ECCU Blog

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

Dave Moja is a partner and national director of not-for-profit tax services with CapinCrouse LLP. He will discuss recent Internal Revenue Service (IRS), congressional, and court pronouncements. He’ll also talk about ministers’ payroll and unrelated business income as well as health care compliance issues. Here are Dave’s responses to my questions.

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

Dave: The tax laws affecting churches and ministries are constantly changing. And, in many cases, the accounting teams at these organizations do not have a central place—no “one-stop-shop”—where they can go to keep up with all these changes. This session will provide up-to-date information on tax and compliance issues that should be pertinent to attendees. They should leave better equipped to handle the continual onslaught of government requirements. We are most definitely in a “season of compliance.”

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

Dave: The first thing attendees will take away is a summary of recent IRS pronouncements that affect their ministries. They will also receive practical insights and a list of the best methods for handling not-for-profit tax and compliance issues. A third takeaway will be predictive insight into what new requirements are expected in 2013 and beyond.

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

Dave: I will tackle the daunting task of keeping up with compliance issues by providing a number of handouts that should allow attendees to focus on the presentation and take valuable data with them for future reference. This kind of material is best explained in a give-and-take format, so attendees will have ample opportunity to ask questions.

Dave will present at the financial forum in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2012. Follow this link to learn more and sign up.

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

Brian Kluth is former senior pastor of the First Evangelical Free Church in Colorado Springs, who commissioned him as a generosity minister-at-large to the global church, and founder of Maximum Generosity. He will appraise current funding realities in churches and ministries today and share best practices and resources that staff and leaders can use to inspire generosity and increase giving. Here are Brian’s responses to my questions.

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

Brian: Growing economic difficulties are leading to decreased giving in many churches and ministries. As a result, they’re having to adjust to a “new normal” when it comes to finances, fundraising, and budgeting. This session will help attendees discover practical and creative ways to move their ministries forward in the midst of tighter budgets and a challenging fundraising climate.

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

Brian: Empty Tomb, Inc., reports a 40-year decline in the percentage of income that Christians in the United States donate. The first thing attendees will take away from this session is an understanding of how major national trends impact giving to ministries and churches. They will also discover ten ways God provides and moves ministry forward, including nine that are possible even when the budget says “no.” The final takeaway is a list of five key ingredients needed to make any fundraising and generosity initiative more successful in churches, ministries, and the work of missionaries.

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

Brian: A variety of valuable materials will accompany the presentation, including graphs on giving trends, lists of the 50 best practices to increase giving and 80 helpful websites, planning worksheets, and other generosity-related handouts. Attendees will return to their churches and ministries with many resources to share with staff, leaders, and committees.

Next up will be Dave Moja, a partner and national director of not-for-profit tax services with CapinCrouse LLP, who will discuss recent Internal Revenue Service, congressional, and court benefits. He’ll also talk about ministers‘ payroll and unrelated business income as well as health care compliance issues.

Brian will present at the financial forum in Colorado Springs on December 4, 2012. Follow this link to learn more and sign.

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.}

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.

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.