Is it illegal or not in compliance of 501c3 for a Pastor to pay the bills of the church?

Hello V:

SOMEBODY has to pay the bills of the church, and if the church itself (the 501C3 organization) doesn't have the funds, there's nothing illegal about the pastor paying them. He's allowed to donate to his church too.

excon

In some denominations, the church body decides who is the treasurer of the church , most will require an independent auditor of the church books each year.

But in many small churches, the pastor is the one who starts and opens the church, he may pay all the bills till it gets started.

The money just needs to be keep apart and used and reported according to proper rules