial forum in your area.

As the final quarter of the fiscal year for many ministries rolls around, a recent post by church planter/professor/blogger Tim Spivey on his New Vintage Leadership blog is well worth reading.

Two Things You Must Have Before Asking People to Give offers a simple formula that Spivey learned early in his ministry. He says this formula “keeps me from asking for money to meet budget. Of course we have to meet it, but the budget is an inanimate object. Pull it apart. Personify it. Show them how life change happens through the budget. If you can’t, your budget needs to be overhauled.”

On the heels of two recent ECCU budgeting webinars (now available as free recordings), I resonate with Spivey’s words. He’s advocating that we align money with mission and monitor to be sure our ministries stay on mission.

Check out Spivey’s blog post to learn his formula, then come back here and leave a comment letting me know what you think.