Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations

Mike Batts, CPA

“It all starts with mission and purpose.”  These opening words by author Mike Batts sum up the proper role of financial administration in the church.  Financial administration is a critically important and unique calling.  Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations provides you with the information and resources to successfully lead your church’s financial operations in keeping with your church’s unique mission and purpose.

Table of Contents

  1. Mission, Purpose, and Budgeting
  2. Accounting and Financial Reporting
  3. Income—Contributions
  4. Other Revenue Sources
  5. Compensation
  6. Managing Liquidity and Financial Position
  7. Maintaining Sound Internal Control
  8. Audits and Other Financial Accountability Activities
  9. Tax Compliance
  10. Financial Policies
  11. Risk Management
church_finance_ftd_lg

Complimentary copies are available to current BMWL clients. Please email [email protected] to request additional copies.

Appendices

Appendix A. Sample Conflicts-of-Interest Policy

Appendix B. Sample Executive Compensation-Setting Policy

Appendix C. Sample Policy on Dishonesty, Fraud, and Whistleblower Protection

Books

Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations

Mike Batts, CPA

“It all starts with mission and purpose.”  These opening words by author Mike Batts sum up the proper role of financial administration in the church.  Financial administration is a critically important and unique calling.  Church Finance: The Church Leader’s Guide to Financial Operations provides you with the information and resources to successfully lead your church’s financial operations in keeping with your church’s unique mission and purpose.

Table of Contents

  1. Mission, Purpose, and Budgeting
  2. Accounting and Financial Reporting
  3. Income—Contributions
  4. Other Revenue Sources
  5. Compensation
  6. Managing Liquidity and Financial Position
  7. Maintaining Sound Internal Control
  8. Audits and Other Financial Accountability Activities
  9. Tax Compliance
  10. Financial Policies
  11. Risk Management
church_finance_ftd_lg

Complimentary copies are available to current BMWL clients. Please email [email protected] to request additional copies.

Appendices

Appendix A. Sample Conflicts-of-Interest Policy

Appendix B. Sample Executive Compensation-Setting Policy

Appendix C. Sample Policy on Dishonesty, Fraud, and Whistleblower Protection

Editorial Reviews

“This is an excellent resource for church leaders and administrator. If you have responsibility for church accounting/finance, you will be happy with this book.”

Jerry Sumner, Finance Director | Elevation Church

Church Finance demonstrates the critical importance of responsible financial stewardship within church ministry. With plain English descriptions and ample pointers, Batts helps the reader to think through – and then act effectively on – financial dimensions like budgets, addressing financial reports, handling revenues, and tax compliance. I recommend this terrific resource highly!”

Sally Wagenmaker, Partner | Wagenmaker & Oberly, LLC

"Michael Batts combines wisdom and a no-nonsense writing style to simply convey complex topics. Every church in the U.S. should have—and often refer—to this book. It contains a gold mine of information for church boards and key staff members."

Dan Busby, Former President | ECFA

"It’s not often you find the word “philosophy” throughout a book about financial operations. Yet, it’s seemingly everywhere in Church Finance. In this latest edition, Mike Batts guides readers beyond a simple “how to,” into a contextualized framework for thinking about financial issues. This emphasis on thinking through issues will better equip the readers as they lead in their church and ministry settings to be true models of financial integrity. Every church and ministry leader will greatly benefit by reading this book."

Mark Tjernagel, Chief Financial Officer | Cru

"Mike Batts hits it out of the park again with this easy-to-read Church Finance book. Church Finance provides you in-depth examples so you are prepared to handle today’s challenges of managing the finances of your ministry. This book pays for itself."

Jon Laria, Chief Financial Officer | OneHope, Inc.