Recent Blog Posts
Attorney General Announces Places of Worship Initiative
Dear Clients and Friends, Recently the Attorney General announced a new initiative to protect houses of worship. Its focus is on protecting the ability of houses of worship and other religious institutions to build, expand, buy, or rent facilities-as provided by the land use provisions of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act… Read More »
Church Loans to Board Members and Officers
Dear Clients and Friends, Occasionally I am asked to advise a church client desiring to loan money to a church leader who has a financial need. You would think a ministry should be able to give a lending hand to a leader in need. But think again. The legal question is bifurcated between state… Read More »
Supreme Court Rules in Favor of Christian Baker
Dear Clients and Friends, This morning the US Supreme Court ruled in favor of Christian Baker who was sued by a gay couple for not making their wedding cake. I am attaching a copy of the Court Opinion for your review and it will be posted on my blog. Some highlights are as follows:… Read More »
President Trump Signs Executive Order on a Faith Initiative
Dear Clients and Friends, Yesterday President Trump issued an Executive Order on the Establishment of a White House Faith and Opportunity Initiative. Here are some highlights: “The executive branch wants faith-based and community organizations, to the fullest opportunity permitted by law, to compete on a level playing field for grants, contracts, programs, and other… Read More »
Record Keeping Reminder
It never ceases to amaze me how as church leaders we have a tendency to keep closets full of old church items but fail to maintain critical legal and business records. On several occasions, I found my self asking a church client if they have a certain record only to discover it has either… Read More »
Important Reminder: Renewing Your Not for Profit/Church Corporation
Please be on the look out for the annual Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations reminder to renew your not for profit/church corporation. They are being emailed now. This is very important because it verifies the leadership of the entity. Failure to do so may result in “Administrative Dissolution” of your corporation. To… Read More »
Teaching Church Law at Southeastern University
Had a great time teaching Church Law to over 50 Ministerial Seniors at Southeastern University. A shout-out to Dean Alan Ehler, DMin for inviting me back to speak. Thank you to all the students. It was fun!
FEMA Assistance Available to Churches
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) announced on January 2, 2018 that private nonprofit houses of worship are now eligible for disaster assistance as community centers, without regard to their secular or religious nature. These changes are effective for disasters declared on or after August 23, 2017 and for applications for assistance that were… Read More »
2018 Parsonage and Housing Allowance Reminder
Dear Clients and Friends, Now that we are in December allow me remind you, if you have not done so already, to have your Board or Congregation approve 2018 parsonage and housing allowances. Remember they must be in writing and in advance of the calendar year. They cannot be retroactive only prospective. Failure to… Read More »
Teaching Church Law to Ordination Candidates
Had a great time teaching Church Law, Finance and Administration to the Ordination Candidates of the Peninsular Florida District Council of the Assemblies of God. The locations were Sarasota, Deland, Kissimmee and Key West. Thank you to all the District School of Ministry students!
