ECCU Blog

Have you attended a Financial Forum for Ministries in the past? If so, you’ve experienced the benefits of this unique event. With the 2012 forums fast approaching, I asked Jeremy Moser, who has attended the past couple of years, a few questions about why it’s a good investment of time. Jeremy is the CFO at Mariners Church in Irvine, California. Here’s what he had to say.

Jeremy, you’ve signed up again for this year’s forum. Why?

It’s because the information that’s presented helps me do my job better at Mariners. I’m a learner and am always looking to improve how we do things. So the information provided at the forum tends to add value to my church. 

Talk about the format of the forums. How does it add value to this particular learning opportunity?

The forums cover several topics each year. The diversity of information has been great.  It is also great to network with other ministry leaders during the event.

What’s one reason you’d recommend that others attend the Financial Forum for Ministries?

I recommend this forum to other ministry leaders because just picking up one idea can make their ministries more effective. That means the time spent is well worth it.

How can someone who attends make the most of the experience?

Come expecting to learn. It is a lot of information to absorb, so take notes and review the information at least one time (within a week) after the event. Make action items for yourself so you know what to implement when you go back to the office. Another thing I recommend is making at least one new contact at the event. I frequently contact other ministries throughout the year, asking for advice on topics I think they may have expertise in.

Have you attended past financial forums? What was your experience?

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

The conference title tells you that those planning Catalyst Atlanta 2012 are serious when they say it will be “a revolution of ideas where you’ll challenge the process and think unconventionally.” They’ve even produced a video to illustrate the point. The conference title—Make—is shorthand for The Making of a Leader.

Leadership development is the theme for the three-day (October 3–5, 2012) gathering of 13,000 ministry leaders in Atlanta, who are invited to “expect a fully immersive learning, worship and creative experience, where timely inspiration can come from the thought leaders who grace our stage, or the person sitting in the seat right next to you.”

The list of Catalyst speakers reads like a who’s who of relevant ministry leaders and influencers (more than 50 in all), including Andy Stanley, Craig Groeschel, Francis Chan, and Matt Chandler. It’s no wonder they summarize the conference’s focus in three words: Pure leadership adrenaline!                                                            

ECCU Regional DirectorJeremy Mooreand Ministry Development Officer Dennis Park will host an Executive Pastors Suite at the conference (October 4–5, 8 a.m.–5 p.m.) to meet with ministry leaders and give them an opportunity to network with their peers.

To learn more about the Catalyst conference, or to register, visit www.catalystconference.com/information. If you’d like to find out what’s happening in the ECCU Executive Pastors Suite, feel free to connect with Jeremy on Twitter (twitter.com/jeremymoore).

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.

A key distinction between a financial cooperative like ECCU and other banking institutions is the difference between credit union members and bank customers: Customers simply conduct business at a bank. ECCU members don’t just bank at the credit union—they are the credit union. Because of this, our staff’s role is to partner with members to help them fulfill their missions. Ministry conferences are one good illustration of this distinction. We often work with member ministries and others to provide educational opportunities. In metaphorical terms, we see this as “fueling” ministry.

Our next opportunity to fuel ministry is at the WFX Conference and Expo inAtlanta(Sept. 19–21). The conference’s ambitious theme is: “Preparing churches of all sizes to meet evolving leadership, technology, and facility needs.” ECCU will help deliver on that theme by presenting two educational sessions, one featuring the senior pastor of an Atlanta-area church and the other featuring generosity expert Brian Kluth.

ECCU Regional Director Jeremy Moore will present one of the conference’s hands-on training sessions. His session, How to Increase Giving in Any Economy, is scheduled for 1:30-2:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 19. Co-presenting with him will be Stan Lester, senior pastor of Crosspointe Church in Dalton, Georgia.

Kluth will co-present with Moore at an educational, invitation-only breakfast hosted by ECCU. They will discuss Purchasing and Financing Existing Facilities Today. Ministry leaders who attend will be eligible to win a new iPad^®, as will conference attendees who register at ECCU’s booth in the conference expo. (For the complete Official Rules*, visit www.eccu.org/wfx-sweepstakes.)

Are you going to the WFX conference? You can learn more and register at www.wfxweb.com/atlanta-2012.

*_{OFFICIAL RULES SUMMARY: NO PURCHASE IS NECESSARY TO BE ELIGIBLE TO WIN. EACH SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY WILL HAVE AN EQUAL CHANCE OF WINNING. The iPad^® Breakfast sweepstakes ends on Sept. 20, 2012, at the end of the breakfast; the iPad^® Booth sweepstakes ends on Sept. 21, 2012, at conference closing. See the “Consumer Disclosure” section of the Official Rules for odds of winning. Only one entry permitted per person. By entering this drawing, you agree to be bound to the Official Rules. For the complete Official Rules, visit www.eccu.org/wfx-sweepstakes. Apple^® is not a participant in or sponsor of this promotion.}

Today’s changing world brings increased risks to churches and nonprofits in the areas of finance, tax, legal, and operations. Responding well to change begins with a fuller understanding of these risks. CapinCrouse LLP and ECCU have teamed up to offer a series of financial seminars to help churches and nonprofits better steward the resources and people entrusted to their care.

These daylong seminars will be offered in three locations in October:

• October 2 at Denver Seminary in Littleton, Colorado (This seminar is for churches only.)
• October 3 at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in Fort Worth, Texas
• October 4 at The Hope Center in Plano, Texas

Come learn from experts like Frank Sommerville, noted ministry legal and accounting expert, and David Lee, ministry development officer for ECCU.¹

Learning objectives for these seminars include:¹

• Better comprehend your ministry’s exposure to legal risk through an examination of timely and relevant court cases and learn how to address any risks that are identified
• Become aware of the latest tax changes and regulatory developments that impact tax exempt organizations and churches, including how to identify potential unrelated business activities
• Understand areas of your ministry that may be susceptible to fraud and how to prevent, identify, and respond to fraud if it does occur
• Learn the differences between financial audits, compilations, reviews, and consulting engagements and how to make your ministry’s next financial audit go more quickly and smoothly
• Increase your knowledge of how to use ratios, benchmarking, and dashboard reports to better monitor and measure your ministry’s financial health
• Learn how the Affordable Care Act applies to churches

The registration fee for each seminar is $59; lunch and materials are included. This program allows you to earn up to 5 CPE credits² and 0.5 NACBA CEUs³.

For more information, visit www.eccu.org/resource/events. If you have questions, please contact Carina Hill at 678.518.5301, ext. 100, or by email at chill@capincrouse.com.

_{¹ Presenters and topics covered will vary by location.}

_{² 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: http://www.learningmarket.org/.}

_{³ 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.}