The Pastor and Church Finance
© Bishop Roy G. Almquist, Guest Contributor
The pastor should not dictate the financial policies or procedure of the congregation. Any changes of this kind should come through the Finance Committee with approval by the Congregational Council.
The pastor should never be directly involved with the handling of money or its disbursement. The pastor should not count money, make deposits, or write checks. Under certain circumstances the pastor could be an approved second signature on large checks but should not be a primary signatory on church accounts.
The pastor and all church employees should be paid on time. Under no circumstance should benefits be deferred; rostered leaders and families should never have their health benefits jeopardized. Any congregation faced with a major cash-flow emergency should contact the assistant to the bishop who serves the conference before failing to pay salary or benefits.
The Reverend Roy G. Almquist is Bishop of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. His remarks were given at the Synod Treasurer's and Finance Committee Workshop in February 2000. Used by permission of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, ELCA and Bishop Almquist.
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