Manage Your Space

Chris Lutes explores Giving USA's new report on charitable giving and its implications for the rest of 2020, especially in relation to religious giving.

Topics: Giving projections

Chris Lutes explores two recent studies on giving and the Church from State of the Plate and the Lake Institiute on Faith and Giving. Topics include giving before the pandemic and now, making payroll and the importance of online giving.

Topics: Giving projections

Dr. Daniel Chin has spent over 25 years working to control disease around the world. He offers a practical approach to meet the spiritual needs of our parishioners while also keeping them, and our communities, safe.

Topics: Church reopening plan, COVID-19 Science, Ministering to spiritual needs

Josh Laxton recently preached at his church, he took lots of precautions. Later he was informed that hte worship leader had been confirmed with COVID, soon he was as well. Josh's story reminds churches that we need to continue to take the virus seriously and that there are some practical things to do.

Topics: Preaching, Testing positive

Church spaces are catalysts for connecting people to God and one another. It also affects the culture of the church. DeGroot, VP of Design and Integrated Services at the Aspen Group looks at how we inhabit space and asks the question "what are we trying to accomplish in meeting together?"

Topics: Church facilities, Design, Culture

Recently the Aspen Group hosted a webinar on relaunching worship with two staf members from a multi-site church in the suburbs of Chicago. This article , based on that webinar looks at four ways to find opportunities that may exist now for the very first time instead of simply looking at the negatives of the COVID crisis.

Topics: Church facilities, Worship

Church.Design talks with Visioneering Studios VP of Strategic Design Dave Milam about some of the issues architects and designers are facing including what are some likely trends as churches work to be effective and keep people safe in their spaces.

Topics: Trends in church buildings

There are "signs of hope" on th giving front for many churches. The Church Law And Tax team examines recent giving data from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Topics: Finances, Giving rates

On June 5, President Trump signed the Paycheck Protection Program Flexibility Act of 2020. This bipartisan bill made some major changes to the PPP loan program. This article explains the new changes.

Topics: PPP Flexibility Act

What happens when your church learns that someone - whether conregant, employee or volunteer - might have or have been exposed to the virus? Attorney Nathan Adams explores how churches should wiegh the legal and ethical interests of all parties so that they can react in a measured fashion.

Topics: Liability, Best practices, Reporting

Chris Story, professor of biology at Gordon College, looks at how churches might want to rethink practices in light of what we have learned during the COVID-19 outbreak. From outdoor services, to singing, masks and even bring your own communion, Story looks at how churches might adjust future practices to help lower the spread of illness.

Topics: Illness, Hygiene, Future practice

At the outset of the Corona Virus crisis many churches cut spending and anticipated significant financial shortfalls. David Roach explores a recent survey from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (EFCA) that looks at giving trends at the height of stay-at-home restrictions.

Topics: Finances

For many churches cash flow is, or is becoming a real issue. CPA Michael Betts address the questions of dipping into reserves during this time of crisis.

Topics: Fiscal reserves

Many churches begin their year on July 1 and won't be able to meet as required by their bylaws to adopt a new budget. CPA Micheal Betts offer advice for dealing with this challenging issue.

Topics: Budgets, Fiscal year

(Outside Resource) The mission of the Humanitarian Disaster Institute at Wheaton College is to "help the church prepare and care for a disaster-filled world."" Their research has led to the development of several tools that could help your church as you reopen. From manuals to webinars, these resources are designed to help you navigate the reopening process.

Topics: Tools, Resurces, Health Info

(Outside Resource) Aspen Group is a firm that provides "integrated solutions for new church facilities, additions, and renovations". They think about buildings and how to use them-a lot. This article offers 4 practical solutions to better utilize your space during this time of social distancing.

Moving to online or remote worship was a relatively easy decision for most churches. Reopening the church building for worship is an entirely different story. Ed Stetzer calls on pastors to lead well when their congregations are divided and offers practical suggestions for communicating the decisions that are being made.

Topics: Leadership, Unhappy people

Re-opening your church is not going to be business as usual. Legal requirements such as when you can open and for how many people must be taken into consideration. Are you covered by your insurance? The logistics of safely getting people into and out of the building, participating in worship and interacting with one another are all considerations. Holly Hammer Lear offers practical solutions for your church. An RN, PhD, and public health official, Holly is also a worship leader and the wife of the lead pastor at Resurrection Assembly in Iowa City.

Topics: Legal requirements, Insurance, Safety, Worship

Matt Branaugh, Editor of Content and Business Development for Church Law and Tax recently hosted a webinar on crisis financial management with CPA Mike Batts, author of Church Finance, 2nd Edition, and the managing partner of a CPA firm serving church and nonprofits. Answering questions from churches around the country, they tackle subjects such as giving methods, communication approaches, financial fundamentals, and more.

Topics: Financial Management, Communications Strategies, Giving Methods

How federal courts nationwide are addressing religious liberty arguments by churches.

Small urban churches – especially those serving the African American and Hispanic communities – have been hit hard by the pandemic. But the real and difficult challenges have also offered an unexpected blessing: opportunity for churches to help other churches in need.

Topics: Church finances, Churches Helping Churches Challenge, Small churches, Urban churches