Despite the largest November snowstorm in 19 years, 90 people braved the elements to attend the first NWC CONVERGE event at Roseville Covenant Church in Roseville, MN on Nov. 13.

"As NWC staff, we were amazed at the number of people who braved the elements and still participated in CONVERGE-in spite of the weather and road conditions. We look forward to repeating many of these same workshops, with some helpful modifications, at our NWC Annual Meeting in Mankato in April," said Mark Stromberg, NWC associate superintendent. "We believe that providing these practical workshops can be of great assistance to our churches, as it allows us to lean into our NWC mission of empowering and equipping healthy missional leaders."

• Less words. Cut your copy by a third.
• Follow the writing rules for busy people (headers, bulleted lists, etc.)
• Use testimonies from real people with real photos.
• Did we mention real photos? Ditch the stock photography and clip art and use real photos from your church. The authenticity gained is worth the price/effort.
• Make it remarkable enough that people will show their friends. Now there's a concept-a church brochure that people talk about. How do you do it? Be funny. Be helpful. Be insightful. Be interesting. Be something no other church brochure is.
• Show, don't tell. Telling me you have a fun and exciting children's ministry isn't going to work.
• Leave them wanting more. The point is for people to check out your church or your ministries or whatever your brochure is hyping. So make sure they want more: either they need to know more information, or it's so cool they have to check it out.
• Before it's done, share it with others and get some feedback. An outside perspective can do wonders.

Now is the time to review your pastors' and employees' benefits package. Open enrollment ends Jan. 1, 2011, submit applications by Dec. 15, 2010

A few highlights:

• Comprehensive benefits package, including medical PPO, dental, vision, prescriptions, life and long-term disability
• Bethany Benefit Service employees work as your liaison to make sure claims are covered correctly
• All church employees who work over 20 hours per week are eligible
• Part-time employees may enroll in all benefits except life and long-term disability
• If full-time employees have health insurance through their spouse, they may waive health insurance through Bethany Benefit Service and elect life and long-term disability
• Dependents can be added or removed at any time in the year-they do not have to wait until open enrollment to make changes
• If pastors become disabled, they receive 60-70% of their salary, their health insurance continues for two years, their life insurance continues at no cost for the duration of disability, and their pension contributions are made by Bethany Benefit Service for the duration of disability
• Enhancements for 2011 include orthodontia coverage, no lifetime maximum, and coverage for children through age 25
• Health insurance rates will increase only 4% in 2011

Contact for more information:

Christina Kempe, open enrollment coordinator: (773) 907-3376

bethany@covchurch.org

www.covchurch.org/benefits/insurance

As the calendar months roll over and become a new year there are some tasks church financial leaders need to accomplish. Following are the most common tax-related details and deadlines to keep the church in good standing with governing authorities.

By December 31, 2010
2011 Housing Allowance designation
The church's governing board (Board, Council, Leadership Team, Elder Board, etc.) needs to pass a resolution stating the amount of clergy compensation that will be considered housing allowance in 2011. Use your favorite Internet search engine looking for "Sample Housing Allowance Resolution" for appropriate wording. Ministers who live in parsonages are not excluded from taking advantage of a housing allowance.

Employee or contractor?
Review the employment status of employees and contractors for 2011. Whether someone is paid as an employee or contractor is NOT dependent on how much you might pay him or her in a year or the system that is easiest to implement but on who has control over how the work is done. For help in determining employment status look at www.irs.gov; search on "employee or contractor."