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 GuideHousing Allowance Calculator – helps calculate what you can claim as well as estimating the fair rental value using three different methods.
Download Housing Allowance CalculatorMinisterial Compensation Estimator – helps estimate the tax savings that results from proper compensation structure.
Download Ministerial Compensation EstimatorPreventing 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 CounselingQ & 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
Information and documents below are not an exhaustive list, nor an endorsement, but only for the purpose of shared information.
- 10 Things Church Leaders are Asking About Boards and Bylaws
- 2020 Ministerial Tax Issues
- Protecting Houses of Worship Against Active Shooters
- Board Member Checklist
- Child Protection in a Ministry Environment
- Financial Controls Checklist
- Guidelines for Ministry Workers – Preventing Child Abuse in a Ministry Environment
- Notice of Injury
- A Pastor’s Guide to Understanding Your Church’s Safety
- Safety First – Why You Can’t Skip Background Checks
- Insurance Critical Coverage Gaps
- Job Description for Pastor
Sample Job Description forms:
- Pastor
- Youth Minister
- Minister of Music
- Minister of Education
- Receptionist Office Assistant
- Secretary Administrative Assistant
- Financial Records Assistant
- Custodian
Following COVID-19:
Check Up/Best Practices Brochure
Download our most recent brochure detailing checklists and resources for church administration
adminprotoday.com
Resources for ministry assistants and church secretaries; subscription-based
brotherhoodmutual.com
Free resources on background checks, church and school safety, online training, podcasts, legal advice
childwelfare.gov
Federal statutes and resources for preventing child abuse, neglect, and human-trafficking
churchlawandtax.com
Church finances, taxes, legal issues, and safety; subscription-based
freechurchforms.com
Articles and documents
guidestone.org
Church staff insurance
irs.gov/publications
Federal forms for taxes and information
lbfinfo.org
Funds management for cash reserves, designated accounts, endowments and other types of accounts
lifeway.com
Church resources, ministry articles, and background checks information
ministrysafe.com
Resources to help protect children and those who serve them
safechurch.com
Risk management resources for churches
smartchurchmanagement.com
Resources to help manage the day-to-day operation of ministry
4evervigilant.com
Security and safety training
Background Check Options for churches:
c4operations.com/background-check
Church Insurance Options:
Brotherhood Mutual
brotherhoodmutual.com
GuideOne
guideone.com
Church Mutual
churchmutual.com
Critical Coverage Gaps
/in Adults, Church Administration /by Jeff IngramDoes your Church’s Insurance Policy Contain Critical Coverage Gaps? An updated booklet by Brotherhood Mutual encourages churches and ministries to regularly review their insurance coverage in a rapidly changing world. Consider: Religious Freedom Protection: claims related to your church’s belief-based decisions and activities. Examples include refusing to marry a same-sex couple or limiting the use […]