You Can't Guess About Church Law Anymore: Why You Need Expert Help
Nov 01, 2025Church law is getting more and more complicated.
Churches and ministries have never had to deal with so many problems when it comes to staying in compliance and protecting their missions in today's fast-changing legal landscape. Leaders can no longer "guess" or get legal guidance from friends and family. When church law is broken, it can have terrible effects, such as losing tax-exempt status, having to pay for expensive lawsuits, ruining reputations, and stopping operations.
Church Law and Strategy is at the forefront of this changing landscape, offering experienced legal advice that is customized to the specific needs of faith-based groups. We give churches the tools they need to effectively navigate the complicated legal seas and avoid making costly mistakes.
This explains why it's too risky to guess about church law, what problems ministries often run into, and why they now need professional legal help to keep their ministries going.
Why Church Law Is More Complicated Than Ever
- Changes in federal and state rules
- The rules for taxes, jobs, and running a business are always changing.
- Ministries need to stay up with the rules for nonprofits, reporting to donors, and labor requirements.
- More scrutiny from the IRS and other regulators
- The IRS and other groups are keeping a closer eye on churches' activities, political activity, and openness about money.
- Risks of Going to Court
- Churches are becoming more likely to be sued for things like hiring, volunteering, contracts, and running their ministries.
The Risks of Guessing or Trying to Handle Legal Problems on Your Own
- Accidental Not following the rules
- Churches run the risk of missing important files, breaking employment regulations, or mismanaging their assets if they don't get help from professionals.
- Mistakes in the law that cost money
- Mistakes in contracts, government, or tax reporting can result in fines, penalties, or the loss of tax breaks.
- Harm to Reputation
- Legal problems can make people less likely to trust the church and give money.
- Disruption of Operations
- Legal problems take up time and money that could be better spent elsewhere.
Legal Problems That Ministries Often Face
- Badly set up governance structures
- Churches are at danger of legal problems when their bylaws are out of date and their boards are not active.
- Misclassifying staff and volunteers
- Errors in job status might cause problems with taxes and debts.
- Policies for managing risk are not good enough
- Not having waivers, background checks, or safety rules can lead to lawsuits.
- Political campaigning without meaning to
- Breaking IRS laws puts your tax-exempt status at risk.
How Church Law and Strategy Give Important Legal Help
- Personalized Legal Advice
- Personalized advice on how to run a church, hire people, pay taxes, and follow the rules.
- Legal Reviews and Audits
- Finding problems and suggesting ways to fix them before they happen.
- Writing Policies and Documents
- Making bylaws, contracts, waivers, and operational policies that follow best practices.
- Education and training that never ends
- Giving church leaders the most up-to-date legal information.
Questions That Are Often Asked
- Q: Is it possible to handle church legal problems without a lawyer? Some things may seem easy, but the law is complicated, so you need professional help.
- Q: How often should churches check to see if they are following the law? Every year, or whenever there are big changes in the organization.
- Q: What does a legal audit cover? A full look at policies for governance, taxes, hiring, and managing risks.
Stop Making Guesses and Start Protecting Your Ministry
It's not worth it to guess about church law. Working with Church Law and Strategy makes sure that your ministry follows the law, lowers risks, and grows in a way that lasts. Get expert help now, before you have any legal problems.
Links Inside
Links to Other Sites
- National Council of Nonprofits Legal Resources: https://www.councilofnonprofits.org/tools-resources/board-governance
- IRS Charitable Organizations Governance: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/governance-and-related-topics
- Nonprofit Risk Management Center: https://www.nonprofitrisk.org/
