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Church Law

By: Christianity Today Erika Cole
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  • Summary

  • Pastors and church leaders in America face challenges that are increasing in scope and impact. Whether we're talking issues of cultural dynamics and the church or need-to-know information about everyday operations, the legal issues impacting churches aren't going away. Listen to the Church Law podcast to gain real life insights from a real lawyer who does this work everyday. You'll gain key insights to help your church in this critical time, and learn the pitfalls to avoid. All straight from The Church Attorney® along with some special guests!
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Episodes
  • What To Do—or NOT Do—This Election Year

    What To Do—or NOT Do—This Election Year
    Apr 30 2024
    It’s election season in the United States, and after contentious races nationwide in 2020 and 2022, 2024 promises to bring even more heat. The Oval Office is up for grabs. All 435 seats in the US House are on ballots, as are 34 in the Senate. Add to that a slate of 13 gubernatorial elections and countless state and local elections, and measures. What is a church leader to do? Should pastors speak up, speak out? In this episode, Erika walks church leaders through some of the key considerations they make about political involvement as Election Day approaches. Some activities, like endorsing or opposing a candidate, may jeopardize a church’s tax-exempt status. But other activities are allowed. Erika provides need-to-know tips for navigating this tricky line throughout the 2024 election season. SHOW NOTES “The Tax Implications of Churches and Political Involvement,” by Richard R. Hammar “Politics, Churches, and Constitutional Protections,” by Erik Stanley “Politics and the Church: Activism, Speech, and the Tax Code,” by Church Law & Tax “Checklist: How Various Political Activities Might Affect Your Church’s Tax-Exempt Status” by Church Law & Tax Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church. Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode. See all episodes of Church Law. The Church Law podcast is part of Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com, a not-for-profit publishing ministry. Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    17 mins
  • Legal Considerations for Youth Ministry, with Guest Jeff Dalrymple

    Legal Considerations for Youth Ministry, with Guest Jeff Dalrymple
    Apr 9 2024
    Producer’s Note: This podcast episode addresses a very sensitive topic. Listener discretion is advised. The statistics are staggering: one in three girls and one in five boys in America will be sexually abused before they turn 18, and 90 percent of victims know their abusers. Church Law & Tax’s legal research shows that abuse claims are a perennially top reason churches and religious organizations go to court each year. And church leaders must mobilize to respond. Jeff Dalrymple, executive director of the Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP), joins Erika to talk more about the trends, the vulnerabilities within ministries, and the steps leaders must take to reduce those vulnerabilities and protect the youth entrusted into their care. SHOW NOTES Episode 41: “What Leaders Need to Know About Church Insurance Coverage” Evangelical Council for Abuse Prevention (ECAP) “The Top 5 Reasons Churches and Religious Organizations End Up in Court,” by Richard R. Hammar “Minimizing the Risks of Child Molestation in Churches,” by Richard R. Hammar Reducing the Risk: A child sexual abuse awareness program “Does Your Church Have Sexual Abuse Liability Coverage,” by Charlie Cutler Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church. Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode. See all episodes of Church Law. The Church Law podcast is part of Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com, a not-for-profit publishing ministry. Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    20 mins
  • What Leaders Need to Know Now about Church Insurance Coverage,

    What Leaders Need to Know Now about Church Insurance Coverage,
    Mar 26 2024
    Like it or not, church leaders need to think about insurance coverage. While ministry always should be driven first by the unique call God places upon a congregation, good stewardship still requires anticipating the possible risks a congregation will encounter and mitigating them. In this episode, Peter Persuitti—the global managing director of Gallagher Insurance Company’s nonprofit and religious practices—joins Erika to talk about insurance trends affecting churches. Property insurance has been significantly affected by extreme weather events, causing some insurance carriers to end certain coverages—or even pull out of certain geographic markets. Abuse allegations remain a consistent source of litigation, again reminding us of the vigilance for prevention. And vehicle accidents and building security remain key challenges demanding the attention of church leaders. On top of all that, insurance costs continue to rise. Peter and Erika discuss these issues and more, emphasizing the ways leaders can think and plan proactively to help demonstrate their call to care well for the people and assets they’re blessed with—and all while working to minimize the potentially costly threats their ministries face. SHOW NOTES Episode 32: “Readying Your Church for the AI Wave” Episode 26: “Building a Culture of Safety and Security in Churches” “15 Things Richard Hammar Wants Pastors to Know: Church Insurance,” by Richard R. Hammar “Minimizing the Risks of Child Molestation in Churches,” by Richard R. Hammar Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using a Legal Audit to Position Your Church for the Long Haul”) to learn about the importance of a legal audit for your church. Questions? Comments? We welcome them! Please contact Erika Cole at erikacole.com. Erika reads each comment and may answer your question in an upcoming episode. See all episodes of Church Law. The Church Law podcast is part of Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com, a not-for-profit publishing ministry. Erika E. Cole, Esq., known as The Church Attorney®, is the creator of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System, a proprietary legal audit process that helps church leaders be confident they are operating with integrity, and avoiding costly risks. She serves as a senior editorial advisor for Christianity Today’s ChurchLawAndTax.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
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    30 mins
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