VII. CHURCH FINANCES - POLICES & PROCEDURES

 

A. MEMBER RESPONSIBILITY

It is understood that membership in this church involves the financial obligation to support the church and its causes with regular, proportionate gifts.

 

B. CHURCH BUDGET

The church budget shall be prepared annually by the Business Management Team. Budget requests shall be prepared by each organization and/or team responsible for administering church funds and submitted to the Business Management Team prior to a date established by the Deacon Ministry Team. A detailed budget will be presented to the church for discussion and for approval in church conference before the beginning of the church fiscal year.

 

C. FISCAL YEAR

The church fiscal year shall begin October 1 and end September 20, effective in 2011.

 

D. SOLICITATION OF FUNDS

Solicitation of funds for outside purposes or public collection of funds in the name of the church or any organization, department, unit or agency of the church shall not be permitted without approval of the Deacon Ministry Team.

 

E. SPECIAL FUNDS

All special funds, for either short or long-range projects, shall be established upon recommendation by the Deacon Ministry Team and approval by the church. Contributions made for the purpose of establishing a non-existent special fund shall be held in escrow until the church approves the intended special fund. Should the fund not be established, the contributions shall, with the contributor's approval, be applied to a church-approved fund or returned to the contributor(s).

 

F. SPECIAL OFFERINGS

Recommendations for special offerings for non-profit organizations, staff anniversaries, resignations in good standing, and other occasions as deemed appropriate should be brought to the Business Management Committee for consideration and approval by the Deacon Ministry Team.

 

G. SPECIAL CONTRIBUTIONS

All contributions, cash and non-cash, designated and undesignated, must be accepted and distributed in accordance with the functions and purposes of First Baptist Church without jeopardizing the tax-exempt status of FBC. Specifically,

1. The church must have complete control of all cash and non-cash contributions. All gifts and items

    become the property of FBC with full authority to dispose of them.

2. The contributions must be received and used only for the church's tax-exempt function and purposes.

3. Appropriate administrative controls must be in place.

4. Donors shall be made aware of the conditions of acceptance of all contributions.

Memorial and honor gifts of cash or cash-equivalents may be recognized by special letter, and/or statement in The Interim, and/or a registration in the "Book of Gifts" kept in the Narthex. Non-cash gifts shall be accepted only after confirmation by the Deacon Ministry Team and may be recognized as are cash gifts, but neither donor now honoree shall be recognized on such gifts.