A governmental entity has a very limited role when it comes to determining if a plaintiff is “religious enough,” or engaged in “religious activity,” for purposes of RLUIPA
Church mergers, often driven by pastoral transitions, are becoming increasingly common. And while the reasons are complex and varied, one unexpected trigger is emerging – senior pastor transitions.
Change is inevitable, even for our beloved faith communities. And one of the most significant transitions a church can experience is the departure of its senior pastor. It’s a time of mixed emotions – gratitude for the outgoing pastor’s contributions, sadness at their leaving, and uncertainty about the future. But with careful planning and open communication, a senior pastor transition can be an opportunity for growth and renewal.
The process of creating a legal entity involves much more than merely filing paperwork with the Secretary of State. Filling out the filing paperwork should
any churches that have disaffiliated from the United Methodist Church have done so without legal counsel. The choice to leave without the assistance of an attorney may have been due to timing, cost or simply a decision by leaders that they could complete the process on their own. While the local church may have saved money on legal fees through the process, they may not have set themselves up for success in the future. Considering this, now may be the right time to review your corporate documents with legal counsel to see if your local church is fully protected.
In a potentially groundbreaking case, the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled that a church member may proceed with a lawsuit to recover donations when a denomination fraudulently told its members that it was using tithes and offerings for charitable means, when in fact the funds were used for a commercial enterprise.
Each year, thousands of churches across the country close. If you are on a board of a church that is likely to close, you may
We previously posted about the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) — the clean energy bill that allocates $369 billion incentivize clean energy economy – and how
Few things are scarier to a nonprofit organization than an audit. Not even the most well-run and tax-compliant nonprofits want government agents taking a microscope
The Inflation Reduction Act (“IRA”) was signed into law on August 16, 2022. Despite the legislation’s name, it’s primarily a green energy bill that allocates
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