April 1, 2005

Archdiocese to host fiscal managment
conference for parish leaders

By Brandon A. Evans

Parish leaders from around the archdiocese will have a chance to learn more about good financial stewardship this month.

The 2005 Fiscal Management and Discipleship Conference will be held from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. on April 23 at the Benedict Inn Retreat and Conference Center, 1402 Southern Ave., in Beech Grove.

The cost of the event is $30 per person, which includes lunch. The registration deadline is April 20.

The conference, which was first presented in 1996, has become a biannual event.

Archbishop Daniel M. Buechlein will present a keynote address on the financial challenges facing parish ministry and Denny Faurote, president of the Faurote Group, will give a keynote presentation on “Leadership in Today’s Environment.”

The day will also feature 13 workshops, and participants may choose to attend three sessions. The topics vary from “Best Practices for Growing Stewards” to “Making Quality Health Care Affordable” to “Hot Topics in Charity Gaming.”

Julie Shewmaker, controller of the Office of Accounting Services for the archdiocese, said she is expecting more than 100 participants.

“The conference is designed to meet financial and stewardship training and information needs of administrators, finance council members, stewardship council members, business managers, bookkeepers and volunteers handling bookkeeping or stewardship functions,” Shewmaker said. “We hope to provide a forum for our participants that ­encourages good stewardship and fiscal accountability.”

The conference will provide good information, she said, and also give participants networking opportunities.

The event can also be an important way for parishioners to be reassured that their parish is spending money wisely.

“In order to be good stewards of the resources provided by parishioners,” Shewmaker said, “we have to be cognizant of relevant accounting techniques and new financial developments that affect parishes.”

(For more information, call Bonnie Vollmer in the archdiocesan Office of Accounting Services at 317-236-1410 or 800-382-9836, ext. 1410, or e-mail bvollmer@archindy.org.) †

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