FINANCE OFFICE AND ACCOUNTING

FINANCE OFFICE AND ACCOUNTING

Bishop's Annual Appeal

The Bishop’s Annual Appeal for Ministries is reported on this website and can be viewed with this link.

Annual Assessment

Canon law allows a Bishop to have an assessment to fund the operations of the office. The diocese assesses adjusted income of each parish at 10% to fund the five canonical departments of a diocese: Bishop’s office and operations, vicar general, CFO and accounting, the tribunal, and chancellor.  Assessable income is calculated annually by the parish and reviewed by the financial staff. There is also an assessment for priest benefits and Catholic education.

Parish Financial Policies and Procedures

Parishes are required to utilize a common chart of accounts and Parish Data Systems (PDS) software. Parishes are to comply with GAAP, except for depreciation. Internal controls are in effect: (a) cash is to be accompanied by at least two persons at all times, (b) collections are to be placed into a locked or tamper resistant container, (c) counting is to be done with three or more people but in no instance with less than two, (d) each parish is to have an independent financial review once every two years, and (e) an active parish finance council (per guidelines published by the MSO). Parish or diocese accounting staff is not permitted check signing authority. There is a separation in duties, even with small staffs, by involving the parish finance council, as needed.

Detailed Parish Counting and Collections Procedures

Parish collection and receipts are to be documented by more than one person or through a written receipt. Funds received through collections are to be counted by a minimum of two unrelated persons and the process observed by a third person. The accounting staff for the parish are not to participate in the counting process. Count sheets are to detail the receipts and signed by all of the counters present. A deposit slip is prepared. The count sheet, deposit receipt, ledger, and donor record are to be reconciled and balanced to one another. All four records are to be preserved for the audit/financial review.

DOCUMENTS

Diocese of Nashville
Audit Report
June 30, 2021 and 2020

Five Categories of Asset Administration of Public Juridic Persons Subject to the Bishop

2020 Annual Impact Report

2021 Annual Impact Report

CONTACT INFORMATION

John Roberts

Chief Financial Officer

615-783-0776

john.roberts@dioceseofnashville.com

Brian Bednarz, CPA

Senior Accountant

615-783-0777

Fax: 615-292-8411

brian.bednarz@dioceseofnashville.com

Theresa Coburn, CPA

Controller

615-783-0281

Fax: 615-292-8411

teresa.coburn@dioceseofnashville.com

Terri Reeder

Parish Bookkeeper Support

615-335-0128

terri.reeder@dioceseofnashville.com

Andy Royer, CPA

Parish Auditor

615-383-6393, ext. 2250

andy.royer@dioceseofnashville.com

Morgan Wigger

Morgan Wigger

Accountant

615-783-0265

morgan.wigger@dioceseofnashville.com

Kate Disbrow

Accountant-Parish & School Financial Services

615-783-0253

kate.disbrow@dioceseofnashville.com

For information on the Finance Council, visit the Bishop’s Office page.