Dec 02

Social Media for Churches: Benefits and Pitfalls

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12/02/2015

Social Media for Churches: Benefits and Pitfalls

 

When used correctly, social media can move a church from merely an afterthought in someone’s busy schedule to a leap of total surrender to his faith.

Social media is the platform where everyone has a say, where anyone can share anything – from important bulletins to trivial gossip.

It is where people get the news and important information about something they feel passionate about.

Social media can also be a source of inspiration.

A church shying away from social media is a religious institution losing a valuable platform to share news, deliver the good word, and socialize with everyone.

 Benefits of Social Media for Churches

It empowers a broader reach

Churches have always been practically synonymous with “orthodox” or “old-fashioned.” In contradiction, the social media platform is considered the progressive medium of choice of the millennials.

A social media account for a church is a way of bridging the gap between tradition and progress. It’s a way of broadening the reach of the church to inspire and appeal to the generation whose faith is often questioned.

It’s practical

Social media is useful, especially when big or urgent announcements are to be made. A church with a Facebook account can easily post an urgent notice, a prayer request, or any request for help by the church itself or any member of the institution. Through the social media post, the church members, and even the entire community, can easily respond and help in any way possible.

 Pitfalls of Social Media for Churches

There will be a decrease in privacyThere are church members have always respected and relished their tight-knit community, and social media can pose a threat to this relationship. This platform is for the world to see. Sometimes, a member of the church may require privacy concerning a personal matter that may be breached because of social media. Sensitive information about the church and its members can be at risk if there’s no proper knowledge on how to use this platform.

It can be unforgiving

Social media is unforgiving in the sense that anything – good or bad – that is posted on behalf of the church can be interpreted in several ways by the reader. While their interpretation is their own responsibility, an inappropriate post or comment made using the church’s account can be catastrophic. Worse, it can turn into a legal issue.

Social media is far beyond a mere trend right now. It has become a culture. And when used properly, it’s a platform that can be effective in growing the church and its community.

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Nov 19

‘Tis the Season: How to Prepare your Church for Winter Weather

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11/19/2015

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Believe it or not, there are 3 times as many winter-weather related claims than there are fire-related ones, according to Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company.
While the Southeast is perhaps known more for its blistering hot summers, winter weather can be particularly damaging. Don’t believe us, just ask the Atlanta residents who were stranded in their cars for up to 14 hours during the winter storm of 2014! (I know. I was one of them!)

While we still have some time remaining before the truly frigid weather season hits us, let’s take some steps to protect our churches.

“A little maintenance in the fall goes a long way in preventing cold-weather losses, or at least reducing their severity,” says Tom Lichtenberger, senior manager of property claims for Brotherhood Mutual.

Specifically, churches should consider three key areas when preparing for freezing temperatures: roofs, pipes, and heating systems.

Roofs

Snow accumulation (or in the case of most of the Southeast – ice accumulation) can cause serious damage to gutters, downspouts, and drains. Make sure these are routinely cleared of debris to keep from building up.Have your roof inspected regularly to make sure there are no cracks or damages that may leave your church open to greater damage, should there be a winter storm.For more information on roof maintenance, click here.

Pipes

When freezing temperatures hit, it’s important to keep the building warm to avoid freezing pipes. Burst pipes can be a very costly fix. Proper insulation is absolutely necessary, considering church buildings can go unused for days at a time.

In times of prolonged cold, it is recommended that someone check on buildings more frequently than usual to inspect for damages.

Heating Systems

Especially after prolonged periods of being shut down, heating systems need to be inspected before they need to be kicked into “high gear”. In fact, Brotherhood Bell recommends that churches have a qualified contractor service all furnaces and related equipment in the fall.Practice good stewardship and prepare your church property for winter. With proper precautions, you’ll be in for a warm Christmas season!

To speak with one of our ministry insurance consultants, click here.

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Nov 12

Everything you need to know about the Affordable Care Act, Open Enrollment and how they affect your church

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Assets, Finances, Human Resources, Insurance, People, Tax Compliance

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11/12/2015

Despite several well-known exemptions provided to churches, based on First Amendment protections, not all ministries are exempt from all facets of the ACA. Depending on the number of employees working for your church, different requirements may come into play.

What is the difference between a large employer and a small employer?

The threshold, at which point a small employer is considered a large employer, is 50 employees. Depending on where your ministry falls, you will have some different considerations.

Some key differences:

Large employers are required to offer affordable insurance options to all of their employees deemed full-time. There are a couple of distinctions that need to be made here.

1) “Affordable” is defined as being no more than 9.5% of the employees’ annual income.
2) “Full-time”. One is considered full-time if they work 30 hours or more in an average week.
If your church falls into this category, then you can be subject to a fine of $3,000 per employee!

For ministries with fewer than 50 full-time staffers, there is not a requirement to provide health insurance. However, if they do, it must meet the same guidelines as a large employer.

In most cases, these smaller organizations would simply refer their people to the Healthcare Marketplace, where they will simply be required to register for health insurance as an individual.
In these instances, it is not uncommon for employers to bring in an expert on the ACA to advise their employees on how to navigate the system, which is understandably confusing and complex. If your organization is interested in having an expert advisor consult your employees on the matter, please click here to schedule a consultation.

The ACA is a new, complex, and often times, frustrating law, which is why RH Sims Insurance has partnered with Rick Kent of Creative Insurance Solutions. Rick brings expert-level knowledge of the Affordable Care Act. This partnership will enable our clients to navigate the health insurance landscape.

To speak with Rick, or one of our other ministry insurance consultants, click here.

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Oct 29

How to Protect Your Church During Fall Festival Season

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Assets, Insurance, Risk Management

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10/29/2015

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For many, fall is the most beautiful time of year. It can also be the most dangerous time of year and, if you’re not careful, the most expensive time of year.

Fall festivals are a fantastic way to bring the community into your church and, conversely, bring your church to the community. However, with all of the enjoyable games and entertainment, there is a higher risk of accident than exists during regular church activities. The risks of giant inflatable playgrounds need not be explained.

Here are a few steps to minimize risk this fall.

Assign at least two supervisors for each area

No matter how small or seemingly safe the activity, there should be at least two supervisors at each area. If you have teenage volunteers, make sure that they are paired with an adult. This is to decrease the likelihood that a volunteer is caught off-guard, or perhaps pressured into allowing unsafe activities.

At least one of the supervisors present at the festival should be CPR trained, just in case there is an emergency.

Screen and train all volunteers

Volunteers are a blessing to a church. They are usually genuinely concerned with the safety and spiritual growth of young people. That being said, it is wise to conduct background checks on all volunteers and to provide proper training when necessary.

If background screening is new to your church, take a look at this simple checklist from our partners at Brotherhood Mutual.

Safely install any inflatables

Inflatable bounce houses are incredibly fun and even serve as a form of advertising. What screams “fun” more than a giant red and yellow blob full of laughing children? However, they may also be the most dangerous pieces of equipment you’ll encounter all year.

A recent study by the publication Pediatrics revealed that about 30 children are sent to the emergency room with injuries related to bounce house accidents every day!  Most of these incidents happen due to failure to follow manufacturer guidelines during set up and placement of the inflatable.

If possible, have the rental company install the inflatables to eliminate any possibility of an error on your part.

Require Activity Participation Agreements

A precaution like this can keep the church from being held legally liable for certain accidents. This type of agreement will let participants (and their parents) know what kind of activities they can expect at the event and the responsibility they are assuming through their participation.

Contact your insurance agent to discuss liability exposure

Your particular policy may contain important information that would let you know your level of exposure during Fall Festival events. This is one of the benefits of having a good insurance agent with whom you have a strong relationship.

Consider these important points to ensure a safe, enjoyable fall festival season. And contact us if you are concerned about your preparedness for Fell Festival season.

 

Contact one of our agents today to make sure your church is adequately prepared and that your liability exposure is limited.

 

This post originally appeared on the RH Sims Insurance Agency Blog

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Sep 17

Protecting Your Church’s Insurability

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09/17/2015

We wanted to share this simple warning with you – that your church may very well be uninsurable 

The insurability of an organization is a delicate matter. At some point, many organizations experience a lack of interest by agents and insurance companies to pursue a business relationship with them. This is mainly due to claims that have been made by the organization.

Things happen that are out of your control, but there are number of things you can do so when those freak occurrences do happen, the relationship between the insured and insurance company is strong.

Here are a few things you can do TODAY to start making sure your church is insurable.

Set an appropriate deductible for the size of your ministry

For example, if your total budget is $10 million for the year, then a $500 deductible is a bit too low. Just like in your personal budget, you should have an emergency fund to cover small claims. Gather your leadership team and discuss the actual dollar amount that you would turn in a claim for. To be clear, with a $2500 deductible, a claim would not be submitted for a loss which totaled less than $5,000.

Pay your premiums on time

This one goes without saying, but deserves extra emphasis because Insurance companies note every time you pay late and will adjust their attitude towards your policy accordingly.
Organize and inventory your property. In the event you do need to make a claim, the process will be much smoother if you have already accounted for all property. For help with this, take a look at a previous blog post on conducting an organizational property audit. We also included a handy checklist to make this even easier.

Communicate with your agent

A good agent will carry a great deal of influence over the underwriter/insuring company and can represent your interests. Conversely, the agent may also recommend that the policy be dropped, if a ministry fails to adhere to the principles of good insurability.

If you enjoyed this article, we ask that you subscribe to our blog by clicking here.

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Sep 03

Perform an Asset Inventory to Save Your Church From Loss

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Finances

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09/03/2015

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Take inventory of your church’s assets now, instead of after a disaster, at which point it will be too late.

If there was a fire that destroyed your  sanctuary tomorrow, how would you know exactly how much you would need from your insurance company to cover the damage? Do you even know what would need replacing. The only way to know exactly is to do a complete asset inventory assessment as soon as possible. This way, if something bad were to happen, you know exactly what needs to be replaced and how much it will cost.

Here’s how to perform a church asset inventory or property assessment today:

Step 1) Perform an initial “brain dump” of the obvious items

This will cover the glaring assets that are the most costly. Sound systems, furnishings, computers, etc. Write all of these down on a blank sheet of paper. Ideally, you’ll have covered at least 50% of your total assets.

Step 2) Download this checklist along with this video to remember the smaller items

Our friends at Brotherhood Mutual created this list to help church leaders consider everything that would need replacing in case of terrible damage – all the way down to pens and paper.

Use the checklist to catalog everything of significant value and include an estimated cost for replacement. You may be surprised by what you uncover.

Once you have everything, add up the totals and compare that to your existing insurance policy. Was there something you forgot to consider when you initially bought the policy? Do you need to add coverage?

Typically, churches that suffer total losses don’t have high enough limits to replace everything they own. Dealing with that kind of disaster can cause all sorts of problems. Make it easier on your congregation by being proactive today.

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Oct 29

How Should We Budget and Track Minister Pay?

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Budgeting, Finances, Human Resources, Payroll, People, Tax Compliance, Uncategorized

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10/29/2014

The minister’s pay package an important issue for any church. Unfortunately, it often becomes a point of confusion because of mixing the budgeting needs of the employer with the tax reporting needs of the individual minister. Why is that?

It is important to start from the basic understanding that a minister who owns a home has tax benefits available to them which require a couple basic actions to gain the benefit of the tax treatment. First, the minister is the one responsible to determine the amount out of the compensation package which should be treated as housing allowance – the minister is the one who knows what the expenses are and will have to reconcile the reporting on the individual tax return. Second, the minister needs to supply the amount to allocate to housing allowance and have the proper board or committee action taken to approve the housing allowance amount, prior to when it is paid.

So how does that affect church budgeting? Well – it doesn’t. The housing allowance is essentially a tax election made by the individual and approved by the body employing the minister. It does not affect the determination of the total compensation, nor does it impact payroll taxes on the employer side since the minister determines the taxes on the individual return (including self-employment taxes if the minister has not elected out of Social Security). One exception to that statement is if the church is incorporating some formula into the pay package which takes into account tax expense.

What’s the take away? We see two things as good budgeting practices:

  1. The church budget will be easiest to understand if the minister’s compensation is one line item, not split into salary and housing allowance. This prevents odd looking year to year fluctuations which really have no meaning to the church budget as they are just part of the individual’s tax reporting
  2. The minister may want to take advantage of the payroll tax withholding process as a convenient method of paying in taxes, rather than quarterly estimate payments. This does not cost the church anything as it is just passing through the minister’s money to the government. However, the minister needs to do a tax requirements projection and not rely on withholding tables to determine the appropriate amount.

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Oct 13

So you are thinking of organizing a mission trip…What steps do you take?

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Assets, Insurance, Uncategorized

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10/13/2014

You have decided which people/country you want to serve, received a commitment to serve, and have a rough timeline for the trip. Now what?

Are you aware that more than 36 airlines offer discounted rates for mission/humanitarian trips? These discounted air fares (up to 40% per ticket) are only offered through a select group of brokers one of which is flyforgood.com. The great part is you get an agent to help you coordinate the trip saving you time, energy, and hopefully avoiding many potential booking pitfalls.
Ok, so you have your tickets. How do we protect your people? I spent more 8+ months in Honduras, as a missionary, where it seems mosquitos are more plentiful than rocks. One my fellow missionaries came down with dengue fever, a mosquito borne virus. He was fortunate after 2 weeks of dehydration, aches, and pains he recovered. Many of the US soldiers stationed aren’t so fortunate and are medivacked back to the US for treatment. Mission Trip insurance is a must and would cover such situations.
Finally, how do protect the sending/sponsoring organization/church? Foreign liability extends legal liability coverage to an organization who is being sued in a court system outside the US and its territories.
Below is an entry for a claim report that came from a West Coast church on a short term mission trip to Japan in 2005.
A team in Japan was snowboarding on their free day, and a youth group member lost control of his snowboard, and ran over a Japanese girl, shattering her ankle. She was rushed to the hospital in an ambulance and required surgery and one month of treatment, before she could return home. The team member (and team) obviously felt horrible and apologized to the family and even took fruit and flowers to the hospital, which their host church advised them to do. The Japanese family appeared to accept their apology. The team returned to the US, only to find out that the Japanese family filed an international lawsuit against the ministry – charging the Youth Pastor with negligence and suing for damages.http://cmirisk.com/2011/01/mission-trip-mishaps/

Contact your insurance advisor to help you formalize a plan to connect the dots and properly protect your ministry.

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Oct 01

Housing Allowance – How Much is Too Much?

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Budgeting, Finances, Payroll, Tax Compliance

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10/01/2014

When determining how much of a minister’s pay package should be treated as housing allowance, a common misconception is that a percentage of the pay is a key factor. This is actually not an element in determining the appropriate housing allowance. Surprised?  So what is?

The simple answer is that the amount should be whatever dollar amount the minister can substantiate with allowable expenditures which qualify for being claimed against the housing allowance. Although the average person may have trouble understanding it, that could be as much as 100% of the compensation particularly for a part-time minister.

The other “safety valve” is that if the housing allowance allocation out of the pay package exceeds the allowable expenses, the excess will simply become additional taxable “regular” or “salary-type” income on the minister’s return. This relieves the church board to understand that they are only authorizing the tax reporting treatment that the minister has elected to request.  The employer issues a W-2 to the minister reflecting what has been approved and paid based on the salary vs housing allowance allocation, but the minister is the one who bears the responsibility for the tax result on their own tax return.

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Sep 24

Current Events – Housing Allowance Challenge

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Finances, Human Resources, Payroll, People, Tax Compliance, Uncategorized

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09/24/2014

You may have heard of a federal district court judge’s ruling (November 2013) which concluded that the section of the federal tax code allowing tax free minister housing allowance is unconstitutional. That caught quite a bit of attention and concern, with good reason.

There has been progress in the case recently, with the challenge to the ruling being argued by the US Department of Justice, defending the Secretary of the Department of Treasury who is the defendant in the case. Observers such as the Becket Fund who listened to the proceedings, which took place on September 9th, felt the oral argument went well for those who agree that ministerial housing allowances are constitutional.

What’s the take away from a Ministratics strategy point of view? First, as with any tax provision, use a tax provision to its full benefit, but don’t abuse it. Ministers can bring discredit to their ministry when they avoid taxes through claiming deductions which go beyond the limits of the law. Second, properly document the housing allowance through board approval in advance. Third, be willing to speak up and speak out when logical well-grounded principles are attacked. For more details on the recent developments in the case, here is a current article.

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Social Media for Churches: Benefits and Pitfalls

  When used correctly, social media can move a church from merely an afterthought in someone’s busy schedule to a leap of total surrender to his faith. Social media is the platform where everyone has a say, where anyone can share anything – from important bulletins to trivial gossip. It is where people get the …

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photo-1427915911419-0cccc58ab120

‘Tis the Season: How to Prepare your Church for Winter Weather

Believe it or not, there are 3 times as many winter-weather related claims than there are fire-related ones, according to Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company. While the Southeast is perhaps known more for its blistering hot summers, winter weather can be particularly damaging. Don’t believe us, just ask the Atlanta residents who were stranded in their cars …

View full post
Everything you need to know about the Affordable Care Act, Open Enrollment and how they affect your church

Everything you need to know about the Affordable Care Act, Open Enrollment and how they affect your church

Despite several well-known exemptions provided to churches, based on First Amendment protections, not all ministries are exempt from all facets of the ACA. Depending on the number of employees working for your church, different requirements may come into play. What is the difference between a large employer and a small employer? The threshold, at which …

View full post
photo-1415273751003-8af20c760a51

How to Protect Your Church During Fall Festival Season

For many, fall is the most beautiful time of year. It can also be the most dangerous time of year and, if you’re not careful, the most expensive time of year. Fall festivals are a fantastic way to bring the community into your church and, conversely, bring your church to the community. However, with all …

View full post

Protecting Your Church’s Insurability

We wanted to share this simple warning with you – that your church may very well be uninsurable  The insurability of an organization is a delicate matter. At some point, many organizations experience a lack of interest by agents and insurance companies to pursue a business relationship with them. This is mainly due to claims …

View full post
Social Media for Churches: Benefits and Pitfalls‘Tis the Season: How to Prepare your Church for Winter WeatherEverything you need to know about the Affordable Care Act, Open Enrollment and how they affect your churchHow to Protect Your Church During Fall Festival SeasonProtecting Your Church’s Insurability