2021 PEVA Stewardship Letter from the Elder Larry Hull 

2021 PEVA Church Pledge Form 

At the 123rd Stated Meeting of PEVA on October 20, 2020, Via Zoom  hosted by Jamestown Presbyterian Church, the Presbytery approved a 1.4% Cost of Living Increase for 2021.

For PEVA churches to receive 2020 credit for remittances to PCUSA Missionaries, PCUSA Special Projects, and PCUSA Approved Offerings, CHURCH REMITTANCES MUST BE SUBMITTED TO PEVA (received in the Portsmouth office) BY FRI. JAN. 8th, 2021. All contributions are appreciated. Thank you for your attention to this matter, and best wishes for the New Year!

PEVA must pay Per Capita for every member of every church regardless of the amount pledged and remitted to the presbytery by that church.

Per Capita supports the administration and ministry of Synod and PCUSA. As a connectional church body, the support of the “larger Presbyterian Church” is critical to undergird the many, far reaching ministries for which collective funding is vital. 

2020 standard mileage rates are: 57.5 cents per mile
 for business miles driven, 
17 cents per mile driven for medical or moving purposes and
14 cents per mile driven in service of charitable organizations.
MILEAGE FORM PEVA
For more information, visit www.irs.gov

Annually member churches develop their budget for supporting the Presbytery through their pledges to PEVA for Unified Mission Giving Undesignated which supports the Presbytery’s annual operating budget that funds the Presbytery’s on-going, day-to-day ministries.  Many churches also, concurrently, develop their plan for giving designated ministries.  Other churches plan their giving to designated ministries at another time in the church’s calendar.  Whichever, the case the summaries provided here may be useful in your designated giving decisions.

Designated giving represents that financial support and out-reach “over and above” Unified Mission Giving.  The support our member churches provide to the special “designated giving” supports many special ministries and out-reach to extend the glorification of God and our Lord Jesus Christ.  “Designated Giving” support 5 principal categories: 

There are many advantages to providing your “Designated Giving” through PEVA.  This method allows your church to write just one check with their remittance document to cover their Unified Mission Giving (pledge, Code 1000) and “designate” any number of additional giving on the same remittance.  When PEVA receives your remittance, the indicated amount is recorded to the appropriate remittance code indicated on your remittance form.  PEVA is able to consolidate all contributions to the same “designated” recipient and send a single check to that recipient. 

An online dues calculator is extremely helpful in estimating monthly and annual Board of Pensions dues. 
Employers, mid councils, and members can now calculate monthly and annual dues
for those in Pastor’s Participation Plan.
ues are based on the percentage of annual effective salary and minimums
and maximums for the selected year, unless otherwise noted. 

Visit pensions.org
to give the Pastor’s Participation Dues Calculator a try! 

The 2020 Housing Allowance Letter, Updated Tax Guide, Guide for Ministers and the Federal Reporting Requirements for Churches and other resources are available on the Board of Pensions wesbite.

BOP RESOURCES 

Moving expenses are not tax free.  Mid councils, churches, and ministers should be mindful of this change in tax treatment for moving expenses as terms of call are being negotiated for new pastoral relationships that involve a qualifying move.
CLICK TO LEARN MORE

• Deeds, mortgages, bills of sales for major purchases? (if property is unsold)
• Audit /Financial Statements
• Property appraisals / Assessments
• Insurance Claims of injury/ damage
• Chart of accounts
• Cash books
• Legal Papers
• Session & Congregational Minutes
• Tax returns/ Payroll Tax  Returns
• Student Records
• Church Rolls & Registries
• Church History

The Presbyterian Historical Society recommends:

• Minutes-permanent, Annual reports-permanent
• Reports-permanent
• Bylaws/charters-permanent
• Incorporation records-permanent
• Annual budgets-permanent
• Annual audits-permanent
• Financial ledgers of final entry-permanent
• Subject correspondence-permanent
• Manuals/handbooks-permanent
• Newspapers/newsletters-permanent
• Brochures/promotional material (1 copy)-permanent
• Photographs-permanent
• Property records-20 years after sale
• Wills, bequests-permanent
• Legal/judicial cases-permanent
• Loan agreements-satisfaction + 20 years
• Contracts-active + 3 years
• Personnel records/employee records-employment
• FICA / W2 records-7 years
• Accounts payable invoices-3 years
• Accounts payable-7 years
• Accounts receivable records-3 years
• Bank deposit slips-3 years
• Bank statements-7 years
• Canceled checks-7 years
• Cash receipt records-3 years
• Data for updating mailing lists-1 year
• Mailing lists-active
• Periodic financial statements-2 years
• Expense reports-7 years
• General/routine correspondence (acknowledgments, equests, travel arrangements, etc.)-3 years
• Invitations-1 year, Petty cash records-7 years
• Receipts of purchases-7 years
• Meeting notices-1 year
• Travel plans/arrangements-1 year
• Resource files active

If you are uncertain how long to keep records, consult your auditor, accountant, legal advisor, or contact the staff of the Society.  Some retention requirements vary from state to state.  The Presbyterian Historical Society is the national archives of the Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.) and its primary historical research center. Their mission is to collect, preserve, and share the story of the American Presbyterian experience with Presbyterians, the scholarly community, and the general public.