Trusting the Board Lands Pastor in Hot Water

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
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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!!!
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By Dr. Micheal Chitwood

 

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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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