Congregational Treasurers Information:
Financial Guidelines for Churches and Pastors: assists congregations in handling pastor and other church employee salaries and benefits as well as other congregational finances.
Compensation Guidelines for Pastors: The Conference Board Ministerial Committee has developed a document to help congregations process the salaries and benefits for their pastors.
2011 Financial Audit Report: for Franconia Mennonite Conference and Franconia Mennonite Board of Missions and Charities (aka FMC Properties) from the fiscal year February 2010 – January 2011.
Where do contributions to Franconia Conference go?An illustration how undesignated contributions to Franconia Conference are currently budgeted for the Fiscal Year ending January 2009.
Churchwide Information:
MC USA – Congregational and Ministerial Leadership Salary Guidelines: Mennonite Church USA web site that provides guidelines for the calculation of salaries for ministers and other church employees.
FirstFruits Direct Giving: Information about direct giving, via electronic funds transfers, for individuals to contribute to congregations and broader denominational agencies.
Ministry Resource Fund grants available:
Missional Operations Grants: Franconia Mennonite Conference offers Missional Operations Grants to conference related ministries and Partners In Mission who are building on the Mennonite tradition of faith and want to try new initiatives to find new and creative ways to engage others, seeking ways to reach out to their communities or to people around the globe. Download application.
Area Conference Leadership Fund: A fund has been established, through contributions by the Delaware Valley chapter of Mennonite Economic Development Associates and others, to assist persons who are applying for an Anabaptist church leadership and/or seminary education in preparation for church-related non-traditional ministries. Nontraditional forms of education, such as distance learning and e-mail, will be considered in addition to on-campus experiences. Download application here.
Nancy Lapp Memorial Fund: This fund, currently under construction, will assist women in church leadership ministries.
Opportunities to invest in the Ministries of Franconia Mennonite Conference
Global Ministry Initiatives and Partnerships:
The Worm Project: is a global initiative striving to relieve the suffering of millions of children around the world by distributing pills, which purge worms from the intestinal tract. Each pill costs a few cents and is good for six months!
Mexico – Franconia Mennonite Conference has been involved with diverse initiatives in Mexico for half a century. As the relationships have matured, the partnerships for equipping, empowering and embracing God’s mission have continued to grow and change. Currently, Mexico initiatives include church-planting, equipping events, evangelistic outreach, healthcare initiatives, education and justice and peacemaking. Key partners include RIMA, (Red de Iglesias Misioneras Anabautistas), Iglesia de Tierra Prometida and CIEAMM (Concilio de Iglesias Evangelicos Anabautistas Menonitas de Mexico).
Haiti – The Grace Assembly Network in Haiti consists of 24 congregations, 3 church plants and 7 schools. Leadership training and stability are key issues for the future of this vibrant network, located in the poorest nation in the western hemisphere. Decades of political instability have created extreme economic hardships for these capable but unpaid pastors, who are often enticed to leave the country so they can better provide for their families. Franconia Conference and the Hopewell Network of churches are providing coaching and business expertise to help Grace Assembly leaders begin self-sustaining micro-businesses. Your contribution can provide a Haitian leader with needed capital to begin a micro-business, earn a steady income and provide a solid foundation for their continued ministry in Haiti.
Broader Missional Initiatives – Missional initiatives take many forms and are embodied through a diversity of responses. Current initiatives include work in Israel, Indonesia, the Caribbean, Chile, London and across the highly-populated and diverse Northeast Corridor of the United States. Funds can be designated for equipping leaders, initiating congregations or building intercultural and missional partnerships.
Via Projects are intended for engaged learning connected with being and living the good news in the world. Contribute here to support the efforts of Franconia Conference alongside students at Biblical Seminary in their learning and serving in the Middle East.
Ministers Retirement Fund donations will assist pastors and/or their spouses who served in conference congregations before retirement accounts were established for them. For more information, contact Conrad Martin: e-mail or 267-932-6050.
Franconia Conference General Fund donations support the overall ministries of the conference.
Ministry Resource Funds (MRF): MRF donations designated “Missions” will fund Missional Operations Grants used for global-related ministries.
Undesignated MRF donations will fund Missional Operations Grants used for local, regional or national ministries.
Area Conference Leadership Fund (a Clayton Kratz Memorial) donations contribute to a scholarship fund that gives grants to persons entering seminary level education for future church ministry leadership. For more information view this PDF.
Nancy Lapp Memorial Fund donations contribute to a fund that will assist women in church leadership ministries. More information will become available soon.
Conference Prayer Ministry donations contribute to the activities of the conference Prayer Coordinator and the network of prayer partners throughout the conference. For more information, click here or contact Sandy Landes, slandes@franconiaconference.org or 267-932-6050 x116.
Donations can also be sent by check to:
Franconia Mennonite Conference
569 Yoder Road
Harleysville, PA 19438
Please designate which ministry you wish to support. Undesignated contributions will support the Franconia Conference General Fund.
Internet Resources
- MennoSource: A list of resources on Stewardship for purchase on Mennonite Church USA’s resourcing website.
- The Stewardship Difference: Resources and information from Everence.
- Teleios: Everence’s stewardship newsletter for pastors
- Living Stewardship: An e-newsletter for those with an interest in integrating the stewardship of their finances with their faith – and all through a holistic approach that incorporates the stewardship of time, talents, health, and relationships as well.
Ecumenical Stewardship Resources
- Good $ense Budgeting Ministry: The Good $ense Budgeting Ministry has everything you need to implement a year-round, biblically-based stewardship ministry in your church. Good $ense resources help encourage your congregation as together you discover the freedom of biblical stewardship. Good Sense is a ministry of Willow Creek Association, in partnership with Everence.
- Christian Stewardship Resources from CSS Publishing Company
- TheGoodSteward.com: A constantly growing collection of information and tools on all areas of stewardship.
- The Christian Stewardship Association: Influencing the world for Jesus Christ by equipping Christian leaders with an understanding of biblical stewardship through education, research, resources and networking activities.
- Ministry of Money: Exploring money and spirituality: A loving, prophetic Christian ministry that encourages all persons to become free from their attachment to cultural values regarding money and to live out joyfully God’s call for their lives and resources.
- ShareSaveSpend.com: A biblically-based website to help people of all ages develop and maintain healthy financial habits
Published or Video Resources
- Church Finance Today: A monthly review of accounting, financial and tax developments effecting churches and clergy
- Church Law & Tax Report: A bi-monthly review of legal issues facing congregations
- 2011 Church & Clergy Tax Guide: An annual publication giving a review on tax issues facing congregations*
- Faithful & Wise: Being a Good Steward: A DVD by Mark Vincent with a six-lesson curriculum for small group discussions on various stewardship topics
- A Christian View of Money:Celebrating God’s Generosity: By Mark Vincent, an excellent teaching tool on stewardship
*Available at the Franconia Mennonite Conference office, Phone: 267-932-6050
January 1 New yearly rates begin for mileage reimbursements, Social Security/Medicare taxes, “self employment” taxes, federal, state & local taxes, etc.
January 15 File federal income taxes for non-minister employees for the period Sep 1 – Dec 31.
January 31 File Form W-2 for previous year’s employment year. File Form 1099 & Form 1096 for self-employed persons paid in previous year.
April 15 Individual tax returns must be filed by this date.
April 15 File federal income taxes for non-minister employees for the period Jan 1 – Mar 31.
May 15 File Form 990-T for unrelated business income taxes from the previous year.
June 15 File federal income taxes for non-minister employees for the period Apr 1 – May 31.
September 15 File federal income taxes for non-minister employees for the period Jun 1 – Aug 31.
November 25 Send forecast of contributions to conference ministries for next calendar year to conference treasurer.
December 1 Time to establish the Housing Allowance amounts for ministers for the next year.
December 31 Last date for receiving contributions for the previous year. Any mail with a postmark of 12/31 or before can be included in the previous year, no matter when it was received.