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,...

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...

SHOW NOTES Episode 5: “Why Church Meetings Go Off the Rails” Episode 14: “The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill and What You Should Consider Before Changing Your Bylaws, with Guest Mike Cosper”  Episode 30: “Equipping Your Church Board for Long-Term Success”  “What Every Church Board Needs to Know,” a self-paced webinar by attorney Erika E. Cole “Board Member Checklist,” by James Cobble and Tyler Charles “Four Fiduciary Duties of Church Boards,” by Richard R. Hammar “Preparing for a Church...

Property represents the most valuable tangible asset owned by churches. Yet many use them only once or twice a week, leaving a lot of ministry opportunities untapped. In this episode, Erika talks with attorney Midgett Parker, who has represented faith-based institutions for real estate matters since 1990. Through his decades of experience, Parker has observed many ways churches can maximize their properties to serve their communities. In some instances, these uses can also generate...

As a new year begins, it’s time to evaluate the sacred cows in your church.  What’s a sacred cow? It’s holding to anything that has become established and continues without question year after year, without evaluating its effectiveness. With 2024 underway, now is the time to evaluate systems and programs that have grown stale, ineffective, and burdensome and find new ways to reinvigorate the operations of your church.   In this episode, Erika visits with Denise Craig, chief executive officer...

As 2023 comes to a close and 2024 comes into view, now is the time to look at issues your church may encounter in the year ahead. In this episode, Erika talks with Matthew Branaugh, attorney and editor of Christianity Today’s Church Law & Tax, about their “Four for ’24.” Find out their picks and why Erika and Matthew see them as important ones to watch. SHOW NOTES Download your FREE copy of The Church Attorney Legal Audit® System document checklist here, and check out Episode 29 (“Using...

The end of 2023 is near, meaning it’s the perfect time to look back and reflect upon the best of the Church Law podcast this year.  In this episode, Erika shares the five episodes that stood out the most to her in 2023, ranging from leadership culture to mergers, succession planning to legal audits, and more. The topics, the insights, and the guests all captivated Erika—find out why they did, and why you’ll want to revisit these episodes (or check them out in case you missed them the first...

This bonus episode of the Church Law podcast features live Q&A with pastors and church leaders recorded during Erika’s 16th annual Church Compliance Conference in the Washington, D.C. area.  Continuing this season’s theme regarding ways to strengthen churches for renewal and growth, Erika—along with guest Matthew Branaugh, attorney and editor from Church Law & Tax—tackle questions covering: The tax implications of renting church property; Community development corporations started by...

What is church membership? Why does it matter? Is it even still relevant? Erika wraps up her multiple-episode theme, “Strengthening Your Church for the Long Haul,” by exploring church membership, and explaining why it remains relevant as ever. Even though churches define membership differently, and some use more formalized processes than others, it’s critical for leaders to revisit their church’s specific approach—and the potential legal implications created by it.    Erika walks through the...

Several years ago, Travell Travis received a phone call from one of his church’s bishops, who was fighting end-stage pancreatic cancer and was nearing death. The bishop needed help putting together a succession plan. That phone call showed Travis the need for churches to plan well for leadership transitions. It motivated him to write a book and help churches think strategically about succession plans. In this episode, Erika talks more with Travis about what he’s learned as an attorney and...

In Revelation 3:2, we’re instructed to be watchful and to strengthen the things that remain. As Erika continues exploring various topics focused on strengthening churches for the “long haul,” she turns her attention to technology—specifically, generative artificial intelligence (AI). Can AI help churches strengthen the things that remain? Can leaders use to engage a culture that is attending church less?  Understanding this tool’s potential—and potential problems—s important for leaders who...

Equipping younger church leaders is key to the church's future, as research from Barna Group (and others) shows the church has a leadership gap. As pastors retire, fewer young people are rising to take on those roles. But research also suggests many younger people—including those in Gen-Z—are passionate about Christ, the church, and the future. Why is there a disconnect? What can be done to bridge it? Re-think the models In this episode, Erika speaks with Dr. Nicole Massie Martin, chief...

Serving as a church board member carries significant duties and responsibilities. But church board members rarely receive training to perform their roles. That puts strain on the men and women entrusted with making critical decisions affecting the health and vitality of their church. In this episode, Erika explains how state laws shape the way boards operate. She also discusses the governing structures churches typically follow, and the ways board members—also called “leadership teams,”...

Every day, new laws, regulations, and court decisions affecting churches emerge at the local, state, or federal levels. Zoning law, property tax exemptions, incorporation, governance, housing allowances—the list of ways that law and regulations can intersect with church activities is extensive and continues to grow. Keeping up can be challenging. But it isn’t impossible. In this episode, Erika talks about how church leaders can regularly conduct legal audits to stay current with changes and a...

Every person, including pastors and church leaders, deals with hurts and hang-ups, and those hurts and hang-ups can easily turn into bad habits when stress and pressures mount. But rather than allow bad habits to form—and lead to moral failures as the stress of ministry grows—leaders have an opportunity to regain their true identities in Christ. In this episode, Erika talks more about recovering these true identities with Irene Rollins, an author and church leader who studies human behaviors....

What is a healthy leadership culture? What does it have to do with a church’s legal liabilities? While the two questions may sound unconnected, they aren’t. In this episode, Erika further explores them with Dr. Nicholas Pearce, an associate pastor, author, and professor at Northwestern University who has studied, taught, and consulted with organizations, including churches, about leadership. Along with defining key terms and concepts, Pearce explains the effects of leadership structures and...

High-profile shootings at churches—among them, New Life Church (Colorado Springs) in 2007, Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal (Charleston, South Carolina) in 2015, and First Baptist Church (Sutherland Springs, Texas) in 2017—often draw renewed attention and discussion about church security. Last month’s shooting at a church-run school in Nashville again put the issue back in the national spotlight. But what exactly is church security? How should church leaders think holistically about...

A survey last fall by CNN and Kaiser Family Foundation found the majority of American adults believe “there’s a mental health crisis in the US today.” Churches have a great opportunity to connect the redeeming power of the gospel to those suffering mentally and spiritually. In this episode, Erika Cole speaks with Dr. Pernessa C. Seele, who has spent 35 years working to help use a faith-based approach to help heal individuals and communities facing mental health challenges. Dr. Seele helps...

A national survey shows 68 percent of Americans worry about their finances. Pastors are among those sharing such sentiments—in 2015, for instance, a National Association of Evangelicals survey of 4,000 pastors showed that many carry heavy loads of student debt and are unable to save for retirement or emergencies. Many worked second jobs. In this episode, Erika more closely examines the challenges of financial stress and strain on pastors, and how it can create unhealthy dynamics ultimately...

Good physical health requires good priorities, be it how we exercise or eat. In the same way, churches experience good health—or not—by decisions made to maintain their health. In this episode, Erika casts vision for several upcoming episodes focused on developing healthy churches by outlining the five components she believes shape a healthy church. Whether dealing with pastoral burnout, budgeting decisions, counseling ministries, or church safety concerns, leaders must make certain they...

As Church Law podcast’s reach expands, so too are the questions sent by its listeners. In this episode, Erika is joined by Matthew Branaugh, attorney and editor for Church Law & Tax. Together, they tackle several questions church leaders frequently ask, including: ·      What are the steps to dissolve a church? ·      What legal liability does a church face if it allows someone who is potentially violent to attend? ·      What is the best way to honor ministers with monetary...

The past few years have brought numerous challenges to churches, particularly as the COVID-19 pandemic altered weekly attendance and in-person events. Those alterations affected giving levels, creating stress on some church budgets. And now, even with signs the pandemic is slowing heading into 2023, inflation has jumped, creating only more turbulence. These conditions have left many congregations reassessing their directions and priorities as they look for ways to move forward. In this...

Church mergers appeared to reach an all-time high in 2019, but as more congregations struggle to find their way in the latter stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the trend likely will only grow. Some churches have experienced financial declines. Others face uncertain futures as pastors resign or retire. And still others find themselves with expensive properties to maintain even as attendance dwindles. In this episode, Erika examines three principal ways a merger can be done. Using examples from...

Volunteers represent the lifeblood of most any church and finding enough of them is always a challenge. Yet volunteers, by their very nature, act as representatives of a church—and any missteps with their screening, selection, supervision, and training can unfortunately open the door to unwanted legal troubles. In this episode, Erika delves further into the legal theories behind these potential vulnerabilities for churches, then offers quick tips that can help minimize them across key...