Stay Legal

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 that you have...

Did you know pastors and other church staff may be required by law to report child abuse and that laws on this vary state by state? This resource will guide you through finding how each state defines child abuse, who is required to report abuse,...

Sexual harassment is a reality that cannot be ignored.   When nurturing a safe, productive, and enjoyable work environment, establishing and enforcing effective sexual harassment policies are crucial. That is why Church Law & Tax conducted the...

Newly updated April 2024! For churches, the First Amendment is the first line of defense when government laws or actions intersect with church activities. While the protection of religious belief is absolute under the First Amendment, the protection of...

This resource provides a 50-state survey of public accommodations laws, as well as the public accommodations ordinance of the most-populated city in each state. By the end of this resource, church leaders will be able to identify when and where these...

Find answers to your virtual business meeting questions in Your Complete Guide to Virtual Church Meetings: A toolkit for legal and compliant business meetings by Sarah E. Merkle, JD, CPP-T, PRP. This downloadable resource is a...

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...

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...

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...

What Churches Need to Understand about Public Accommodations Laws Introducing Church Issues—an in-depth resource created to help church leaders gain clarity and direction on a specific topic that challenges religious freedoms or exposes a...

Learn why it is essential your church develop a risk management strategy and how to implement the strategy in your church. CONTENTS Part 1: Developing a Risk Management Strategy Part 2: Implementing the Risk Management Strategy

Church leaders and boards can take relatively simple, yet effective steps to reduce the likelihood of child sexual abuse. Implementing a preventive program can provide a safe and secure environment for the children to whom your church has been entrusted,...

As of July 2022, this supplemental download is being offered as a complimentary add-on to all orders of the Pastor, Church & Law, Fifth Edition book, to account for recent developments in the legal space.  Editor’s Note: In June of...

Churches often struggle to determine pay levels for their pastors and staff. And those in ministry aren't always sure how their pay compares. That said, ChurchSalary utilizes about 20,000 data points across 18 positions to offer insights,...

This study guide was created to facilitate the use of the primary text, Pastor, Church & Law, in an academic setting. Each chapter in the main text has a corresponding chapter in this study guide that consists of the following features designed to...