In the past, churches, synagogues and other religious organizations were not run on a business model. This is because many people had the misguided notion that business had no place in church. Many believed that at church the focus should be strictly on God and that everything else would take care of itself. The first part of that statement is certainly true but the second half can and does often lead to trouble. This is because a religious organization not only takes in money on a regular basis but also has a lot of expenses. For example, there is the pastor, rabbi or other religious leader’s salary, the salary of the office staff, any mortgage note if the building is not paid for, expenses for charitable activities, and the list goes on. Because of this, it is important for a church to put much consideration and thought into the way its affairs are handled. Some important things to consider are: seek the advice of the appropriate professionals and eliminate admin rights within the computer network.
Many religious organizations rely on their parishioners to provide the services that they need. This is because there is a feeling of camaraderie and ownership among members of the organization. And while that is great, it is important not to rely too heavily on unskilled persons when tasks clearly require a professional eye. For example, when it comes to the balancing of the books, make sure to retain the services of an accountant. Remember, there is a lot of money coming in and out of the organization and a professional accountant will generally be more adept at managing the funds.
