Contact: Ron Keener, 800-541-2670 ext. 204
 
PHOENIX, March 21 /Christian Newswire/ -- "Economic trends are making headlines with increasing regularity--and with implications for your church, as well," says Mark Jones, vice president and senior banking consultant for Evangelical Christian Credit Union (ECCU).

"If people in your community are losing their jobs or homes, facing layoffs or salary freezes, or losing instead of making money on their investments, they'll soon be giving less," says Jones. "Maybe they already are. In the short term, this translates into tighter cash flow."

Jones will be a keynote speaker at the May 19-20 Pastor Power Workshop titled "Managing the Money: Transactions and Transparency." The workshop is sponsored by "Church Executive" magazine at the Gaylord Texan Resort in Grapevine, TX. Church Executive is the leading business magazine for larger and megachurches that reaches 20,000 readers on the administrative and management side of church life.

And what about the long run effect of the downturn on churches and their members? "That depends to a significant degree on how you respond now, before cash flow concerns become a crisis that forces you to react," says Jones. Jones' workshop session will help churches prepare for a drop in giving by:

• Assessing the local economic environment
• Doing a cash flow analysis and forecast
• Determining adequate reserves
• Preparing a plan to achieve your reserve target
• Securing a line of credit
• Controlling costs
• Reviewing the cash flow forecast monthly

Other presenters in the two-day workshop, focused on senior pastors, executive pastors, and business administrators, are:

• Kenneth Behr, president, Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability, Winchester, VA, talking on "Strategic Planning for the Health of Your Church" and "Financial Integrity in the Church."
• Paul Clark, Executive Pastor of Operations, Fairhaven Church, Dayton, OH, in three sessions on the financial staff, using financial reports, and the budgeting process and best practices.
• James E. Guinn, CPA, of the Dallas firm of Guinn, Smith & Co., addressing clergy compensation, IRS oversight, and intermediate sanctions.
• Barry E. Hughes, former pastor of a Louisiana church that experienced employee embezzlement; now at Perkins School of Theology, Dallas, TX.

Workshop registration at ChurchExecutive.com or call 800-541-2670 x211.