Religious Institutions Archives - Page 2 of 19

Church Property Disputes/Denominational Splits

Promises made, Promises Broken: How the decisions made at the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church affect local churches

The delegates to the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church voted to adopt dramatic changes to the theology and the governance of the denomination. Read this week’s blog (in the comments below) to learn about the legal implications of the decisions of the General Conference.

May 13, 2024 No Comments

Church Mergers

Experienced Attorneys help Merging Churches cut through red tape

Thousands of religious congregations merge every year. According to Jim Tomberlin and Warren Bird, in their book Better Together—Making Church Mergers Work, church mergers are

April 25, 2024 No Comments

Church Property Disputes/Denominational Splits

The Role of a Civil Court in a Religious Property Dispute

Not all religious property disputes involve a unanimous decision of a congregation. Typically, a majority of a congregation will vote to leave a denomination and

April 1, 2024 No Comments

Religious Institutions

All People’s Church Files Suit Against City of San Diego for Discriminatory Decision to Deny Church Project in Del Cerro

All Peoples Church has decided to sue the City of San Diego in Federal Court in order to seek a fair redress of its request to build a home for our congregation on its property.

March 26, 2024 No Comments

Nonprofits

En Banc Drama: The Ninth Circuit Vacates the Huntsman decision and Orders a New Hearing

Federal appellate courts, like the Circuit Courts of Appeals, typically operate with panels of three judges who hear arguments and issue decisions. However, there’s a provision that allows the entire court, all the judges on the bench, to rehear a case. This is called an en banc hearing

March 13, 2024 No Comments

Church Property Disputes/Denominational Splits

The Two Main Questions to be answered at the United Methodist General Conference, 2024 and how to Prepare your Congregation for the Outcomes.

There are two main issues to be decided in the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church. The answer to both issues will have a significant impact on the future of the denomination and will require local congregations’ thoughtful consideration regarding their own affiliation with the denomination.

March 4, 2024 No Comments

Appellate and Constitutional Law

Can Birds of a Religious Feather Retire Together?

People of faith have a constitutional right to establish “voluntary associations to assist in the expression and dissemination of any religious doctrine” and the moral

February 21, 2024 No Comments

Church Property Disputes/Denominational Splits

How a local United Methodist Church left the UMC after December 31, 2023 and kept its Property

This is the story of Chilmark Community Church located on Martha’s Vineyard, Massachusetts, and its exit from the New England Annual Conference of the United Methodist Church.

February 19, 2024 No Comments

First Amendment

Who gets decide what “religious exercise” is within the parameters of RLUIPA?

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

February 13, 2024 No Comments

Merger

Holy Union: When Church Mergers Bloom from Pastor Transitions

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.

February 7, 2024 No Comments

Category: Religious Institutions

Promises made, Promises Broken: How the decisions made at the 2024 General Conference of the United Methodist Church affect local churches

Experienced Attorneys help Merging Churches cut through red tape

The Role of a Civil Court in a Religious Property Dispute

All People’s Church Files Suit Against City of San Diego for Discriminatory Decision to Deny Church Project in Del Cerro

En Banc Drama: The Ninth Circuit Vacates the Huntsman decision and Orders a New Hearing

The Two Main Questions to be answered at the United Methodist General Conference, 2024 and how to Prepare your Congregation for the Outcomes.

Can Birds of a Religious Feather Retire Together?

How a local United Methodist Church left the UMC after December 31, 2023 and kept its Property

Who gets decide what “religious exercise” is within the parameters of RLUIPA?

Holy Union: When Church Mergers Bloom from Pastor Transitions

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Church Property Disputes and Denominational Splits

RLUIPA, Religious Land Use and Zoning

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