Treasurer
It is an esteemed honor to serve the South Atlantic Conference as Treasurer.
Together we have made great strides towards enhancing the functions of our treasury department.
We have made it a part of our mission to help conference members experience the joy of salvation through personal giving and the returning of tithes.
Special thanks to the treasury staff who serve our constituents faithfully.

TREASURER 
The Treasurer- Finances are an integral part of the ministry of the laity. Local church
finances are handled by a member of the congregation with business
skills elected to the important responsibility of church treasurer.
The
history of church treasurers goes back at least to 457 B.C. when Ezra
appointed guardians for the funds given for the work in Jerusalem. To
those given the care of the Lord’s goods Ezra commanded, “Ye are holy
unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold
are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers” Ezra 8:28. “The
care exercised by Ezra in providing for the transportation and safety
of the Lord’s treasure, teaches a lesson worthy of thoughtful study.
Only those whose trustworthiness had been proved, were chosen; and they
were instructed plainly regarding the responsibility resting on them. In
the appointment of faithful officers to act as treasurers of the Lord’s
goods, Ezra recognized the necessity and value of order and
organization in connection with the work of God” (Prophets and Kings,
page 617). Jesus and His traveling band of disciples also had
one designated to take charge of their funds. Jesus taught the
importance of the proper management and integrity in the handling of
monies. If it was important in the days of Ezra and of Christ
to have someone to take care of church funds, it is essential today. The
work of the church treasurer is sometimes not recognized as a ministry
because it is done behind the scenes. Nevertheless, it is a specialized,
vital ministry in which the treasurer exercises his or her spiritual
gifts.
- Finances are an integral part of the ministry of the laity. Local church
finances are handled by a member of the congregation with business
skills elected to the important responsibility of church treasurer.
The
history of church treasurers goes back at least to 457 B.C. when Ezra
appointed guardians for the funds given for the work in Jerusalem. To
those given the care of the Lord’s goods Ezra commanded, “Ye are holy
unto the Lord; the vessels are holy also; and the silver and the gold
are a freewill offering unto the Lord God of your fathers” Ezra 8:28. “The
care exercised by Ezra in providing for the transportation and safety
of the Lord’s treasure, teaches a lesson worthy of thoughtful study.
Only those whose trustworthiness had been proved, were chosen; and they
were instructed plainly regarding the responsibility resting on them. In
the appointment of faithful officers to act as treasurers of the Lord’s
goods, Ezra recognized the necessity and value of order and
organization in connection with the work of God” (Prophets and Kings,
page 617). Jesus and His traveling band of disciples also had
one designated to take charge of their funds. Jesus taught the
importance of the proper management and integrity in the handling of
monies. If it was important in the days of Ezra and of Christ
to have someone to take care of church funds, it is essential today. The
work of the church treasurer is sometimes not recognized as a ministry
because it is done behind the scenes. Nevertheless, it is a specialized,
vital ministry in which the treasurer exercises his or her spiritual
gifts. The whole congregation benefits indirectly from the work of the
treasurer. Duties of the Church Treasurer The
duties of the ministry to which a person is called when he or she
becomes a church treasurer can best be described in the following ways: 1.
Tithes and offerings. The treasurer receives the tithes and
offerings which come in on Sabbath morning or to the church office
during the week. It is a generally accepted safeguard to have two or
more deacons count the loose offerings as soon as possible after they
have been received before the money is turned over to the treasurer.
Ideally, the church will make provision for the safekeeping of the
church monies in a safe in the church office or arranging to use a bank
deposit box. 2. Receipting. All funds received
should be receipted as soon as possible. The offering envelopes are
opened and checked to see that each amount received tallies with what is
written on the envelope. All the receipts are then posted in the church
ledger by hand or computer. The keeping of these records is vital not
only for the auditor who will be checking them each year, but for the
members as well, who may need a list of their contributions. 3.
Banking. It is the responsibility of the treasurer to
deposit church monies in a local bank. Of course, this must be in a
separate account from that of the church treasurer’s personal account.
The account should be opened in the name of the local church according
the requirements of national and local law. 4. Records. The
treasurer needs to forward a copy of the church ledger pages to the
conference each month. This list of the month’s receipts should be
accompanied by a check covering the amount of tithe given and the
offerings received that were designated for the conference, union, or
General Conference projects. 5. Personal receipts. The
receipts for tithes and offerings given by the members should be
distributed to them on a regular basis in the manner the local church
has agreed upon. Some churches do this quarterly while others have
worked out a system to mail them out on a yearly basis. There is no
strict rule for this procedure. 6. Accounts payable. Authorization
for the disbursing of church funds for church operation is generally
given in the annual church budget. Special projects or items not in the
budget must be authorized by the church board or by a church business
meeting. 7. Financial statements. The treasurer
should prepare a monthly financial statement and distribute copies to
the church board at their meeting. This statement should include the
balance status of all budgeted accounts, as well as the totals received
in tithes and offerings and a detailed record of all disbursements made.
Responsibilities in the Local Church,
by the Church Resources Consortium, North American Division of
Seventh-day Adventist Church. Copyright © 1997, Revised 2002.
|