As iron sharpens iron,
one person sharpens another. (Proverbs 27:17)
Read Part 1.
I’m somewhat familiar with “where Minnesota golf was born,“ because the Minnesota Mayflower Society where I serve as a board member has our annual Thanksgiving banquet at the storied Town and Country Club in Saint Paul.
“Citing a tip published by Dee Parsons at The Wartburg Watch, independent journalist Julie Roys, confirmed in a report Tuesday that MacDonald gifted Stetzer a just under $13,000 1971 VW Beetle last April. Stetzer said he had no idea MacDonald used money from church donations to pay for the gift.” - Christian Post
Through an unusual set of circumstances, I am now the treasurer of a church that I was barely acquainted with one year ago.
A year ago, I was 2 months past 39 radiation treatments for cancer and my cancer doctor gave me the news that the regimen was apparently successful. As an aside, doctors never commit to the word “cured.” But so far so good! My pastor commented to me, “I guess God is not finished with you yet!”
My wife and I began to pray, what would God have me to do with my retirement time?
“To answer the question we must first consider how taxation of church property, including clergy housing, has historically been considered.” - Acton Institute
“Under James MacDonald, Chicago-area megachurch may have been in “serious violation” of 4 out of 7 stewardship standards, says Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability.” - Christianity Today
“For the second time, a popular tax break for pastors has been judged permissible under the US Constitution, despite efforts by an atheist legal group to prove otherwise.” - Christianity Today
“That provision imposes a 21 percent tax on employee parking benefits provided by thousands of congregations and nonprofits from coast to coast. To pay that tax, some churches may have to file form 990-T paperwork with the IRS if they provide parking for employees.” - RNS
“This time, the trial court … declared the housing allowance unconstitutional. This ruling has been appealed, and arguments are currently being made before the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago.” - GARBC.org
Four former members of the now-defunct Mars Hill Church are suing its controversial former pastor Mark Driscoll, accusing him of “a continuing pattern of racketeering activity.”
1. Fewer than half of solo pastors receive any health insurance … 2. Almost three-fourths of full-time worship/music leaders receive health insurance… 3. Many full-time church staff receive no retirement benefits…. 5. Only six in ten full-time pastors and staff get any type of automobile reimbursement…. CPost
Discussion