Online Forums Address Missions, Donations, Fraud Prevention
WINCHESTER, Va., April 11, 2011 /
Christian Newswire/ -- A spectrum of timely issues pertinent to the fiscal health of churches and parachurch nonprofits will be the subjects of live, hour-long webinars that ECFA (Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability) will host in the coming quarter.
Registration is open for the next five online/telephone webinars, which will open with "Reducing Fraud in the Church." Others include "Update on Health Reform Issues for Churches," "Business as Missions Legal Issues," "Charitable Solicitation Issues" and "7 Key Issues to Properly Handle Mission Finances."
"These ECFA webinars are important for those seeking to maintain accountability in church fiscal oversight, keep current with the latest in healthcare reform and understand legal and financial issues relevant to missions and charitable donations," said Dan Busby, ECFA president.
Vonna Laue, an audit partner with the firm Capin Crouse, and John Van Drunen, a CPA and attorney who is ECFA's vice president and legal counsel, will deliver the "Reducing Fraud in the Church" webinar at 1 p.m. EDT April 19. Laue and Van Drunen will discuss steps churches can take to safeguard themselves from corruption and create an environment of accountability and integrity.
Busby, CPA and noted author and speaker on church and nonprofit issues, and Richard Hammar, general counsel for the Assemblies of God, who is recognized among top church attorneys in the U.S., will present "Update on Health Reform Issues for Churches" at 1 p.m. EDT May 4. A related resource is the “2011 Church & Clergy Tax Guide” by Hammar, designed as a resource for ministers, bookkeepers, attorneys, CPAs and tax practitioners. Cost of this tax guide is $39.95.
"Business as Missions Legal Issues" will be the 1 p.m. EDT May 10 webinar led by attorney John Haley, member of the firm Arnot & Haley, PLLC, which serves nonprofits, small businesses and individuals pursuing business as mission, and Stuart Lark, a partner in the Holme Roberts & Owen LLP, Colorado Springs office. Lark focuses on corporate, tax, constitutional and transactional matters for nonprofit organizations.
Karl Emerson, Esq., of Montgomery McCracken, and Dick Travis, president and co-founder of The Travis Group, will address "Charitable Solicitation Issues" in a 1 p.m. EDT June 22 webinar. Emerson provides legal counsel and advice to nonprofit organizations, including advising charitable organizations and their fundraisers on compliance with state charitable solicitation statutes. Travis’ agency provides expertise related to charitable solicitations registrations to Christian ministries.
The "7 Key Issues to Properly Handle Mission Finances" webinar, cobranded by ECFA and Church Executive, will feature Samantha Cave, McLean Bible Church global impact administrator; Pat Willow-Kulesza, Willow Creek Community Church director of international serving, Van Drunen and Busby. Presenters will cover how to clearly communicate missions needs to givers, understanding how to measure and fulfill the expectations of givers, handling the administrative responsibilities related to missions finances and more. The event will be at 1 p.m. EDT June 28.
Registration for these webinars is free for ECFA members. For registered users the health reform update is $49 and the others are $39. A recording of each webinar will be available following the session through the ECFA website at no cost for ECFA members and $29 for nonmembers. Continuing education credits are available for each session.
ECFA, founded in 1979, provides accreditation to leading Christian nonprofit organizations that faithfully demonstrate compliance with the ECFA standards pertaining to financial accountability, fundraising and board governance. For more information about ECFA, including information about accreditation and a listing of ECFA-accredited members, visit www.ecfa.org or call 1-800-323-9473.
