The South Central Conference recently held an informative and engaging Treasury Training session for local church treasurers and assistant treasurers. This event aimed to enhance financial management skills and strengthen connections within the Conference.
The primary goal of the training was to allow South Central treasury staff to connect with local church treasurers. The session covered updated financial information, introduced the Jewel Software, and addressed risk management issues. Attendees learned about the process of filing claims through the Treasury Department to Adventist Risk Management, and discussed billing, policy coverage dates, and other risk management topics.
Ninety-two participants from various churches across the Conference territory attended. Key presenters included Sonja M. Crayton, Conference chief financial officer, and Clyde and Myrtle Thomas, founders of Jewel Accounting Software Company.
The training featured workshops that provided hands-on experience with the Jewel Accounting Software. Participants learned the importance of communication between the church treasurer and the Conference. One significant activity involved understanding the flow of tithe dollars within the Seventh-day Adventist Church. They explored how contributions move from church members to the church treasurer, from the treasurer to the Conference office, and so on up to the North American Division and General Conference.
Jewel Accounting Software was developed in 1998 by Reggie Thomas, a computer information systems student at Southern Adventist University. It was commissioned by the Florida Conference to address the growing need for user-friendly, church-specific financial software. Debuting in January 1999, Jewel quickly gained popularity for its ease of use, automation capabilities, and compliance with Conference standards. Designed to serve both small and large churches, it has evolved to accommodate international currencies and user feedback, becoming a trusted tool for more than half of Adventist churches in the United States, and territories such as the Cayman Islands, Bahamas, Canada, and South Africa. Jewel continues to streamline church financial management, empowering treasurers to handle their bookkeeping processes confidently.
Some attendees shared success stories and best practices. One example is an assistant treasurer who had stepped away from the Adventist Church, feeling upset, but found the training enlightening. Understanding the flow and purpose of the tithe convinced him to become active in the Church once more. Additionally, the daughter of a 92-year-old treasurer from Alabama testified that her mother could not attend because she was in the hospital; however, her mom was still excited to be part of the treasury ministry at her local church. Following her mom into the treasury ministry, she learned a lot and found that attending the training was very beneficial. She hopes to encourage their new treasurer.
This comprehensive training session not only provided practical knowledge, but also strengthened connections within the South Central Conference. By emphasizing transparency, responsibility, and collaboration, the Treasury Department empowers local churches to manage their finances more effectively and support their spiritual missions.
South Central | June 2025
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