Purpose
The National Institute in Church Finance and Administration offers specialized training and enrichment for business managers, financial secretaries, pastors, and others responsible for administration in local church congregations, church agencies and institutions. Founded in 1975, the Institute has provided a formative professional experience for hundreds of church business administrators from every region of the USA.

The Institute combines vigorous intellectual challenge with cordial interaction among professional colleagues. The congenial atmosphere of the seminar setting encourages reflection and renewal, and the distinguished Institute faculty invite dialogue and reciprocal teaching and learning.  Facilities of the University and of the Candler School of Theology are available for use by seminar members. Featured among these facilities is an excellent library system which includes the Pitts Theology Library, one of the preeminent theological collections in the country. The Library holds the permanent collection of all projects completed by Institute graduates.

NICFA welcomes applications from persons of all denominations. The faculty is eager to work with all participants in mutually strengthening a commitment to the church and its ministry.

The National Institute and the Certification Program
Completion of the National Institute program fulfills the academic requirement for achieving certification in church finance and administration in The United Methodist Church and other denominations as well.
The program encompasses three components:

• Spring Seminar: Planning for Mission in the Local Church
• Summer Seminar: Church Administration, Leadership and Stewardship Development
• Church Finance and Administration Project
  
  Satisfactory completion of the three components allows the participant to apply for certification as a Church Business Administrator CBA).

Professional training standards for the National Institute are established in cooperation with:
(1) Candler School of Theology;
(2) The General Council on Finance and Administration (GCFA) of the United Methodist Church;
(3) The United Methodist Association of Church Business Administrators (UMACBA);
(4) The National Association of Church Business Administrators (NACBA). In accord with NACBA standards, the Spring Seminar is Seminar II, and the Summer Seminar is Seminar I.
Upon completion of the three components of the Institute program, graduates may apply for certification through the GCFA, the NACBA and/or other professional associations. Certification guidelines and applications should be obtained from those organizations. Any person wishing to be certified by the GCFA must attend both National Institute seminars and complete their project with the Institute.
The National Institute seminars are intentionally ecumenical in course content, teaching approach and enrollment. Persons from all denominations are welcome and cordially invited to attend.

National Seminars
The National Seminars in Church Finance and Administration are taught by faculty from Candler School of Theology at Emory University, Goizueta Business School at Emory University, and nationally recognized professionals in church administration.
The seminars provide advanced resources in the following areas of church finance and administration:

Seminar I

• Planning for Mission in the Local Church
• Theology of Mission
• Strategic Planning
• Ethics of Administration and Leadership
• Organizational Management
• Denominational Polity
• Interpersonal Communications
• Time Management
• Financial Management and Church Accounting
• Legal and Tax Matters

Seminar II
Church Administration, Leadership and Stewardship Development

• Theology of Church Administration
• Congregational Leadership Development
• Personnel Management
• Multiple Staff Ministries
• Stewardship
• Specialized Forms of Giving
• Office Management
• Property Management
• National Seminar Dates 

For more information, go to the NICFA website