Church Accounting and Administration

Date: 2/19/2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM EST
CPE Credit: 2 hours

These materials are prepared specifically for application to small and medium-size churches. From the IRS Tax Guide for Churches and Religious Organizations, a church (synagogue, temple, mosque as defined by the IRS) is defined and discussed in terms of 14 key principles:
• A distinct legal existence.
• A recognized creed and form of worship.
• A definite and distinct ecclesiastical government.
• A formal code of doctrine and discipline.
• A distinct religious history.
• A membership not associated with any other church or denomination.
• An organization of ordained ministers.
• Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed studies.
• A literature of its own.
• Established places of worship.
• Regular congregations.
• Regular worship services.
• Sunday schools for the religious instruction of the young
• Schools for preparation of its ministers.

Learning Objectives:
• Understand fundamental concepts of church financial accounting.
• Learn how to apply concepts of internal control for churches.
• Learn the role of persons charged with governance in church operations.
• Understand basic concepts of budgeting.
• Overview charts of accounts, accounting and internal control systems and financial statement preparation.