Gateway Conference Pastors and Church Treasurers

2025-2026 Handbook

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Pastors and Church Treasurers Handbook 2025-2026 Index:

General Information in preparation for preparing budget-pages 3-4

2026 Budget Worksheet – page 5

Parsonage Allowance – pages 6-7

Professional Expenses – page 7

W-2 & W-3 Worksheet – page 8

2026 Equal Participation Plan Church Assessments Information (Home Ministries) – pages 9

State of Illinois Mandatory Requirements for Anti-Harassment Training, Anti-Harassment Poster requirement and Employee Handbook-page 9-10          

State of Illinois Mandatory Reporting Law and requirements-pages 10

Charitable Contributions (cash and non-cash, including car donations) – pages 11-12

Tithe/Offering Form – page 13

Gateway Conference Board of Administration Standing Rules & Recommendations-pages 14-20

Guidelines for Local Churches and Treasurers and Auditors – pages 17-19

Ministerial Education & Guidance (MEGA) Guidelines-pages 21-24

MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Compensation-page 21

MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Benefits – pages 21

MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Vacation Policy-page 21

MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Sick Leave – page 21-22

MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Family & Medical Leave – pages 22-23

MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Moving Expense Reimbursement-pages 23-24

MEGA Guidelines Pastoral Enrichment Leave (Sabbatical) – page 24

Roth 403 (b) Plan available-page 24-25

Aplos Accounting System through Gateway Conference update-page 26

Pastor (GAPS) and Pastor’s Children Scholarship information – page 26

Pastor’s Children Scholarship application – page 27

Pastors GAPS Application – page 28

Pastors GAPS Reference Form – page 29

Local Church Grant Initiatives Information, Letter of Inquiry Template, Deadlines-pages 29-32

Incorporation requirements from FMCUSA-page 32

Health Insurance information – page 33

Pension Information –pages 34-37

Checklist for Pastors and Treasurers – pages 37-38

Gateway Pastor Requirements – pages 38-39

Church Excel Resource through FMCUSA-page 39

FMFinancial-page 39

MissionInsite offered through Gateway Conference-pages 39-40

Financial Health Resource offered through FMCUSA and FMFinancial-page 40

Gateway Conference resources link-page 40

Gateway Conference Scholarship Fund link – page 40

FMCUSA website – page 40

FMCUSA Human Resources link – page 40

FMCUSA legal resources link – page 40

The Free Methodist Way link – page 40

The Center for Pastoral Transformation link – page 40

2023 Book of Discipline link – page 40

Brother Mutual Worker Classification information link – page 40

Distinguishing Employees from Volunteers link – page 40

Document Retention link Information-page 40