Richard R. Hammar

Have you ever done an internet search on church liability, federal reporting requirements, incorporation, employment laws, negligence, counseling, the legal authority of pastors, or any other legal concern your church is facing only to come up with too...

   Let's be honest: Things like board structure, bylaws, elections, membership requirements, minutes, and business meetings will likely never land on your list of “most exciting topics.” Yet as a church leader it’s critical...

Help your church develop a tax-compliant benevolence ministry. Churches are commanded to love their neighbors and care for the poor. But the church also must abide by tax rules designed to prevent abuse of a benevolence system. This training downloadable...

Church leaders are faced with an overwhelming number of questions related to keeping the church safe, legal, and financially sound. Richard Hammar receives thousands of questions every year and shares his answers to 20 of the most widely asked and...

What Churches Need to Understand about the Legal Limitations of Waivers and Release Forms Introducing Church Issues—an in-depth resource created to help church leaders gain clarity and direction on a specific topic that challenges religious...

You've completed your theological training. You're eager to serve God and His church with your gifts and talents. So why is someone asking if you want to opt-out of Social Security? If you're like most new ministers, you're probably overwhelmed by the...

The Children's Safety Bundle is a collection of 3 insightful resources, designed to provide actionable recommendations for establishing and safeguarding your church’s child ministry. From practical tips for checking children in and out...

Today more and more church board members are being sued. As a church board member it is crucial for you to be aware of the ways you can expose yourself to personal legal liability. In this resource by Richard Hammar, you'll discover steps you can take to...

In 2020, the US Congress passed—and President Trump signed—two key stimulus deals designed to respond to the economic fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. In this PDF download, attorney and senior editor Richard Hammar provides a side-by-side...

Though nearly every church has insurance coverage, many church leaders lack confidence in their understanding of their policies and the terminology associated with them. As you gain a better understanding of church insurance, as well as your church's...

Whether it's one staff member or hundreds, churches usually must negotiate wages and benefits. With tight budgets, it is sometimes a struggle to set competitive pay rates and provide benefits to employees. Learn about key aspects of compensation planning...

Churches face complex compensation questions every year, making compensation planning an important task for many reasons. Richard Hammar walks through several key legal and tax elements churches need to consider when planning a pastor's compensation.

Is your church ready for a medical emergency? Discover the areas you may not be prepared for with this medical emergency checklist. Learn the importance of forming a response team to smoothly handle a health crisis in your church. Then use the included...

About 15 percent of all churches have been, are being, or will be victimized by an unscrupulous employee or member. Further, all denominations and churches, regardless of size, are susceptible and have suffered and/or will incur losses. Use this download...

This resource is designed to help youth ministers safely and appropriately conduct student ministry. From selecting and screening a team of worthy youth leaders to supervising games, special outings, and mission trips, there's much youth pastors can do...

An easy-to-use reference for all the copyright issues churches encounter in the course of their weekly activities. From photocopying sheet music to posting Internet content, noted church attorney, Richard Hammar, explains how to avoid copyright...