As the year comes to a close, churches often face a whirlwind of activity—but overlooking year-end financial and legal responsibilities can lead to lasting consequences. In this episode, host Erika Cole, The Church Attorney®, is joined by Bob Dye, founder of the Good Steward Bookkeeping Services and a seasoned financial consultant and former church leader, to discuss what churches must focus on as they wrap up the year. 

From budgeting and board meetings to housing allowances and IRS compliance, Erika and Bob offer practical, spiritually grounded guidance to help you steward your ministry’s resources well—and with confidence. 

Key Takeaways: 

● Why year-end matters for churches beyond the numbers 

● The power of a solid budget and how it shapes next year’s vision 

● Often overlooked tasks like housing allowances, board meeting minutes, and giving statements 

● IRS worker classification rules—what every church should know about employees vs. contractors 

● Tips to turn compliance into an act of stewardship and faithfulness 

● Insights on automation and AI in ministry finance—and where churches are headed 

Special Resources: 

✅ Download Bob Dye’s Year-End Financial Checklist for Churches 

✅ Register for our Free Year-End Legal Webinar — happening Tuesday, December 9 at 12 PM ET 

Connect With Bob Dye: 

Website: https://goodshepherdbookkeeping.com/ 

LinkedIN (Business): https://www.linkedin.com/company/77701022/admin/dashboard/ 

LinkedIN (Personal): https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobdye-goodshepherdbookkeeping/ Facebook Page (Business): https://www.facebook.com/GoodShepherdBookkeeping 

Listener Challenge: 

If this episode blessed you, share it with another pastor or church leader—and help us reach more ministries with tools for operating decently and in order. Don't forget to leave us a review! 

Subscribe and watch this podcast on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@TheChurchAttorney 

Missed the 2025 Church Law & Leadership Summit? Grab the replay bundle for 20% only at this link: https://the-church-attorney.thinkific.com/courses/2025-CLLSBUNDLE?coupon=podcast20 This event has been recommended for church leaders by Church Law & Tax and includes resources from partners like ECFA. 

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Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church. 

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Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode. 

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The Church Law podcast is part of Gloo LLC’s ChurchLawAndTax.com. 

Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. Learn more at erikacole.com.