Key Topics Covered
- Clergy Tax Compliance
- Church Governance & Board Training
- Pastoral Compensation & Retirement Planning
- Fraud Prevention & Forensic Accounting
- Politics and the Pulpit:
- Risk Management and Asset Protection:
- Succession Planning:
- Hosted by Elbert T. Chester, Church financial litigator, forensic expert, and industry leader with 35+ years of experience
- National Media Credentials: Expertise recognized in over 300 media outlets
- Bonus Webinar: All registrants gain complimentary access to a live Governance and Strategy webinar on January 10, 2026
church clergy tax mgmt financial center of america
Questions from Attendees
1. Are clergy considered employees or self-employed for Social Security and Medicare taxes?
2. Does the church need to withhold federal income tax for ministers, or do ministers need to pay estimated taxes themselves?
3. How should churches handle reimbursements and business expenses for clergy to maintain compliance?
4. How should a church designate and document a housing or parsonage allowance for its clergy?
5. What governance structure does the IRS require for church tax exemption, and how should church boards be composed?
6. How must churches document board meetings and official decisions to satisfy IRS guidelines?
7. How should a church handle related-party transactions or situations where family members serve on the board?
8. What are the consequences of self-dealing or a lack of independent board oversight in a church organization?
9. How does the IRS detect and investigate potential abuses, such as excessive compensation or the use of church assets for personal benefit?
10. Which governance policies does the organization have in place (conflict of interest, whistleblower, document retention and destruction, gift acceptance, joint ventures)?
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