New minister welcome fund

by Joanne
(Chicago)

Our church recently hired a married couple as co-ministers. Funds were collected to pay for their:
1. Moving expenses
2. Ordination and Installation (party and speakers)
3. Office renovation

I am wondering if the Moving Expense part would be deductible. The other 2 might be ok. I just became treasurer and some of the "special" or restricted gifts in small amounts are adding a lot of time to accounting. I have already learned that an individual's $1000 gift to pay the music director's salary should not have been deductible.

Comments for New minister welcome fund

Click here to add your own comments

Don't tell people not to give !!
by: Bill OConnell

You can have all the things you are asking for without telling your folks to put away their checkbooks. But the solution is larger than we can discuss here.

Please call me

Bill OConnell
617-921-9321
special funds
by: Anonymous

Believe me, I am against all these 'special" funds at our church. The Music Committee fund is a real problem - we would prefer that Music be funded 100% by our general stewardship campaign. I recently read that you can't give a designated gift for an item that is already part of the budget? If this is true then it means that we could eliminate the "restricted" music donations by telling members that it is not proper.
Stop making it hard on yourself
by: Bill OConnell

You will drive yourself crazy if you encourage your donors to give to the (every little need that comes along) Fund.

Rather, simply announce something like "the church has agreed to pay the new pastor's relocation expense, and we need the money to meet that commitment." Limit the use of Fund accounting to major items like a building fund - or continuing items like a missions fund.

Be free to all or email if further help is needed.
Bill OConnell
617-921-9321

Click here to add your own comments

Join in and write your own page! It's easy to do. How? Simply click here to return to Earmarked Contributions.