Here are two ways to build and fund a columbarium that I used. The columbarium was built in phases due to the construction costs. Phase I cost $60,000. The pastor asked three families to each give $20,000 in exchange for a tax-deductible … [Continue reading]
Columbarium – Part 2: Funeral Costs and a Columbarium Niche Sales
Posted on February 11, 2020 Written by
Cremation is the safest and cheapest way to bury a person. A casket funeral can cost upwards of $15,000 (for the casket, the funeral home, the lot and concrete vault, etc.). That is money that is literally poured into a hole in the ground. Inurning … [Continue reading]
Columbarium – Part 1: What is It and Why?
Posted on February 4, 2020 Written by
A columbarium is a place where the cremated remains of a person are kept. It comes from the Latin word for dove (columba) because doves build their nests in niches in a wall and cremains are frequently placed in niches. Burning a body has been a … [Continue reading]
Free Stuff
Posted on January 28, 2020 Written by
www.churchbestpractices.org is now entirely FREE. This is a website where I have posted scores of free documents, manuals, spreadsheets, etc. Over the 25 plus years that I’ve been a church administrator, I’ve created docs at all the churches I’ve … [Continue reading]
Your Money is Waiting
Posted on January 21, 2020 Written by
When a vendor is overpaid, they are legally required to return it. Sometimes vendors can’t (or can’t be troubled) find the person or company that paid too much. In those cases, they send it to the unclaimed property division that each state treasurer … [Continue reading]
Employer or Contractor?
Posted on January 14, 2020 Written by
This question comes up way too often. Churches want to classify people as contractors when they are really employees. I understand that it is a pain to get all the tax forms, set them up in the payroll system, and have the extra FICA expense. But … [Continue reading]
Wills for New Families
Posted on January 7, 2020 Written by
Having a child is a major legal decision. Most churches are great at helping new parents with new baby stuff: food for mom & dad, baby showers with gifts, support for mom (and dad) in the first few months, etc. Churches need to add a legal … [Continue reading]
Anniversary Gift
Posted on December 31, 2019 Written by
R & C’s 50th wedding anniversary was approaching and R asked me about making a gift to the church in honor of their anniversary. C loved the children’s music ministry and had volunteered there for decades. R asked if he give the church $50,000 … [Continue reading]