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~ Addressing Congregational Finance and Administration ~

In This Issue

Lay Pensions

Convention Registration

Discounted Software

Housing Resolutions

Year-End Contributions

Deadlines

November 15

Mission Share Pledges DUE

December 31

Last day to donate to the 2014 Bishop's Appeal

January 23

Convention Registration Ends

January 31

Vestry Training

May 2

Leadership Academy

Quick Links

Manual of Business Methods in Church Affairs

Peter K 5 Minutes to Fitness

Diocesan Finance

Parochial Reports

Audit Guidelines

Stay Connected

December 2014

Julie Young

December is a busy month for churches! While it should be all about Advent and preparations for Christmas, most of us are finishing up our stewardship drives, finalizing next year's budget and finding new vestry members.

My hope for you during this Advent season is that you find pockets of quiet time to renew your spirit. Listen to contemplative music, commit to reading a brief daily devotional, take a walk, keep a gratitude journal -- the work will always be there!

Respectfully,

Canon Julie Young

Canon for Finance and Administration and Diocesan Treasurer

jyoung@edsd.org

Office of the Bishop Address

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego

2083 Sunset Cliffs Blvd.

San Diego, CA 92107

Changes in Lay Pension Requirements for Schools

Schools are subject to the lay pension requirements of the Episcopal Church. In 2014, churches were obligated to a 1% pension payment for all school employees working more than 1,000 hours per year. In 2015, the percentage is increased and a match is required.

Extended Phase-In Schedule of Employer Contributions for Schools Only

	Base Contribution	Match Contribution
Jan. 1, 2013	0%	0%
Jan. 1, 2014	1%	0%
Jan. 1, 2015	2%	1%
Jan. 1, 2016	3%	2%
Jan. 1, 2017	4%	3%
Jan. 1, 2017	5%	4%

All convention delegates and dinner attendees should register online for the 2015 Diocesan Convention to be held at St. John's, 760 First Avenue, Chula Vista on Friday, February 13 and Saturday, February 14. Register here.

Discounted Software Available from TechSoup

Techsoup is an online provider of business software and sells at a discounted rate to nonprofits. Although churches have long qualified to be members of techsoup, few software vendors allowed their products to be provided to churches at the discounted rates. That is now changing with Microsoft and Intuit (quickbooks) leading the way. More information can be found on the Techsoup website.

Housing Resolutions

Don't forget to have your vestry pass a housing resolution for your priests so that they can benefit from the income tax exemption on the cost of housing. Templates reside on the diocesan website. New to the website is a housing resolution tailored to clergy living in rectories.

Year-End Contribution Guidelines

Church Law & Tax Report has sent me several packets of their publication "Seven Things Every Church Member Needs to Know." They come in a size that would be easy to stuff in your Sunday bulletin - probably about 100 to a packet. If you want a packet, email Diana Rubi and we will send one to you!

SECA vs FICA

Parish and mission priests are typically employees when it comes to income tax so they should get a W2. However, they are self-employed for social security and medicare taxes. Therefore, they should not have FICA taken out of their paycheck, nor should you as the employer pay the employer portion of FICA.

2014 Audit Guidelines

Many of you are still finishing up your 2013 audits but now is the time to think about the 2014 audit. A review of the guidelines will tell you whether you need to be budgeting for an external audit or audit review. Audit guidelines are available online. Audit binders will be sent this year in early February; audit training will take place at the Leadership Academy on May 2.

Parochial Reports

You should receive your parochial report form from the Episcopal Church soon if you have not already. We will offer webinar training on how to pull together the parochial report financial information on January 15 at 3 p.m. If you would like to participate; email Rosa Feeney. Parochial reports are due March 1, 2015. This year, we ask you to provide your 2014 financial statement (reconciling the financials with the parochial report) and 2015 budget with your parochial report.

Imputed Income

Don't forget to ask your payroll provider to report life insurance imputed income for your clergy on their W2 -- box 12c.

Building Your Vestry

January elections are right around the corner. The Episcopal Church Foundation provides some helpful tools for finding the right vestry/bishop's committee members for your congregation including resources in both English and Spanish. Vestry Training will be held on Saturday, January 31 at St. Thomas of Canterbury, 44651 Avenida de Missiones, Temecula, 9 a.m. - 12 p.m. The bishop and diocesan canons will spend half a day orienting vestry and bishop's committee members and wardens on the key elements and responsibilities for serving on a vestry. Mark your calendar!

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego and its employees do not provide, and none of the information furnished in this email should be viewed as investment, tax, or legal advice. The content of this email is provided for your information purposes only.

The Episcopal Diocese of San Diego | 619-481-5453 | jyoung@edsd.org | www.edsd.org

~ Serving and Assisting Financial and Administrative Leaders ~