Clergy

How does a church go about determining the amounts it should pay its ministers and other employees? Church boards, or those to whom they delegate, must determine what amounts to pay each staff position. The experience and competence of those making the decisions vary greatly...

13 October, 2021

An internship is an opportunity that can lead to a full-time job. College students may receive class credits for internships. You might want to use internship programs to scout new talent and get temporary help without committing to permanent new hires. But don't use interns as...

06 October, 2021

When Steve Dawson first started working with churches more than two decades ago, much of the accounting work was still being done by hand. Churches were just starting to use computers for spreadsheets and bookkeeping software. Not everyone was convinced that was a good idea, said...

29 September, 2021

If you’ve ever experienced payroll errors first-hand, you know the extensive costs and time-consuming efforts that go into correcting them. Even the smallest of payroll slip-ups can snowball into serious, long-term issues and increased expenses, especially if those mistakes continually occur. But when mistakes happen,...

22 September, 2021

I'm a Clergy Staff Member. Is My Social Security Allowance Taxable?   The short answer to this question is yes. Unlike non-clergy employees, clergy do not have Social Security or Medicare taxes taken out of their paycheck. The Church also does not pay any matching portion to IRS,...

15 September, 2021

Churches would not exist without the faithful contribution of their most valuable labor force – its volunteers.  Volunteers give of their time freely because of a passion for the ministry it serves. Showing volunteer appreciation is an important aspect of effective volunteer management.  However, keeping volunteers engaged and...

08 September, 2021

Have you considered conducting background checks as part of your hiring process? The practice is fairly typical within the church and for those who work with children, the elderly, or people with disabilities. If you’re wondering whether you should do so as well, check out...

01 September, 2021

Ministers Versus Non-Ministry Employees   Churches should make a careful distinction between their paid workers who are acting as ministers versus those who are non-ministry employees.  There are several considerations that can only apply to those who qualify as “ministers.” First, ministers can receive a clergy housing allowance,...

25 August, 2021

Setting up and managing payroll for a church can be complex. There are several questions a church should ask in order to stay compliant with tax and legal requirements. Does the church follow standard employment protocols?   Like any employer, a church should obtain and keep standard information...

18 August, 2021

Perhaps the most beneficial tax benefit available to a minister is the clergy housing allowance, which allows a minister to exclude permissible housing expenses from taxable income. Now that that the current year is more than half over, it is a good time for churches and...

11 August, 2021