Church Finance Conference 2026
Seth Scott is the founder of Shepherd’s Wallet, a tax and financial education practice devoted exclusively to ministers. He entered financial services in 2021 and narrowed his practice to clergy in 2023, after two decades inside local churches as a worship director, board member, and treasurer convinced him that the people handling pastoral compensation were rarely equipped for how differently ministers are taxed. He prepares returns for ministers nationally and works with churches on payroll and compensation structure. Seth is a CTEC-registered tax preparer (#A343003), a Certified Kingdom Advisor®, and holds the Accredited Asset Management Specialist™ designation. He and his wife, Rachel, live in Fresno, California, where they attend Mountain View Church with their two boys.
Learn to navigate complex church financial and legal challenges with ease at CFC26
This September, WatersEdge will hold its annual Church Finance Conference (CFC26) where attendees can gain valuable information and insight into complex financial needs within the church. These events are ideal for senior and executive pastors, administrators, financial and human resources staff, as well as lay leaders including finance, audit and personnel committee members.
Attend in person at one of two identical events – one in the Tulsa area on September 22 and one in the Oklahoma City area on September 24. Or, join us virtually on September 22. You’ll network with peers, learn from nationally recognized keynote speakers and choose from multiple breakout sessions (limited breakout options for virtual attendees). Seminar topics will help you:
Understand Taxes
- Payroll and benefits
- IRS reporting requirements (1099s, W-2s, “love offerings,” etc.)
- Housing allowance
Manage Finances
- Internal controls
- Construction financing
- Insurance coverage
Stay Legal
- Employment law and personnel policies
- Navigate state and federal legislation
- ACA compliance
CFC26 Broken Arrow
First Baptist Church Broken Arrow + Online
September 22nd
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
In-person (includes boxed lunch):
$79 until July 31
$99 starting August 1
Online:
$69 until July 31
$89 starting August 1
CFC26 Moore
First Baptist Church, Moore
September 24th
8:30 am – 4:00 pm
In-person (includes boxed lunch):
$79 until July 31
$99 starting August 1
Attendees of the Church Finance Conference have the opportunity to earn six (6) hours of continuing professional education (CPE) credit.
Agenda for Both Events
| Time | Broken Arrow Agenda | Moore Agenda |
| 8:30am – 9:00am | Registration and Continental Breakfast | Registration and Continental Breakfast |
| 9:00am – 9:50am | Introduction and Keynote Address 1 | Introduction and Keynote Address 1 |
| 9:50am – 10:00am | Break | Break |
| 10:00 – 10:50am | Breakout Session A | Breakout Session A |
| 10:50am – 11:00am | Break | Break |
| 11:00am – 11:50am | Breakout Session B | Breakout Session B |
| 12:00pm – 1:00pm | Lunch | Lunch |
| 1:00pm – 1:50pm | Breakout Session C | Breakout Session C |
| 1:50pm – 2:00pm | Break | Break |
| 2:00pm – 2:50pm | Breakout Session D | Breakout Session D |
| 2:50pm – 3:00pm | Break | Break |
| 3:00pm – 3:50pm | Keynote Address 2 | Keynote Address 2 |
| 3:50pm | Speakers available in the lobby for questions | Speakers available in the lobby for questions |
Keynote and Breakout Details - Broken Arrow & Moore
Keynote 1
Complete Financial Wellness for Ministry Leaders – Two men live on the same street, earn the same total pay, and own the same size house. One is a deacon. One is his pastor. Everything after that is different — what they owe, what comes out of their paychecks, what their housing costs them, and what their retirement savings are worth. This session walks six of those differences side by side, and shows why the people who administer clergy pay so consistently miss them.
Seth Scott | Shepherd’s Wallet
Breakouts
Session A
1) Unlocking Generosity with Bren Brown | Kingdom Architects
2) Balancing a Biblical HR Department with a Professional HR Department with Caleb Martin | Alliant HR Outsourcing
3) Ministry Payroll and Compliance with Sarah Barham | WatersEdge
Session B
1) Protecting the Mission: Church Insurance Challenges and Ways to Respond with Jeremy Welborn & Rodney Campbell | Welborn Insurance Solutions
2) How Ministers Are Taxed (and the Three Things Only They Can Fix) with Seth Scott | Shepherd’s Wallet
3) Internal Controls When Segregation is Hard with Brad Johnson| WatersEdge
Session C
1) AI in the Church: Wisdom, Risks, and Responsible Use with Nathan Sweaney | TU
2) Credit Cards: From Swipes to Financials with Kelsey Doughty | WatersEdge
3) Compensation Planning with Miguel Perez | GuideStone
Session D
1) Church Finance Essentials with Sarah Barham & Bobby Hart | WatersEdge
2) Protecting Church Finances, People, and Ministry with Gary Nickerson | WatersEdge
3) Church Administration for New Leaders with Joe Ligon & Thomas Jordan | Oklahoma Baptists
Keynote 2
Building Financially Healthy Churches – A church board knows how to steward a building. It inspects it, insures it, and budgets for its replacement. This session applies that same discipline to the one asset that does the work the church actually exists to do. We’ll work through what stewarding a pastor looks like in practice — the payroll corrections that cost nothing, the documentation that has a deadline this calendar year, and the compensation decisions that only the board can handle.
Seth Scott | Shepherd’s Wallet
*Option 1 for each breakout session is the session livestream attendees will be able to view. New for this year: All Breakouts Recorded
Beyond the main hall keynote and breakout sessions that virtual attendees will join live, every breakout is being recorded this year and made available to virtual attendees after the conference — so you can take in the ones you’re most interested in, on your own schedule.
Speakers

Seth Scott
Shepherd's Wallet

Jeremy Welborn
Welborn Church Insurance Solutions

Nathan Sweeney
TU

Miguel Perez
GuideStone

Bren Brown
Kingdom Architects

Rodney Campbell
Welborn Church Insurance Solutions

Caleb Martin
Alliant HR Outsourcing

Sarah Barham
WatersEdge

Brad Johnson
WatersEdge

Bobby Hart
WatersEdge

Gary Nickerson
WatersEdge

Kelsey Doughty
WatersEdge

Thomas Jordan
Oklahoma Baptists

Joe Ligon
Oklahoma Baptists
Need Answers Now?
Have a burning question that can’t wait until CFC26? Get the answers you need today by visiting our Tax, Financial and Legal Guidance page. Search our FAQs for answers to the most common questions, or submit a query of your own and our team of experts will find a solution.



