Church Administration

The Church Administration strategist serves to help churches implement their limited resources (money, time and people) in a prioritized manner that best guides the church to achieve its mission efficiently and effectively. These resources are available to help!

To learn more about any of these resources, contact Jeff Ingram by email or by phone (318.623.3382).

Documents Concerning Bylaws

• Bylaws/Constitution Review Checklist
• Sample Indemnification Provisions for Ministry Bylaws
• Why Bylaws Matter

Church Document Triage

Designed to equip church leaders to “sort out” their various policy statements to ensure they are

• Clear and understandable
• Internally consistent
• Concise, yet thorough
• Reflective of current ministry practice

Conflict Resolution Strategy

The Pastoral Leadership Team has developed a comprehensive strategy to help churches prevent, resolve, and/or recover from internal conflict. A variety of resources are available to address the unique needs of churches and ministers. Contact your local director of missions or Jeff Ingram.

GuideStone Financial Resources

Financial Services guided by Christian Values

GuideStone sponsors the nation’s largest Christian-based, socially screened registered mutual fund family. We also offer a full suite of retirement, insurance, investment management, property and casualty, and executive planning services to churches, universities, hospitals and other institutions.

Reasons to choose GuideStone:

• Widespread eligibility – if you receive W-2 taxable income from a church, church-related school or association affiliated with a Baptist state convention, you’re eligible for the 403(b)(9) Church Retirement Plan.
• Exclusive Protection benefits – As a participant in the Church Retirement Plan you may also be eligible for two protection benefits provided by GuideStone and Louisiana Baptists.
• Christian-based, socially screened funds – these funds do not invest in any company that is publicly recognized, as determined by GuideStone Financial Resources, as being involved in the liquor, tobacco, gambling, pornography, or abortion industries, or any company whose products, services or activities are publicly recognized as being incompatible with the moral and ethical posture at GuideStone.
• Flexible contribution options – both the employer and the employee can contribute to the retirement account. Employee contributions conveniently are made by salary reduction.
• Tax Benefits – employer contributions are not subject to current income or SECA taxes, earnings on contributions grow tax-deferred until withdrawn, both tax-sheltered and ROTH options are available, higher contribution limits than a traditional or ROTH IRA.
• Award Winning Performance – GuideStone Funds was honored at the 2012 Lipper Fund Awards in New York City.  GuideStone ranked No. 1 out of 182 eligible companies for its consistently strong risk-adjusted investment performance across broad asset classes.

4 Steps to Finding the Right Medical Coverage for Your Staff

Discover more about GuideStone services at www.GuideStone.org. Jeff Ingram is available to assist church leaders and employees with their unique employee retirement and benefit needs.

These four short videos by GuideStone will answer many of your questions:

STEP 1: Jordan Puskos, CFP
WATCH: Select a Benefit Strategy
Learn about four common insurance strategies available in the marketplace.

STEP 2: Jordan Puskos, CFP
WATCH: Maximize Tax Savings
Analyze tax-savings strategies and see if they will work for your ministry.
Download the Maximize Tax Savings handout.

STEP 3: Eddie Huskey, Lead Relationship Manager, GuideStone
WATCH: Pick a Plan
Compare common health plan designs and learn how they work.

STEP 4: Jake Gigl, Relationship Manager, GuideStone
WATCH: Round Out Your Benefits
Discover how low-cost life, dental and disability insurance adds value to your benefits package.

Set up a time to speak with a GuideStone® medical plan expert:

If your church has 2–9 employees: Matt.Walker@GuideStone.org
If your church has 10–49 employees: Daniel.Hardy@GuideStone.org
If your church has 50 or more employees: Linda.Chiles@GuideStone.org

Compensation Planning

The structure of a minister’s compensation can have a significant impact on the amount of taxes he pays. To see the annual Compensation study from Lifeway, click here. Below are some tools to help in proper compensation structure:

The Compensation Planning Guide from GuideStone Financial Resources

Download Compensation Planning Guide

Housing Allowance Calculator – helps calculate what you can claim as well as estimating the fair rental value using three different methods.

Download Housing Allowance Calculator

Ministerial Compensation Estimator – helps estimate the tax savings that results from proper compensation structure.

Download Ministerial Compensation Estimator

Preventing Abuse & Harassment

In Fall of 2020 a new Louisiana law (ACT No. 123) was passed adding protection to churches and employees relative to disclosure of possible charges of sexual misconduct, sexual abuse, sexual harassment, sex trafficking, sexual assault, or other sexual offenses. The entire senate bill is available for download here.

Questions About Pastoral Counseling

• Can a pastor legally provide counseling to church members? Non-members?
• Are there limitations?
• Can he advertise?
• What about church hosted support groups?

Discover the answers to these and other questions about counseling in the General Policy Statement on Pastoral Counseling.

Download Policy on Pastoral Counseling

Q & A about Performing Weddings in Louisiana

Conducting Weddings in Louisiana? Information Pastors Need to Know:

• Who can officiate a wedding in Louisiana?
• Is ordination required to perform marriage ceremonies in Louisiana?
• Does the officiate or minister need to register to conduct weddings in Louisiana?
• What other items are pastors responsible for in Louisiana?
• What penalties can pastors be charged with in Louisiana?

Find out the answers at Q & A about Performing Weddings in Louisiana.

Download Suggested Policies for Louisiana Baptist Churches concerning Marriage
Download Marriage Officiant Registration Affidavit
Download Conducting Weddings in Louisiana: Information Pastors Need to Know