HER ANNOUNCEMENT SHOCKED THE CLASS

4/19/2019

HER ANNOUNCEMENT SHOCKED THE CLASS

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Over the many years of teaching Church and Clergy Tax Seminars across the USA, I have had countless IRS agents in attendance. They do not come to the classes to find law-breakers. They usually come for one of two reasons: They are board members, trustees, or bookkeepers for their Church or they are on the verge of auditing a Church. In both scenarios they are there to learn Church Tax Law.

Some Interesting Stories

Usually the agents will not identify themselves (if they do) until the class is over. Since they are not there to “catch” someone, they do not want to intimidate an attendee to the level where the attendee would feel uncomfortable asking any questions.

In a recent St. Louis conference, there was an agent in the class and next door to us there was a Federal Marshal and IRS agent symposium. During morning registration an investigative IRS officer stopped by my table to asked what I did. Just prior to his question, a preacher told me he was attending the class because his board insisted, but he didn’t believe the IRS would come after Churches. The Federal Officer told us that he was a previous Pastor who had previously had severe issues with the IRS and resigned the ministry because no one in his small town was capable of properly maintaining Church books. This agent then told that Pastor, “You better listen to every thing this man (speaking of me) tells you because we are coming.”

In that same class, at the end of the day, an attendee told me he worked for the IRS and had just been voted to the Trustee Board of his Church. His words to me were, “I have heard throughout the agency that they are coming after Churches and I could not afford for my Church to be out of compliance, especially since I am an IRS agent.”

Two months later, in another city, a couple sat at the front center table. They seemed to hang on every word I taught. I noticed at morning break, at noon, and at afternoon break, they were on the phone, sometimes argumentative, sometimes pleading, and often frustrated with the conversations.

During question and answer period I noticed they would give their name, but no Church or Pastor info. At the end of the class both told me, “We are Federal Marshals and we have a dilemma. We have tried to convince our Pastor to take advantage of this program because we have discovered that the Church books are out of compliance and in total disarray. Our Pastor has refused. As Federal Law-Enforcement Officers we took an oath to uphold the law. We now have to turn in our Pastor and Church to the IRS.”

Church Bookkeeper told to Resign

At the morning break in the New Jersey seminar, a lady approached and told me that she was attending at the urging of her son-in-law who was an IRS agent. She had been doing the Church books for two weeks and her son-in-law continued to insist that she resign for her own protection. She argued with him that the books were okay.

He paid her registration fee to get her to attend. During the morning break she told me she now understood why he was insisting she resign (which she did at that break).

I asked her to share this information with the class. After the break she came forward and told the class what she had told me, but then shocked us with this tidbit: “My son-in-law is an IRS agent and has been insisting I resign my duties as Church bookkeeper—and I did that just before the break ended. The reason I did is because I have discovered our Church has serious IRS compliance issues and my son-in-law has informed me that the IRS is releasing thousands of agents to audit Churches and to attend Church services as “spotters” (undercover agents) to catch Churches in non-compliance.”

What Agents know About the Church Management Conference that Pastors Should Heed

Pastors and Board Members often feel as if they are immune to any IRS oversight. Many will leave a seminar thinking they do not have to comply with any of the codes that have been taught that day and many feel as if God is required to protect their illegal bookkeeping methods.

However, IRS agents that attend the classes know the severity of not complying with these regulations. As one agent told me, “When we walk in, it will be too late for the Church to take any action. By the time we walk in, we have them.”

You Must Attend the Next Conference NOW!!!

There may not be a conference in your area, but you do not have the luxury of waiting for one. They are coming and they are coming now to Churches all across the nation. It is naïve for a Pastor and Board Member to think they can continue to do Church books like they always have. It is naïve for a Pastor and Board Member to think they do not need to attend. Any excuse used to not attend the next conference is not wisdom.

Chitwood & Chitwood has been keeping Church books compliant for thousands of Churches for 81 years. We are the best and the most trusted firm in the nation. With us maintaining your books and records a Church will have no IRS fears or concerns.

This is why you must register NOW for the next conference. Fly in, drive, or do what you must, but this is one conference you CANNOT AFFORD to miss. To register please call 800-344-0076 or visit us online at www.cmtc.org. Once your window of opportunity closes, it may be too late for your Church (cf Numbers 14).

By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

What You Will Learn at our Conferences

Our Church Management Conferences will arm you with the information you must have to shield your Church or Ministry from IRS intrusiveness; teach you how to get your Taxes to the lowest possible rate; and daily operate your Church or Ministry within IRS acceptable guidelines.

Our Conferences have been taught across the Nation for over 48 years. Because of the Penalties, Fines, and even Imprisonment that the IRS imposed on many Churches and Pastors, Dr. Chitwood felt led by the Holy Spirit to become a buffer between Churches, Ministers, and the IRS.

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3/29/2019

NOW CONFIRMED—THEY ARE COMING

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I had just concluded a Church Management and Tax seminar last year when one of the attendees approached me. I noticed that this gentleman sat through the entire class, took copious notes, yet never asked one question during the question and answer sessions. Usually when they come to me privately it is something so embarrassing that they did not want others to hear it. This was not the case this time.

He began by looking around to make sure no one else was in listening distance and then told me these shocking words: “I work for the IRS and because I have just been added as a Trustee to my Church Board, I needed to know where our Church stood on IRS Compliance.”

He Immediately Had My Attention

He proceeded to tell me that he worked for the for-profit side of the IRS (his words), but he had heard they were about to hire thousands of new agents for the non-profit division. These new agents would be auditors specifically hired to conduct on-site audits of non-profit organizations—especially Churches.

I began to share what he had told me during other seminars, but the information seemed to fall on deaf ears. It seems Pastors and Church Boards think they can continue operating the way they did 50 years earlier.

His last words to me were, “The IRS is coming and the last thing I need as a Church Trustee and as an IRS employee is for my Church to be one they audit and our Pastor and us Trustees be declared out of compliance and face legal charges.”

It Has Now Been Confirmed

The IRS this year has increased the non-profit audit staff by thousands of agents. These agents will be targeting compliance issues in all non-profits, but especially in Churches. They will be targeting all 277 compliance topics that affect Churches and Pastors.

They will further target those who are not legal 501(c)(3) Churches and those who chose the 1023EZ route to 501(c)(3) status.
Although the code stipulates Churches do not have to file a 1023, they are required to obey all IRS codes and regulations that apply to 501(c)(3) organizations (Jack Taylor vs. The Commissioner).

It was further confirmed that Churches using in-house volunteers to manage Church records, would be highly scrutinized. When asked why, the agent declared, “There is no way they are able to stay abreast of all of the changes to the tax code.”

With thousands of Pastors, Trustees, Board Members, and Church Treasurers being indicted every year, those indictment numbers will soon astronomically increase.

These audits will begin in the next few weeks.

But Isn’t It Difficult for the IRS to Justify a Church Audit?

While Congress did enact section 7611 which states an inquiry may only begin when a high-level official has written information that provides reasonable belief that the Church is out of compliance—the IRS is NOT required to ensure the information it has is reasonable or reliable.

Furthermore, when the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was signed into law, one statement in those 2000 plus pages stated that anyone subject to the ACA (any entity with at least one employee) was subject to random audits.

This further opened the door.

You Must Act Now

For more than 81 years our ministry has been that of assisting and protecting Churches and Pastors against onslaughts from the IRS. Any of our clients reading this blog, you know the importance of Chitwood & Chitwood maintaining your Church books and records. For those of you who are not clients, the moment you delay may prove to be your demise.

Every Pastor and Church Board that are not clients must attend the next Church Management and Tax Conference. It is here that you will learn how to ensure you would survive should they walk into your Church.

To register please call 800-344-0076 or visit us online at www.cmtc.org. Remember, it is not what you know that will hurt you—it is what you don’t know. The IRS is coming and you and your Church are probably on their radar. ACT NOW!!! THE CHURCH YOU SAVE MAY BE YOUR OWN!!!

By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

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3/29/2019

HALLELUJAH, WE WON AGAIN

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Beginning in 2011, Freedom from Religion Foundation has kept Churches and Pastors in their crosshairs, in attempts to infringe upon benefits legally allowed to a Pastor. This month, it appears the battle is finally over.

Pastoral Occupation Among the Least Paid and Least Thankworthy

With the exception of a few mega-Church Pastors in this nation, most men and women who have answered this high call from God, are among the least thanked and least paid of all the occupational positions in America.

Most Pastors provide comfort, care, Scriptural guidance, and other Pastoral duties to congregations of less than 70 people. These men and women of God are on call 24/7. Many are awakened in the dark of late night and early morning by a phone call alerting them to a member who has just been rushed by ambulance to the Emergency Room. Many answer the late night and early morning phone calls to be notified of the death of a member or a member’s family.

A huge portion of these faithful Pastors do their tasks without grumbling and often with barely enough pay to survive week to week.

Satan’s Attack via Freedom from Religion Foundation

If these men and women of God, the Pastors of our Churches, did not struggle enough, Freedom from Religion Foundation intended to invoke further financial harm upon these Pastors by removing one of the only few financial benefits these men and women can enjoy—the Pastor’s Housing Allowance.

Without tax-free housing, many ministers across the nation would have been subjected to living in poor conditions and some may have had to resort to finding shelter in a Government-funded Housing Project.

With God’s Help, We Win Again

Two lower Federal courts ruled in favor of the Freedom from Religion Foundation’s lawsuit. The first one was overturned because Freedom from Religion did not have legal standing. However, they restructured their salaries, providing Housing Allowance for all of their employees. When the IRS denied their Housing Allowance claims, President Obama’s Treasury Secretary stated that the IRS ruling gave Freedom from Religion Foundation the necessary requirements to now have legal standing.

They refiled their lawsuit in 2016 and Federal Judge Juanita Crabb ruled in favor of their lawsuit. It has hopefully come to an end this month. This month, the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals unanimously overruled Judge Crabb and declared Ministerial Housing Allowance to be constitutional.

Since Freedom from Religion Foundation’s initial attack on Ministers Chitwood & Chitwood has been diligently fighting on our Ministers’ behalf. With 81 years of experience protecting the rights of Churches and Ministers, we are excited to see another win for God’s servants.

Why You Need Us

Our staff has been at the forefront of all IRS changes that could affect a Church or a Minister. We know how to best protect God’s House and His servants during times of uncertainty.

With Chitwood & Chitwood in your corner, you and your Church can do what God has called you to do in your community, while leaving any stress to us.

It would behoove every Pastor and Church, who are not currently represented by Chitwood & Chitwood, to attend the next Church Management and Tax Conference. To register call 800-344-0076 or visit us online at www.cmtc.org.

By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

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1/15/2019

NEW UNRELATED BUSINESS INCOME TAX TO HIT CHURCHES

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Pastor Smith was really excited about what the Church was doing for him in the way of additional benefits. He shared with me that not only did he and his staff have their own parking spots, but the Church Board just voted to provide him and the staff with a private parking garage. They felt this would be more conducive for the Pastor and staff so they could enter the building without having to brave the elements each Sunday—especially during inclement weather conditions.

I hated to do it, but I had to let the air out of Pastor Smith’s sail. In the recently passed in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act of 2017, there was an obscure provision that would target business, including Churches, with a possible Unrelated Business Income Tax, if they provided parking spaces, including parking garages, to their staff.

The Obscure Code

This obscure provision” from the tax legislation appears to impose “a tax (the unrelated business income tax) of 21 percent on the value of free parking provided” by employers, including tax-exempt organizations like churches, to their employees through a newly added section 512(a)(7) of the tax code.

This may cost Churches and non-profit organizations millions of dollars in new tax liability.

Although many Legal and Accounting experts weighed in on this they could not agree as to how Churches would ultimately be affected.

Internal Revenue Service Weighs In

The IRS finally has weighed in on the topic and has issued some interim guidelines. For Churches to limit their tax liability the IRS has issued this statement:

A key part of this guidance is a special rule, enabling many employers to retroactively reduce the amount of their nondeductible parking expenses. Under this rule, employers will have until March 31, 2019, to change their parking arrangements to reduce or eliminate the number of parking spots they reserve for their employees.” Such a change made by a church or other employer will apply retroactively to Jan. 1, 2018, the agency said, possibly eliminating the need to file a Form 990-T.

By making this change, many churches, schools, hospitals and other tax-exempt organizations may be able to reduce their associated UBTI.

Why Churches Must Engage Us Now

If any Church had to pay a 21 percent tax on the fair market value of any reserved parking spaces or a parking garage for Pastor and staff, this could prove to be very expensive.

Chitwood & Chitwood has been navigating the troubled IRS waters for more than 80 years. We know how to get the best benefits for any Churches while operating within the legal frame work of IRS regulations.

This new tax change and others are covered in our Church Management and Tax Conferences across the USA. It would behoove every Pastor, Pastor’s Spouse, and Church Leader to attend the next available Conference. To register for the next Conference please visit us at www.cmtc.org or call 800-344-0076.

You cannot afford to function as a Church in this hostile IRS climate without the knowledge we will make available to you.

By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

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1/10/2019

Is The Person Managing Your Church Books Really Qualified

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During Church Management Conferences across the nation, I meet some of the most interesting, yet uninformed Church people in the USA. The same would hold true during a recent visit to Richmond Virginia.

During check-in Pastor Romero informed me that the only reason he was attending that day was so that his Certified Public Accountant (CPA) would attend and learn anything necessary to keep their Church books compliant. The Pastor was quick to inform me that he used the best CPA in the area and felt that the conference that day was probably a waste of time and money.

Expressions Say What Words Will Not

I thanked Pastor Romero and his CPA for attending and assured them that I could probably show them something they did not know.

Within the first few moments of the class, after taking care of necessary administration issues, I noticed Pastor Romero become more uncomfortable as the morning progressed. It was easy to see by the expressions on his face that their Church books were not as secure and compliant as he previously thought.

Things Come to a Head at Lunch

By the time I released the class for the lunch break, Pastor Romero and his CPA came to the table. The first words from the Pastor were addressed to the CPA as Pastor Romero thanked him for his hard work over the past 12 months, but that he and the Church would no longer need his services.

Pastor Romero retained us to bring his Church books into compliance and during the compliance process we discovered many errors that could have proven detrimental for the Pastor and the congregation.

Regardless of what people tell you or advertise to you, because they say they are an expert doesn’t mean they are.

Be Careful Who You Allow to Manage Your Church Books

There are many firms across the nation claiming they can do what we do. One has even advertised and deceived Pastors and Board members with an e-mail ad declaring the greatness of their firm. Unfortunately, this particular firm only began doing Church books in the past few months. This hardly qualifies them as experts!

Local CPA’s are great for small business bookkeeping tasks, but they are not specialists in the area of Church and non-profit. Church and non-profit bookkeeping is a unique specialty and demands only the elite in the field. This is where we come in.

Why You Need Us

Chitwood & Chitwood is the number one firm in the USA for Churches and non-profits. With more than 80 years of experience we know what others do not. In addition to our vast, exhaustive knowledge of Church and non-profit tax law, we have the highest reputation for being a winner. If we do your books and the IRS shows up, you don’t have to worry—we don’t lose.

Every Pastor and Church Leader must do two things immediately to ensure proper compliance and oversight of their Church books and records:

1. Attend the next available Church Management and Tax Seminar
2. Entrust Chitwood & Chitwood with your books and records

Don’t take a chance with those who say they are experts. Entrust your books with those who have proven to be the expert--Chitwood & Chitwood.

To register for the next available conference call 800-344-0076 or visit us online at www.cmtc.org. There are new tax laws that will drastically affect Churches this year. DO NOT DO MINISTRY THIS YEAR WITHOUT KNOWING THOSE CHANGES!

By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

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12/19/2018

New IRS Changes Every Church Must Know

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Pastor Jamison spoke with me concerning the Church Management Conferences scheduled for the upcoming year. During our conversation, he expressed that he didn’t believe he nor his Church needed to attend—especially since they were a small congregation.

Then I began to outline just a few of the new IRS changes that would negatively impact Churches and Pastors should they not be aware of them and take appropriate action to protect themselves. Once Pastor Jamison heard just a few of these, in depth, and the penalties he and the Church could be imposed, he registered immediately.

IRS Dangers that May Negatively Impact a Pastor

Since the Pastor is considered to be the ultimate Responsible Party for a Church, any violations and penalties incurred would first be levied against the Pastor. Some of these violations may be the result of the Church simply honoring their Pastor in simple ways.

For instance, most Churches love their Pastor. Unfortunately, I have reviewed cases where in their attempts to love and honor the Pastor, the Church action resulted in heavy financial penalties and in some cases, prison sentences for their man or woman of God.

The Simple Things

Most Churches have space specifically set aside for the Pastor. This would include things such as his or her office, a special chair on the platform or on the floor of the Sanctuary. Some Churches purchase towels for him or her to use during the service, and special bath towels to be used in the Pastor’s private bathroom.

One issue, that almost every Church practices is a special reserved parking space for the Pastor, Pastor’s spouse, Guest Speakers, and in some cases, Church Staff. I agree with all of these special items of recognition for the man or woman of God. However, the IRS does not.

Simple Methods of Honor Prove to be Very Costly

The IRS has unloaded a myriad of changes affecting Churches, Ministries, Pastors, and Ministers. Most of them are unfavorable. One of those changes involves reserved Parking Spaces.

Effective this year, individuals who are beneficiaries of reserved parking spaces and/or the Church will be required to pay income tax on those spaces. This will also mean that the Church will need to develop a comparable plan to determine a legitimate cost for the space and add it to the Pastor or Staff Member’s W-2 or to report it as Unrelated Business Income. Failure to properly report this could be construed as income tax evasion, fraud, or a few other charges which the IRS may choose to invoke.

THIS IS JUST ONE OF THE CHANGES FOR THIS YEAR—THERE ARE MANY MORE!!!

Why You Must Attend the Next Church Management Conference

Churches, Pastors, Ministers, and Board Members should not conduct any ministry in this upcoming year without first becoming aware of all the changes and what they should do about them.

Chitwood & Chitwood is the Premier Church Management Firm in the nation and will be conducting the Number 1 Church Management Conference in your area. DO NOT ALLOW THIS WINDOW TO PASS YOU BY.

To Protect yourself and your Church every Pastor, Pastor’s Spouse, and Board Member should register for the Conference in their area. Failure to do so, may cost you more than you want to pay. Let us inform you of some of these changes and how to protect your Church and Ministry. To Register for the Upcoming Conference Please Call 800-344-0076 or visit us online at www.cmtc.org. The Conferences this year are not ones you can afford to miss.

By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

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11/6/2018

Trusting the Board Lands Pastor in Hot Water

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During the Church Management Conference in Michigan, Pastor Hennessy was very adamant during the morning break. His frustration became anger the more he relayed the problem to me. Pastor had been the Senior Pastor for years and had received several invitations to attend our Church Management Conference. However, he never thought he needed to attend. In hopes of keeping his Church IRS compliant he would always send members of the Trustee Board and/or his Treasurer. The only problem was they did not take copious, detailed notes—they heard what they wanted to hear and relayed their version of the class to the Pastor.

Pastor Receives Dreadful News

Throughout the years Pastor Hennessy felt his Church was squeaky clean until he began receiving letters from the IRS concerning the Church. Within the first thirty minutes of class he knew what his Board and Treasurer had relayed to him was erroneous. THE PASTOR SHOULD HAVE ATTENDED OUR PREVIOUS CONFERENCES!!!

Scripture teaches us that there is safety in the multitude of counselors. The writer of Proverbs penned it in this manner: “Where no counsel is, the people fall: but in the multitude of counselors there is safety” (Pro. 11:14). Since Pastor Hennessy felt it unnecessary to attend, he really had no counsel and now he was on the verge of hefty fines and possibly more.

Why Every Pastor Should Attend

The IRS has a clause referred to as the “Responsible Party Provision Act.” This regulation lists those responsible for financial and criminal mistakes within a Church. The Pastor is the ultimate responsible party, and then the Board.

Unfortunately, those Pastors who feel they are too busy to attend one of these seminars are usually the ones who complain the most when they find themselves in “hot water” in regards to Church Finances and Church Compliance issues.

It is not that the Pastor shouldn’t be able to trust his or her Board in IRS Compliance matters, but since the Pastor is the one who is first targeted it seems wise counsel that he or she should attend. This doesn’t mean that he or she should attend in place of the Board—it means the Pastor should attend in addition to the Board.

You Get What You Inspect—Not What You Expect

It is imperative that the Pastor and as many Board Members are needed to make a viable decision, should attend every Church Management Conference near their area. Although the Board Member or Treasurer who attends the seminar may do their best to take sufficient notes and have sufficient understanding of the material taught, there is still safety in the multitude of counselors—one will hear something another did not hear. DO NOT DEPEND ON THE ADVICE OF JUST ONE ATTENDEE!!!

It is evident, since the Pastor will be the ultimate payer of the price exacted, he or she should attend so they may be able to reach a safe, reasonable decision as to what is needed for his or her Church.

Any Pastor too busy to attend a Church Management Tax Seminar will be the one targeted when the IRS shows up.

Who Should Attend

Every Pastor, Pastor’s Spouse, and all Board Members should attend any of our seminars in their area. As of this moment, not only are the Pastors and Board Members responsible for what happens with Church finances, according to Code Section 4958, should any Church money be misused (even if it is unintentional), the Pastor, the Pastor’s Spouse, and all Board Members and their Spouses are subject to a $10,000 fine.

If for no other reason, just to make sure you would not be assessed a $10,000 fine should be ample motivation to attend this next Church Management Conference.

Register NOW!!!

To register for the next Seminar, please call 800-344-0076 or visit us online at www.cmtc.org. YOU CANNOT AFFORD TO NOT ATTEND!!!

By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

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10/23/2018

We’re Coming

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I was at the registration table that morning of the Church Management Seminar in St. Louis Missouri. Pastor Elkins was the first one to check in and since the rush had not yet begun he decided to engage me in conversation. One of his first remarks to me was, “I don’t really believe our Church needs this because as a Church, the IRS will not bother us. I am only here because my Church Board insisted that I attend.”

As I listened to him, a gentleman who was attending a different conference in the room next to us approached the table. The gentleman asked what our conference was about and I informed him that it was a Clergy and Church Tax and Management Seminar. It was then he told Pastor Elkins and me that he used to Pastor a Church in West Virginia, and although he had the best CPA in town, the CPA could not stay abreast of Church and non-profit tax law. He then explained how he and his Church almost became a casualty of the IRS. When I asked him what happened, he didn’t tell either of us, but he did state that he then made the decision to leave the ministry and join the IRS as an Investigator—investigating Churches and non-profits.

Pastor Elkins Receives Shocking News

The former West Virginia Pastor then informed us that the meeting next door to ours was a Federal Marshall and IRS Criminal Investigator’s seminar. At that moment the former Pastor turned IRS investigator looked at Pastor Elkins and offered him this advice: “You better listen and heed everything that is taught in this Clergy and Church Tax Seminar because we are coming!”

Unfortunately Pastor Elkins’ shock did not end there. The class progressed throughout the morning and into the afternoon session as one of our seminars typically does. Right after the afternoon break, during the second round of the question and answer section, a gentleman who had been quiet for the whole class raised his hand to ask a question.

When I acknowledged him, he stood, gave the class his name, his Church name, Pastor’s name and then informed us that he had just been appointed as a Trustee in his Church. However, before he asked his question he revealed a shocking revelation—he was an IRS auditor for the for profit division of the IRS. When his Church made him a Trustee, he knew he needed to attend our seminar to discover what was required of a Church. I told him I appreciated him attending, but then what he said next shocked all of us. His words were, “The IRS is planning a huge push into Church and non-profit investigations and he could not afford for his Church to be one they investigated and it be out of compliance—especially with him (an IRS agent) on the Church Board.”

You Don’t Have the Luxury of Doing Nothing

With IRS investigations on the rise, especially in the last part of this year and the year approaching, what you do not know will hurt you tremendously. There are 45 new tax changes that can greatly affect a Church. If you do not know these changes and do not have them in place in your Church there will be some drastic consequences for the Pastor and Board.

The worst mistake a Pastor or Church Board can make is to assume their Church is IRS compliant. Even if your Church is compliant, you don’t have the luxury of assuming. You must attend the nearest Church Management Conference NOW! If your Church is compliant it is better to attend the conference and know for certain than to assume you are compliant and have the IRS assess penalties and possible criminal charges against the Pastor and Board. “AN OUNCE OF PREVENTION IS WORTH A POUND OF CURE.”

We Are Coming to a Location Near You

It is imperative that every Pastor and Board Member go to www.cmtc.org or call 800-344-0076 immediately to locate the conference nearest them and register. Two IRS agents on the same day in St. Louis, MO said the exact same thing: “You better be ready—We are coming.”

As the Number One Church and Clergy Tax and Management firm in the nation, we know what others do not. If you will do that which we suggest, the IRS will never be a worry to you or your Church. Go online or call now to register. The livelihood of the Pastor, the Church Board, and the Church depend upon it!

By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

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10/11/2018

How Bad Do You Want It?

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Pastor Franklin seemed frustrated and anxious during the Church Management Seminar in Dallas. It was easy to conclude that he would find his way to me during the lunch break. As he approached, I stopped the other task I was completing in hopes I could calm any fears or help find a solution to his apparent dilemma. He told me he was on the verge of a nervous breakdown. Pastor Franklin’s issue is one faced by many Pastors across the USA--more ministry than money to fund it. Some Pastors mistakenly assume that just because they have a vision God will ensure the funds will be available. God will fund His real Kingdom vision, but it probably won’t be from tithes and offerings. Therefore, Pastors must pursue other avenues and fund raisers are not the answer.

As I travel the nation teaching Church Management Seminars, I am amazed at the number of Churches that must rely on some type of fund-raising to properly fund their ministries. As the Body of our Lord and Savior, Churches should never be short of funds to do that which God has called them. However, hundreds of Church doors are padlocked every month across the USA due to foreclosure, or Church closure. The culprit―there are not enough funds to pay the bills and do ministry.

Two Causes

The two main causes for insufficient budgets are simple to diagnose. They are:

1. The Church may be taking on more ministry than that which God has called them.

2. Unfaithful tithers.

Either of these two will sink a Church. No one wants to buy a ticket on the “Titanic.” The Titanic was considered unsinkable, but it sank. Some consider the local Church unsinkable, but hundreds close their doors every day. Don’t be one of them.

When Churches are always begging for money or overburdening the members to volunteer for countless fund-raisers, people get discouraged and look for an out. At this point, some will quit attending Church, while others will find another place to worship.

Let’s look at each cause closely.

Too Much Ministry

This seems like an oxymoron. How can a Church do too much ministry? Even though we all are to evangelize and win people to Christ, we need to understand that God calls certain Pastors for certain areas. For example, if your Church only seats 100 people, God probably has not called it to sponsor large drama productions. Another example, if you have 30 people in attendance on a given Sunday, your Church probably has not been called to buy 5 buses and start a bus ministry. How can a Church feed the hungry, when its members can barely feed themselves?

As noble as the above-mentioned ministries are, and many more that we don’t have space to name, we each have a ministry niche that is unique to the Pastor, members, and location.

Competition among Churches pressures Pastors to attempt ministry that others are successfully engaging. We must learn to stay in our lane! Find that to which God has called you and refine it until it is the best in your city.

If you are engaging in that which you are not called, there will be a shortage of funds. When this happens, Pastors begin to manipulate the members to give more, or resort to a myriad of fund-raisers in attempts to “keep up with the Joneses.”

Insufficient Revenue

There should be ample funds within any Church to function according to God’s plan for that House of Worship. God does not demand that which He will not fund. If the Pastor is sure that God has called his or her Church to an area of ministry, then the money is in the House; which leads to the second problem – unfaithful tithers.

Less than 5 percent of Christians tithe, even though the tithing principle is adamantly displayed throughout Scripture – Old and New Testament.

Before we are too harsh on non-tithing Christians we should look at the pulpit. According to one survey, less than four percent of Pastors and Ministers tithe. If insufficient tithes and offerings are coming into your Church each month, maybe the Board Members need to check the Pastor’s tithing record. If the Pastor curses himself or herself by not tithing, as the spiritual head of that Church, the Church will be cursed. If the Pastor is a faithful tither then he or she should properly teach this subject to his Church – at least four or five weeks per year. We get what we preach. If we constantly preach soul-winning, we have soul-winners. Preach tithing and you will get tithers.

One thing the Pastor can do to get members to tithe is to properly teach the subject and then offer some type of commitment card with a “God-Guarantee” based on Malachi 3. Get the members to put God to the test – to tithe for 90 days, and if at the end of that time, tithing has caused a proven, undue hardship for the member, give him or her, a refund. God’s Word is either true or it isn’t.

I need to throw a caution in here about the refund. Offer it at the beginning of each year as a teaching on Stewardship. Do not give a refund, if you have given the member a Giving Statement and they have claimed the donation on their tax return. This could create IRS issues!

I know of several Churches that have utilized the God-Guarantee approach, and only know of one that has actually had members ask for a refund – and in that Church it was less than half of one percent. The good news is that each time it is taught, the Church gains new tithers. But, until you can train Christians to become tithers, you still need money.

How We Can Help

There is plenty of money to fund our visions if we know where to look. Chitwood & Chitwood knows of funding sources others do not know. We know where the money is and how to get it. The question is: “How Bad Do You Want It?” Are you willing to “roll up your sleeves” and go get it?

As one of the largest Church resource firms in the nation, Chitwood & Chitwood knows how to increase your tithes and offerings. Our system, How to Make Your Tithes Start, Stay, and Grow, provides Biblical resources and strategies to teach your members the importance of the tithe.

Call us at 800-344-0076 to purchase your system, or contact us at www.cmtc.org to register to attend a Church Management Conference in a city nearest you. You will be glad you did. Remember, for us “It is A Ministry – Not A Job!”

By Dr. Michael Chitwood

What You Will Learn at our Conferences

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9/27/2018

Called and Educated, but Unprepared

Read Now

Jack has faithfully served God for years. It was no surprise to those who knew him when he felt God had called him to become a Pastor. Jack thought he should attend Bible College to properly prepare for the new role God had placed upon him.

After graduating with a Bachelors degree in Ministry, Jack accepted the role of Senior Pastor in a little country Church in the Midwest. All was fine until the first Board Meeting. Nothing he learned in Bible College prepared him for the hostilities that would arise in that meeting. That is when Jack turned to us—the number one Church Management firm in the USA. We knew the dilemma with which he struggled and offered the necessary solutions to his problems.

Just like Jack, when a Christian enters the ministry he or she feels the necessity to prepare for God’s Call spiritually and educationally. To fulfill the later many attend a Bible College or Seminary. After all, a Pastor should be prepared for the demands that ministry places upon him or her. With Degrees in Bible and Theology, you would think they would be prepared for ministry.

Unfortunately, most Pastors are in the same category. Bible College teaches all of the “ologies,” i.e. Angelology, Eschatology, Soteriology, etc. but not the things a Pastor needs. All of those are great, but Bible Colleges and Seminaries need to develop a class in “Pastorology.” Most Pastors leave Bible College to enter pulpits across America, but have no idea as to how to conduct a Board Meeting.

The Pastor as the CEO

The Pastor of a Church is automatically considered as the CEO of that organization, yet many have no clue what it entails. Not only do the Pastors have no clue, the Church Board will often withhold that power from him or her.

No, large business would think of voting in a CEO without vetting the credentials of the new officer. Yet, most new Pastors step into Pastoral positions unequipped to manage and operate a Church. For me, it was only after I was a Pastor for a week, that I realized the spiritual training I had received, was insufficient for day-to-day Church operation. Church is about 10 % spiritual, and 90 % administration.
Pastors in these situations are then shaped by Board Members who usually have no clue as to the proper way to run a Church. The same irregularities that have been present in that Church for years, have now been implanted into this next level of Ministry via the Board to the new Pastor.

There is Help

If you are a Pastor that has not received proper legal and administrative training to operate the Church you Pastor, you need our help. We are the specialists in Church Management. We know things others do not know. It is not what you know that will hurt you—it is what you don’t know.

In our Church Management and Clergy Conferences, we keep Pastors and Church Leaders abreast of all of the new regulations and updates to keep the Church compliant. We also have the training to show Pastors how to properly conduct Board Meetings.

The question becomes, “Do you want to stay where you are—in administrative error, or do you want to get your Church in Government and administrative compliance?” Please understand that God does not bless a mess. The reason your Church struggles could be because your Church is out of order.

Every Pastor and Church Leader should contact us today to register for the next Church Management and Clergy Conference in a city nearest you. To register, please call 800-344-0076 or visit us at www.cmtc.org.

For us, this is “A Ministry—Not a Job!”

By Dr. Michael Chitwood

What You Will Learn at our Conferences

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