Attorney Richard Hammar is one of the nation's foremost experts in legal and tax issues facing churches and clergy. With Christian Ministry Resources executive director James Cobble he edits Church Law and Tax Report, which summarizes legal developments affecting churches nationwide. They recently launched a subscription-based website (www.ChurchLawToday.com) that provides online seminars, newsletters, ...

Topics:	Bylaws, Church staff, Firing, Insurance, Legal issues, Liability, Management, Policies, Screening, Volunteers, Zoning
Filters:	Business administrator, Children's ministry, Children's pastor, Church board, Nursery, Pastor, Sunday school, Youth ministry
Purpose:	Ministry
References:	Romans 13:1-8
Date Added:	July 11, 2007

On Pentecost last year, 850 gathered for worship beneath an enormous yellow-and-white tent on a church lawn in Falls Church, Virginia. Folding chairs were arranged in roughly the same configuration as pews in a planned sanctuary to be built on that site.

It was Celebration Sunday at The Falls Church (Episcopal), and for the first time in recent memory, the whole congregation worshiped as one. The co-chairs ...

Topics:	Buildings, Capitol campaign, Care of the Church, Communication, Expenses, Fundraising, Giving, Legal issues, Management, Purchasing, Vision, Zoning
Filters:	Church board, Deacon, Elder, Outreach, Pastor
Purpose:	None
References:	Nehemiah 1:1-13:31, Proverbs 29:18
Date Added:	July 12, 2007

Our society doesn't have a parish mentality, and that means most church neighbors have little disposition to attend the church closest to their home. Church-goers drive by many closer churches in order to attend the church that best suits them—whether because of denominational affiliation, style of worship, available ministry programs (like a dynamic youth group), and so on. Such facts shouldn't ...