|
Ministers' Tax Guide available on Pension Fund website 
The 2014 tax season starts Jan. 31. Are you ready? If you are a minister, you face some tricky income and Social Security tax rules. If you are ordained, commissioned or licensed by a church or church denomination, you are subject to self-employment tax for your church salary and fees (honoraria) for performing religious ceremonies (unless you opted out of contributing to your Social Security). Even though the IRS considers most ministers to be employees of the Church, clergy must pay their own Social Security at the self-employed rate. You can exclude your housing or parsonage allowance from your taxed income, but there are some limitations to those deductions. And, you must report each type of income on a different form; i.e., your salary on Form 1040, fees (honoraria) on Schedule C, and salary plus housing allowance on Schedule SE.
Confused yet?
If you are looking for some help with filing your taxes, take advantage of a complimentary copy of the Minister's Guide for 2013 Income Tax from Pension Fund of the Christian Church. This handy online resource includes valuable information on housing allowances, reportable expenses and more. For example, did you know that if you are a minister or employee of a church, contributing to a retirement plan (such as an IRA) will limit your taxable income?
Written by Conrad Teitell, LL.B., LL.M., this 58th annual edition tax guide will help you determine:
- If you are considered a church employee or a self-employed minister
- When, how and what forms to use when filing your income tax return for different income levels
- How to file joint returns
- What is included in your parsonage allowance
- How to report different kinds of income
- What income should not be reported
- How to calculate and report your tax deductions, credits and exemptions
- What role your retirement planning plays in taxes
You can find this resource on Pension Fund's website. For even more tax tips, you can also access the "Tax Reminders for 2014" article in the 2013 Winter Bridge publication.
Feel free to share this resource with your tax-weary friends and colleagues!
Variety of gifts, variety of calls
There are a number of position openings across the life of the church that may have escaped your notice. Please pass these on to people you think might be qualified.
Program Director for Disciple Women sought
Disciples Women is looking for an African American woman to serve as Program Director - Merger Staff who is excited about working with the women of the Disciples Church, who has multi-tasking skills, and who enjoys travel and meeting and working with a diverse group of people. [Brief history of the merger of the historic African American Disciples' organization into the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) completed in 1969. Staff and resources are dedicated to assure ministry and spiritual growth opportunity remains a part of the Disciples in African American churches and communities.]
As merger staff this person would also be working with the National Convocation providing leadership training, staff support for Executive Committee and Convocation and Black Ministers' retreats as they pertain to women's ministry.
A good candidate for this position:
- Someone who is excited about women's ministries of all sorts and is able to dream about new possibilities.
- This woman would have multiple tasks and would need to be able to move between responsibilities easily.
- This person would be expected to edit, organize, and manage documents, studies, etc.
- A second language would be a plus but is not a necessity.
- The candidate does not need to be clergy but the ability to keep information confidential and provide pastoral care is necessary.
Relocation to Indianapolis is required. Candidates will also be required to pass a background check. No e-mail submissions will be accepted.
If you or someone you know is interested please read the job description that provides more detail and submit your resume by March 1 to:
Rev. Dr. Patricia Donahoo
P.O. Box 1986
Indianapolis, IN 46206.
No email submissions will be accepted.
Other positions
NBA Associate Vice President for Operations applications due Jan. 24
Christian Church in Northern California-Nevada searching for regional minister
Christian Church in Oklahoma searching for regional minister
| 
