On Saturday, November 23 the Associated Press reported that a federal judge in Wisconsin has struck down the law that gives clergy a housing allowance that is excluded from income tax. An important element of this ruling is that the housing allowances of pastors remain unaffected, because the ruling has been stayed by the judge until the appeals are exhausted. This morning Thom Rainer of Lifeway Resources provided his response to this news. It includes a statement from the Southern Baptist Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and Guidestone Resources. To read Rainer’s response and the statement go to http://thomrainer.com/2013/11/25/thoughts-on-the-court-ruling-on-the-ministers-housing-allowance.  To read the press release from the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) see http://www.ecfa.org/Content/Federal-District-Court-Rules-Clergy-Housing-Exclusion-Unconstitutional. EPC leadership will keep a close watch on this issue as it develops.

Alan Conrow, Assistant Pastor at Fellowship EPC of South Lyon, MI, has written a small group study entitled The Path of Discipleship: A Journey Toward Whole-Life Worship. This book is designed to help believers discover what Jesus wants for their life and how He wants to lead them there. The book is available at Amazon for $9.68.

To ensure tax deductibility of contributions to the church, the church needs to issue acknowledgement in writing of the contributions and contributors should not file their 2013 tax returns until they have received that acknowledgement.

ManagingYourChurch.com (part of Christianity Today) suggests the following notification in newsletters and/or  bulletins:

IMPORTANT NOTICE: To ensure the deductibility of your church contributions, do not file your 2013 income tax return until you have received a written acknowledgment of your contributions from the church. Some of your contributions may not be tax-deductible if you file your tax return before receiving a written acknowledgement of your contributions from the church.

Click here to see the full article from ManagingYourChurch.com.

INDIANAPOLIS COLTS ANNOUNCE PASTOR ROBERT HOCK AN INDIANAPOLIS “ANGEL”

The Indianapolis Colts proudly announced Pastor Robert Hock, an Indianapolis, Indiana resident, as a 2013 honoree of the Colts Anthem Angels program, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Pastor Hock was recognized at the Colts home game on Sunday, September 15, 2013, for his outstanding contributions to the community.

Hock is the pastor at Southport Presbyterian Church in Indianapolis and a key component in the aftermath of the Richmond Hills Explosion in 2012. He assisted in coordinating and authorizing the use of the church for community meetings, established a one-stop shop facility for those affected by the disaster, created a safe place for meetings with Homeland Security, Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department, Indianapolis Fire Department and helped in many other capacities.

While Hock was invaluable to crisis-management during the weeks following the explosions, he also showed unwavering dedication to his community by being at the scene for twenty hours a day for over three weeks. Hock has been described as a true “Angel” for the residents of Richmond Hills during this tragic event that affected more than ninety homes and killed two people. He selflessly devoted himself to the well-being of his community and not only provided a place of solace from the trauma of this tragedy, but also created a place of hope for the residents of Richmond Hills.

“Anthem Angels…Honoring Everyday Heroes” was established by the Indianapolis Colts and Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to pay tribute to Hoosier “First Respondents” who may have received little or no recognition for the strides they have made to help others in human-service related professions.

In honor of Hock’s heroism, he received four (4) VIP Club Seat Tickets to the Colts game, a feature story with his photo in the Colts gameday magazine (the Scout) and on www.colts.com, as well as on-field recognition at the game.

Nominations are currently being accepted for upcoming 2013 home games. For more information about Anthem Angels, presented by Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, please visit: www.colts.com/anthemangels.

Each year we pubish a “family snapshot” of the EPC by way of the Annual Statistical and Financial Report. Be part of the photo and send in your Report by entering data on www.epcdata.org by March 31.  The site will be closed to new entries on April 1.  If you need a copy of your church’s customized worksheet (mailed the first week of February), please email Carol Templin (carol.templin@epc.org).  If you cannot complete the report by March 31, please mail, fax or email a copy of your Worksheet to the Office of the General Assembly:

Evangelical Presbyterian Church
17197 N. Laurel Park Dr., Ste 567
Livonia, MI 48152
Fax: 734-742-2033
email:epchurch@epc.org

Worksheets for 2012 Annual Statistical and Financial Reports have been mailed to Clerks of Session of all EPC churches that were part of the denomination as of December 31, 2012.

After gathering the data, use the worksheet and enter the data on www.epcdata.org.  The data collection site is open until March 31.

If you did not receive a Worksheet, please contact the Office of the Stated Clerk at epchurch@epc.org.

When we read in Genesis 12 how Abraham answered the call from God to “Go from your country to a land that I will show you”, we marvel at God’s grace and Abraham’s obedience and faith. We don’t tend to think about the logistics of packing up and moving!
But today, if you are answering the call, or as a church you are issuing the call, those logistics become important.

Several years ago, the EPC’s Committee on Administration, on recommendation of the Minsiterial Vocation Committee, approved an agreement giving EPC churches and ministers access to a resource available from United Van Lines. On file with United is an agreement making special terms and discounts available to any EPC church, minister, or staff position.

The agreement is administered by Armstrong Relocation and Companies, one of the largest United agents in the country. Armstrong Relocation, headquartered in Memphis, TN, has twenty-two United agencies in thirteen states, and a fleet of over 300 qualified United drivers in their fleet. Armstrong Relocation has partnerships with over 500 United Van Lines agencies across all fifty states, and may assist as your relocation provider no matter where you are located.

The United agreement is coordinated out of the Chattanooga office of Armstrong Relocation. To receive a free estimate, call 1-800-283-5814, and be sure to identify yourself as an ECP church, minister, or other staff position. You may also visit the website @ www.armstronglocalmovers.com where you may request an estimate on-line. In the notes section of the request form, please again identify your association with the Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has released their 2013 electronic edition of Reporting Procedures for Congregations, based on the book The 2013 Church and Nonprofit Tax & Financial Guide published by Zondervan.

Download the abridged Reporting Procedures for Congregations

Buy the full book from the ECFA online bookstore

The Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) has released their 2013 electronic edition of Preparing Tax Returns for Clergy, based on the book 2013 Minister’s Tax & Financial Guide by Zondervan.

Download the abridged electronic version

Purchase the full version from the ECFA book store

The Ministerial Vocation Committee of the General Assembly is gathering information from recently ordained ministers and candidate advisors in all presbyteries on what practices have worked effectively in the candidate advising process.

Have you served as an advisor to a candidate? Please take the Advisors Survey. It should take less than 10 minutes.

Have you been ordained since January 1, 2010?  Please take the Recent Candidates Survey, reflecting on your experience as a candidate.

The results will be published as a “Best Practices” documents as an aid to EPC Ministerial and Candidates Committees in our presbyteries.