To See Tulsa Look Like Heaven

City Church is led through a collaborative governance structure designed to ensure spiritual accountability, financial integrity, and healthy leadership. Our Overseers are trusted men and women from outside City Church who provide accountability to the Lead Pastor and would guide a pastoral search process if needed. Our Trustees, selected from within the church, oversee all finances and make all major business decisions such as salaries, large purchases, building loans, etc. The Pastoral Executive Team leads the day-to-day vision, strategy, and key leadership decisions, while our Elders, men and women within City Church, offer wisdom, insight, and leadership giftings to help guide the church. All procedures and responsibilities are outlined in detail in the City Church Governing Bylaws.

The annual budget is prayerfully and strategically determined by taking 90% of the previous year’s overall income to ensure financial health and margin. Each ministry department submits a proposed budget based on ministry goals and priorities for the coming year. These proposals are then reviewed and approved by the Trustees, who provide financial oversight and ensure that the finalized budget aligns with the vision, mission, and long-term sustainability of City Church.

At City Church, we are committed to financial integrity, transparency, and accountability in every aspect of stewardship.

Systems of Accountability

• Every financial transaction involves multiple levels of oversight. There are always at least two sets of eyes on every deposit collected and counted, as well as on every check written.
• Any unbudgeted purchase over $10,000 requires prior approval from the Board of Trustees to ensure alignment with ministry priorities and fiscal responsibility.

Regular Financial Reviews

• Monthly: The Executive Team reviews all financial statements to monitor spending and ensure the budget reflects the church’s vision.
• Quarterly: The Board of Trustees conducts an in-depth review of financial reports and major financial decisions.
• Annually: An independent third-party financial reviewer examines all City Church finances to provide objective feedback and recommendations.

Year-End Financial Review

• At the close of each fiscal year, City Church hires an outside third-party reviewer to perform a comprehensive financial review. This review identifies any inconsistencies, evaluates our financial practices, and offers recommendations to help us implement best practices for ongoing financial stewardship and accountability.

Staff salaries are established and approved by the Board of Trustees with careful consideration and prayer. Each year, the Trustees review a variety of factors to ensure compensation is fair, competitive, and aligned with industry standards. These factors include individual performance, role responsibilities, tenure, education, ministry scope, and the overall size and budget of the church. By using both objective data and mission-driven discernment, our goal is to provide equitable and sustainable compensation that honors our team while maintaining responsible stewardship of church resources.

At City Church, we take your generosity seriously and are committed to maintaining accurate and transparent financial records. Here’s how we ensure that every donation is properly handled and documented:

• Secure Collection: Every Monday, two members of our financial team collect all physical donations from our giving boxes, including any gifts received by mail. Each gift is documented on a collection count sheet that includes the donor’s name, donation amount, and any specific fund designations. A scanned copy of each donation is securely stored in a locked file cabinet.
• Safe Deposits: The weekly deposit is delivered to our bank in a locked bank bag to ensure security and accountability.
• Digital Records: All donations, both physical and online, are entered into Planning Center, our online giving database, within 7 days. This allows donors to view and access their giving history at any time.
• Annual Giving Statements: Every January, we send out year-end giving statements by email. If we don’t have an email address on file, a physical copy is mailed instead. Donors can also print their statement at any time by logging into their Planning Center account.

We are committed to wise stewardship of Kingdom resources and strive to handle every donation with integrity, accuracy, and care.

At City Church, we believe that every dollar is Kingdom-purposeful, which means we handle our finances with great care, transparency, and accountability.

Here’s how we keep careful track of all income and expenses:

• Detailed Accounting: All financial transactions are recorded in our secure, cloud-based accounting system, where each donation or expense is categorized by ministry area, fund designation, or project. Receipts and documentation are required for every transaction.
• Dual Review & Oversight: Our Executive of Operations and Bookkeeping team follow a structured approval process for all expenses. Monthly bank reconciliations ensure that records match actual activity.
• Third-Party Bookkeeping: We partner with a professional third-party bookkeeping service for monthly review, reconciliation, and account clean-up to ensure accuracy and transparency.
• Board Accountability: Our Trustee Board regularly reviews financial reports, monitors spending, and helps oversee the church’s financial health with wisdom and discernment.
• Independent Annual Review: In addition to internal processes, we work with an independent accounting firm each year to conduct a full annual review of our financials and offer recommendations for improved stewardship and compliance.