Pastors and Church Treasurers Handbook 2024-2025 Index:
General Information in preparation for preparing budget-pages 3-4
2025 Budget Worksheet – page 5
Parsonage Allowance – pages 6-7
Professional Expenses – page 7
W-2 & W-3 Worksheet – page 8
2025 Equal Participation Plan Church Assessments Information (Home Ministries) – page 9
2025 Equal Participation Plan information from FMCUSA – pages 9-11
State of Illinois Mandatory Requirements for Anti-Harassment Training, Anti-Harassment Poster requirement and Employee Handbook-page 11
State of Illinois Mandatory Reporting Law and requirements-pages 12-13
Charitable Contributions (cash and non-cash, including car donations) – pages 13-14
Tithe/Offering Form – page 15
Gateway Conference Board of Administration Standing Rules & Recommendations-pages 16-21
Guidelines for Local Churches and Treasurers and Auditors – pages 20-21
Ministerial Education & Guidance (MEGA) Guidelines-pages 23-26
MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Compensation-page 23
MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Benefits – pages 23
MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Vacation Policy-page 23
MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Sick Leave – page 24
MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Family & Medical Leave – pages 24-25
MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Moving Expense Reimbursement-page 25-26
MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Enrichment Leave (Sabbatical) – page 26
Roth 403 (b) Plan available-page 27-28
Aplos Accounting System Discount through Gateway Conference-page 28
Pastor (GAPS) and Pastor’s Children Scholarship information – page 28
Pastor’s Children Scholarship application – page 29
Pastors GAPS Application – page 30
Pastors GAPS Reference Form – page 31
Local Church Grant Initiatives Information, Letter of Inquiry Template, Deadlines-pages 31-34
Incorporation requirements from FMCUSA-page 34
Overtime rules effective January 1, 2020-pages 35-37
Health Insurance information – page 38
Pension Information –pages 39-42
Checklist for Pastors and Treasurers – pages 42-43
Gateway Pastor Requirements – page 43
Church Excel Resource through FMCUSA-page 43
FMFinancial-pages 43-44
MissionInsite offered through Gateway Conference-page 44
Financial Health Resource offered through FMCUSA and FMFinancial-page 44
Additional resources:
Gateway Conference resources link-page 44
Gateway Conference Scholarship Fund link – page 44
FMCUSA website – page 44
FMCUSA Human Resources link – page 44
FMCUSA legal resources link – page 44
The Free Methodist Way link – page 44
The Center for Pastoral Transformation link – page 45
2023 Book of Discipline link – page 45
Brother Mutual Worker Classification information link – page 45
Distinguishing Employees from Volunteers link – page 45