The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) will launch its new workshop series, “Focusing on the Basics in Changing Times: Recession Proofing Ministries and Churches,” in Bellevue on Sept. 3.
It will be held at Crossroads Bible Church, 15815 S.E. 37th St., from 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
The workshop features presentations from ECFA executive staff, area professionals and prominent ministry experts on a variety of topics, including best church practices, best websites to energize generosity and nonprofit tax, legal and accounting issues.
“Churches and faith-based nonprofits are seeking guidance on how to ensure their ministries thrive despite the recession,” said Dan Busby, president of ECFA. “We want to use this workshop to provide ministry and church leaders and board members with the tools and resources they need to meet the financial challenges ahead by focusing on financial integrity, accountability, strategic fundraising and best practices.”
According to a recent survey, nearly 50 percent of Christian nonprofits cut their overall budgets for the 2009 fiscal year.
The workshop is tailored for church pastors, ministry heads, board members, financial managers, chief executive officers and other church and ministry staff members.
Presentations will focus on a variety of topics, including stewardship, leadership, church issues, board governance, legal issues, small church and nonprofit issues and financial management. Scheduled presentations include “Emerging Trends in Nonprofit Governance,” “God, Generous Giving and Asking” and “Fraud Prevention for Ministries.”
The presenters in Bellevue are:
• Brian Kluth, pastor, author, GiveWithJoy.org radio speaker and one of the world’s leading authorities on church/charitable giving and generosity
• Elisa Morgan, M.Div., formerly CEO of MOPS International, now publisher of “FullFill,” a digital magazine for women of influence
• Wes Willmer, Ph.D., ECFA senior vice president and the initiator of more than $1 million in research grants to study nonprofit organizations
• Dan Busby, president of ECFA, CPA and author of four books with 42 editions
• John Reid, CPA, church business administrator, Crossroads Bible Church, Bellevue, with more than 20 years experience serving nonprofit organizations
• Dave Cram, CPA, Wycliffe Bible Translators, including eight years as international vice president for finance
• Corey Odden, CPA, vice president of ECFA and also served as controller/chief financial officer of the Voice of the Martyrs
• Andrew Prather, CPA, Clark Nuber, in the firm’s Not-for-Profit Service and Auditing Practice groups
The registration fee is $49 for ECFA members and $99 for non-members. Groups of five or more will receive a $10 discount.
ECFA is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. Up to five continuing professional education credits may be available for attending this workshop.
For more information on the workshop and to register, visit www.ecfa.org.
