“Sorting Out Immigration Law for Churches: Navigating the volatile, unpredictable nature of this legal hot topic” ManagingYourChurch publishes Matthew Branaugh’s article here.
Utah Ct. App.: Mail-in vote violates incorporated denominational governing documents, break-away from UMC invalid
Religion Clause covers the decision in Laumalie Ma’oni’oni Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga v. Ma’afu, No. 2019 UT App. 41 (Utah Ct. App., March 21, 2019), here.
Mich. Ct. App.: Ecclesiastical abstention requires deference to hierarchical church
Religion Clause covers Holy Trinity Romanian Orthodox Monastery v. Romanian Orthodox Episcopate of America, (Mich. Ct. App. Mar. 19, 2019), here.
D. S.C.: Change That Allows Using Civic Center for Worship Services Moots Injunctive Relief, But Not Damages
D. S.C.: Change That Allows Using Civic Center for Worship Services Moots Injunctive Relief, But Not Damages. Religion Clause covers the decision here.
“6 Common Mistakes Churches Make When Planning Easter Programs”
“6 Common Mistakes Churches Make When Planning Easter Programs” Christian Copyright Solutions has an article here that applies to any worshiping community and any time of year.
“How Often Should Church Leaders Meet? Determining the best times to set meetings”
“How Often Should Church Leaders Meet? Determining the best times to set meetings” Weekly? Monthly? Quarterly? Semi-annually? Annually? Karl Vaters has these recommendations on ManagingYourChurch.
ELCA Legal staff to host free webinar: “Legal Checklist for Congregations”
ELCA Legal staff to host free webinar: “Legal Checklist for Congregations.” Tom Cunniff, General Counsel to the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, and Aja M. Favors, ELCA Associate General Counsel will host a free webinar on February 21, 2019, at 1:00 p.m. E.S.T. Register here. The presentation is geared for ELCA leaders and volunteers. Download the checklist here. Here’s the description:
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“Miami’s oldest church slapped with a $7 million tax bill”
“The ‘ultimate nightmare scenario’ for this historic Miami church: A $7 million tax bill” The Miami Herald reports on the case here. The church is operating a pre-K–8 school run by a for-profit, third-party administrator.
“How to Determine Whether or Not You Pay the ‘Parking Lot Tax'”
“How to Determine Whether or Not You Pay the ‘Parking Lot Tax’: An update on the taxation of qualified transportation fringe benefits” The 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act included a provision that requires charities to treat transportation benefits as unrelated business income. The I.R.S. issued long-awaited guidance on that provision in Notice 2018-99. ChurchLaw&Tax has an overview here.