Church Management

"See, I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. So be as cunning as serpents and as innocent as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

While handshake relationships may be acceptable among individuals, your church must be run as a business. As church leaders you have a fiduciary duty to fulfill the expectations of your members to manage your church’s ministries, assets and reputation. Collectively or by committee you have management responsibilities every bit as serious as an equivalent local business owner.

Basic guidance regarding your church’s obligations as an employer and a business is provided in our manual: Your Church: Employer & Small Business. It includes information about employment and governance along with valuable links to resources on taxes and labor law. In Volume 5 of our Loss Control Manual, we address address a variety of risk management issues surrounding employment, financial controls, property management (landlord), contracts, purchasing, food preparation, parish nursing, youth ministry and emergency planning. (Printed copies of these resources are available on request.)

What about standard forms? – Because State laws vary widely with regard to certain contracts, like leases and releases, we do not provide a digest of forms on this site. However, you may contact us directly to discuss your particular needs. We can provide some assistance and sometimes a form, but only after we understand your need. See Have a Question? at the left of this page.

More detailed information regarding specific management challenges is provided below.

Related Links:

Audit Program for Internal Auditors - MA Conf UCC
Accounting Software for Churches
Emergency Management - By State
Treasurer's Handbook -- Disciples of Christ
Financial Handbook -- MA Conf UCC
Treasurer's Manual -- PCUSA

Related Documents:
Click on Document Name to sort documents by title.

Document Name

Create Date

Alcohol Service Policy, Creating a - IB - 2011

11/16/2011

Cell Tower Leases - Pestle Varnum Law - 2010-06

8/31/2010

Contractors On-Site - Managing Liability - Zurich - 2009-07

8/31/2010

12/7/2010

Disaster Preparedness, Local Church - UCC

1/31/2012

E-Mail Viruses - Hartford - 2009-03