The Long Island Council of Churches offers personal finance workshops in congregations, senior centers and other community organizations throughout Long Island. These workshops are designed to provide basic financial literacy skills and other information home owners and prospective homebuyers can use to make wise financial decisions regarding their homes, to get the best possible rates to which their credit entitles them, and to help them avoid unscrupulous lenders and unregulated financial institutions.

At the Long Island Council of Churches we see many vulnerable people who have been exploited by loan sharks, check-cashing places and deceptive lenders. We regularly end up trying to help people who are already in deep financial trouble, often because they have been victimized by predatory lenders. Local predators particularly target elderly homeowners, young working people, homeowners who need home repairs and improvements, and Hispanic homebuyers.

Jesus spoke about money five times as often as he talked about prayer, but many churches talk about money only when it’s time for a pledge drive. We want to help local congregations fight this evil and encourage parishioners to be good stewards of their financial resources.

Would you like us to do an educational program for your congregation, senior center or community organization? Each presentation usually runs an hour to 90 minutes and we will tailor it to the needs of your group. We will arrange speakers, publicity, educational materials, and other freebies. All you need to supply is the location and refreshments.

We usually do these presentations in a panel format, with the first part taken by someone from a not-for-profit who handles the questions that are best answered by someone who has no vested interest in drumming up more business for any bank, Then one or more representatives from a local bank or credit union explain what to expect when you go to such an institution to open an account, seek a loan, etc. We want the audience to meet legitimate lenders but we do not steer them toward any particular company. We ask these representatives to speak on behalf of all regulated institutions, and all banks and credit unions are invited to distribute appropriate literature and give-aways at all presentations, whether or not their representative is speaking at that particular event. We the presentation around the needs of the audience that the hosts have identified, and we always allow plenty of time for questions. If audience needs dictate, we may expand the panel to include a second financial institution (if we want someone to address a niche market such as reverse mortgages, for example) or some other expert such as an appraiser.

To schedule a workshop, please call Tom Goodhue at 516-565-0290, ext. 206 or e-mail licchemp@aol.com.

If a weekday, a Saturday, or some other time is best for your flock or group, feel free to request it. If you would like to plan a presentation for a particular part of your congregation such as youth, young adults, or seniors, that would be fine, too! Workshops are available in English, Spanish, and other languages by request.