PROCEDURES FOR STARTING A NEW CHURCH / MINISTRY ORGANIZATION

[Apostle George W Jobe]

PROCEDURES FOR STARTING A NEW CHURCH / MINISTRY ORGANIZATION

By: The Job Group Consultant Servicers

 

When starting a new church or organization it is recommended that you secure the services of The Job Group; however, if you are able to research and follow directions, the ensuing procedures will help you in starting a new church.

 

I. NAME RESERVATION:

 

Prior to incorporation a name must be reserved at the office of the Secretary of State in the state where you are incorporating. You may reserve this name at the Corporations Division web site of the Secretary of State. An

Approval number that remains in effect for 90 days will be provided by return e-mail within one business hour of receipt of the request, and often within minutes. This number is very important and will be recorded on the Transmittal Form that is filed with the articles of incorporation. A reservation

Number may also be obtained by faxing a request or by writing to the Office

Of Secretary of State, Corporation Division. When reserving this number you must provide the name, address and telephone number of the person making the request. Reservations are usually not available by telephone. All information needed is usually on the Secretary of State web-site.

 

II. RENT A LOCAL POST OFFICE BOX FOR THE CHURCH:

 

Before filing the Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State you will need a local address for the church. This should be in the city where the church will be. You will also need the street address for the Incorporator, which will usually be the Pastor. The incorporator cannot use a Post Office Box.

 

III. PREPARATION OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION:

 

A corporation is a legal entity with rights and privileges of other legal entities such as an individual. A corporation can sue, be sued, buy, sell, and borrow money etc., the same as an individual person. Every church/org. should incorporate so that the church is a separate entity from the members, thereby limiting the liability and risks of the individual members.

 

A corporation is governed by a board of directors. In starting a new church/org., we recommend that the founding pastor/president select the board. The number selected must be at least three and there must be more non family members than family members. We recommend selecting an odd number such as five or seven. These should be persons who have input into the pastor’s/president life and at least one should be their pastor/president or someone they are submitted to. This is very important if correction is needed in the future.

 

Using sample articles of incorporation, adapted for your church.org., prepare

Articles of Incorporation for the new church/org. Refer to the instructions from

the Secretary of State to be sure you include everything required for your state.

 

The address of the registered office and the registered agent must be a street address, and not a P.O. Box.

 

 

 

 

IV. FILING OF ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION:

 

The original and one copy of the articles of incorporation, a completed Transmittal Form, and a filing fee (Approximately $60) should be mailed to the Corporations Division at the appropriate address. The check should be made payable to “Secretary of State. A certificate of incorporation will be mailed back from the Secretary of State usually within three business days.

 

V. NOTICE OF INTENT TO INCORPORATE:

 

You will need to publish a notice of intent to incorporate in the newspaper which is the official legal organ of the county where the initial registered office of the corporation is to be located. This notice should be filed no later than the next business day after filing article

of incorporation with the secretary of state. The local paper could help you with this notice.

 

VI. ANNUAL REGISTRATION:

 

Each corporation must file an annual registration with the Secretary of State within 90 days of incorporation. The fee is nominal. The registration may be filed online or mailed in. You should receive a notice from the Secretary of State each year.

 

 

 

VII. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER:

 

Every corporation must have an employer identification number. You may obtain this number from the Internal Revenue Service by filing form SS-4, by calling 1-800-829-4933 or visit the IRS web site.

 

VIII. OBTAINING TAX EXEMPT STATUS:

 

A church is tax exempt according to the Internal Revenue service, but if any of your members are audited by the Internal Revenue Service you must prove that you are a church. Therefore, we recommend that you obtain tax

Exempt status by joining the Full Gospel Fellowship of Churches and Ministers International. An application may be obtained on their web-page. www.thefellowshiptoday.com

 

 

IX. OPENING A BANK ACCOUNT:

 

After obtaining your Employer Identification Number you should open a checking account at the bank you intend to do business with. Be sure to let them know that you want a business account that cuts off on the last day of the month. Also inquire if they have free checking for non-profit corporations. We also recommend that you open a savings account and start a weekly savings program.

 

X. PREPARE THE BY-LAWS OF THE CHURCH:

 

Using a sample copy of by-laws as an example prepares the by-laws of the church/org. corporation. This is a very important document and will determine what you can legally do or cannot do in the future. If you are ever checked by the Internal Revenue Service they will determine if you are living by your by-laws. Read this document over very carefully and be sure that you understand and agree with what is included therein.

 

XI. MINUTES OF FIRST MEETING:

 

Prepare and sign the minutes of the first meeting of the Board of Directors of the corporation.

 

Minutes are the legal authorization for what the corporation can do. Officers have the authority to carry on the day to day operations of the church as long as they act within the guidelines of the by-laws. All actions not covered

By the by-laws should be authorized by minutes properly signed by the board members. You do not always have to have an official meeting as long as all the board members agree and approve the minutes.

 

One item that must always be in the official minutes of the corporation is the payment of a housing allowance to ordained ministers. These minutes should be approved prior to the beginning of the year in which the housing

Allowance is to be paid. The housing allowance cannot be approved after the fact.

 

XII. REMUNERATION OF PASTOR/President:

 

Every new church should have a remuneration agreement for the Pastor/President. This agreement should include a reasonable salary, housing allowance, and expense reimbursement plan with a stipulation that these will be paid as

Funds are available. It should also stipulate that if funds are not available to cover everything, the non-taxable items such as expense reimbursements and housing will be paid first.

 

XIII. FINANCIAL GUIDELINES:

It is very important that all monies received by the church/org. are handled with the utmost integrity and controls.

 

Every offering should be counted by two ushers or designated counters. All monies should be deposited in a bank account. The person making the deposit should reconcile with the initial count. This is an important function and gives you good internal control over your monies. At the end of each month the bank account should be reconciled or at least reviewed by someone other than the person making the deposits and writing the checks.

 

It is also recommend that a monthly financial statement be displayed in a ring binder in the foyer or other convenient place where members can have access to these statements.

 

XIV. CORPORATE SEAL:

 

Immediately after incorporation you should order a corporate seal. This may be ordered from an office supply store and will usually take several weeks to obtain. This seal is very important for all legal documents.

Apostle George W Jobe 
CEO The Job Group Consultant Servicers
P.O. Box 309
Bedford, TX 76095
817-929-7704 for more information 

 

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