Pounce Online

Issue date: 11/16/07 Section: Arts and Entertainment

The Newman Catholic Center, which is based at 500 Roosevelt Ave. in Charleston across Andrews and Lawson Halls, must follow the rules set down by the law in regards to its budget and how it is spent. (Seth Miller/Pounce Online)

"The people in churches are held to a higher standard, and I think they should be,"

- Roy Lanham - campus minister with the Newman Catholic Center

Priest and pastors do not receive training in management or economics. Their training is primarily in theology. The absence of training does not mean they are not accountable for the financial occurrences of the church.

Churches are classified as a 501(c)3 not for profit organization. This is a status given to them by the federal government. This status means that the churches do not pay taxes to the government on income, nor are property taxes paid.

This also means the church must keep records of its transactions. If any one in the government has questions about the use of money, the church's budgets must be given to show spending habits.

The absence of government oversight has become controversial recently. The government does not step in to look at the financial happenings of a church unless someone notices something wrong occurring.

"Churches can be secretive about money,' said Roy Lanham, campus minister with the Newman Catholic Center. "This does not mean we should be."

Churches have a structure set in place to watch over the spending and allocating of money. The Wesley Foundation sends their budget to a board of directors. This board of directors is nominated by and then approved by a conference of the United Methodist church, which the Wesley Foundation falls under. The board of directors reviews the budget. The church must also report back to the board of directors every two months about its spending habits.

The Newman Catholic Center operates much of the same way. It must submit a budget to its board of directors every year. Follow-ups to the budget are made monthly to the board of directors. The church must submit all of its bills and other documents. The church is not allowed to have any secret funds, such as Certificate's of Deposit.

The Newman Catholic Center receives most of its money from private individuals. This is commonplace for most churches. The church gets some grants from the government in the way of is performance of social services.

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