
Money & Mission
Volume VII, Issue 5 - December 7, 2016
Editorial: The 100-Year Life
A book published earlier this year The 100-Year Life: Living and Working in an Age of Longevity (by Lynda Gratton and Andrew Scott) has attracted a good deal of attention. It points out that while someone born in 1945 might have expected to live for eight years after retirement, with increased life expectancy the person born in 1998 might expect, assuming the same number of years in the work force, to be retired for 35 years.
Current pension plans could not fund such life expectancies, so retirement ages will have to be raised. But there are other implications: if one works for 50 or 55 years rather than 40, education and training received after high school will be even less sufficient for an entire career than it is now. Also, will people want to work at the same job for 50 years?
A recent editorial in The Economist captured the issues this way:
“Retirement would become a more distant option for most, since pension pots would have to be enormous to support their extended lifespans. To this end, the portfolio career would become the rule and education would have to change accordingly. People might go back to school in their 50s to learn how to do something completely different… The accountant might become a doctor. The lawyer, a charity worker… The promise of a long life, well lived, would round a person out.”
If you are now in your twenties or thirties, have you considered what your second career might be? How will you prepare for it?
Corps Sustainability: A Third Reaction
By Captain Rick Honcharsky, Corps Officer
This is the last in a series of three articles responding to the issues raised by Colonel Glen Shepherd in the October 19, 2016 issue of Money & Mission.
I have been asked to write a third comment on Colonel Glen Shepherd’s article “What if Our Corps Are Not Sustainable?” As a corps officer, perhaps I can provide a different perspective from the two responses by DSBAs.
I agree that our mission to “share the love of Jesus Christ, meet human needs and to be a transforming influence in our communities” is foundational. However, we must remember that mission and finances work together as we pursue that mission.
Karen Coley in her comment focused on informing the congregation of the financial needs and teaching on tithing and generosity. I believe that is only half the equation of good stewardship. The other half is how the local leadership spends those congregational tithes.
A resistance to change was mentioned, mainly in the context of mission effectiveness, but it is much larger in scope. We have not only failed to adapt and respond to our communities’ needs, but also failed to restructure our corps to be financially viable.
Few corps, save the larger ones, can afford two corps officers. There are a number of ways to engage one officer, of a couple, in ministry that is covered outside the corps budget. Circuit ministry, split appointments and family services’ appointments have all been employed to minimize the expense of officers to corps.
Furthermore, the Army has consolidated the finances and payroll of all ministry units with the THQ finance department. This recognized that few corps had the expertise to navigate the increasing complexities of these systems. With advances in technology we are able to do more with less. Unfortunately, the “less” usually translates into a reduction in staff. However, as corps leadership continually becomes redefined and broadened, we must explore creative ways to accomplish our mission more efficiently.
When Jesus was sending his disciples out for ministry he advised them to be “as shrewd [wise] as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 10:16). As we engage in mission, can we be any less?
Year-End Contribution Receipts Using Shelby
With the New Year fast approaching, it will soon be time for you to issue annual receipts for local contributions processed through Shelby’s contribution module. Here are some important reminders about the process.
- Print receipts from the contribution module using the Reports/Statements option. Do this in early January, after you have recorded all contributions for the prior year.
- Use “SA Laser Receipt” as the format for your receipts.
- Issue receipts for contributions received and deposited between January 1, 2016 and December 31, 2016.
- Ensure that the date on your contribution statements is December 31, 2016.
- Review your statement before final printing. You can do this in several ways: through a test run of 10 (by ticking the option box), by printing all statements to plain paper, or by saving them as a PDF document.
- Correct any errors by posting adjusting contributions.
- Print your final receipts on standard pre-numbered receipt forms, arrange for their signature, and then distribute two copies to each donor. Make sure that you retain one copy for your records.
- Consider including a separate letter of thanks with the receipts to show your appreciation.
- If you discover errors on final receipts, you must mark the original as “Void”. Ensure that replacement receipts carry the notation “Replacement receipt for receipt ######”.
Please refer to Section 011403 of the Territorial Finance Manual for further details. And remember, there are no special calendar year-end procedures in Shelby. Simply follow your normal monthly processes for receipting.
Did You Know? "Gifting and Receipting" Video
The Charities Directorate of the Canada Revenue Agency has announced that the first educational video in its “Gifting and Receipting” series is available. “Gifting and Receipting 101” covers the types of donations for which registered charities and other qualified donees can issue a tax receipt, and the various rules on receipting.
Finance Department Offices
Toronto, ON M4H 1P4
(416) 425.2111 ext. 2237
116 - 276 Midpark Way SE
Calgary AB T2X 1J6
(403) 201.9223
884 - 167 Lombard Ave
Winnipeg MB R3B 0T6
(204) 975.0735
101 - 85 Thorburn Rd
St. John's NL A1B 3M2
(709) 579.3919
For more information...
For more information about the Finance Department, please visit http://salvationist.ca/departments/finance/
To subscribe:
Please click on the orange "Follow Money & Mission" button and enter your name and email address. You will then be added to our mailing list.
To unsubscribe, please click on the green "Contact Money & Mission" button and send a message saying "unsubscribe".
Money & Mission Editorial Team
Managing Editor:
Senior Editor:
Paul Goodyear
Design Editor & Production Manager:
Angela Robertson
French Translator:
The Salvation Army Translation Department