Church Law & StrategyĀ Blog

Guidance for pastors and churches to stay legally secure, financially sound, and spiritually strong.

LEGAL INSIGHTS & MINISTRY PROTECTION STRATEGIES

Do I Need a Lawyer to Set Up My Pay? Oct 13, 2025

Properly organizing pastoral pay is an important but sometimes misunderstood part of being a ministry leader. A lot of pastors and congregations want to know if they require a lawyer to set up their s...

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Can I Get a Trademark for My Sermon Series? Oct 13, 2025

Pastors these days often come up with sermon series that have unique titles, logos, or themes that truly connect with their audiences. These series not only help people connect with God, but they also...

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If I Leave the Church, Do I Still Own My IP? Oct 13, 2025

Pastors and other ministry leaders put a lot of time, passion, and imagination into their sermons, books, courses, and other intellectual property (IP) that frequently becomes a big part of who they a...

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As a pastor, can I protect my name and brand? Oct 12, 2025

Pastors are building their own identities along with their ministries more and more in today's media- and technology-driven environment. It's really important to protect your name and brand if you wri...

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Who Really Owns My Sermons? Oct 12, 2025

The most important thing a pastor does is give sermons. They are spiritual teachings that are meticulously written to teach, inspire, and lead people. But many pastors ask, "Who really owns my sermons...

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What to Do If You Think Your Board Is Against You Oct 12, 2025

There are many fantastic things about being a pastor, but it can also be quite hard, especially when you think your church board is against you. If you and your board don't get along, it could hurt yo...

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We Used Google to Write Our Bylaws... Is that a bad thing? Oct 12, 2025

Bylaws are the most important thing to have when forming or reorganizing a church. They help with making decisions, following the law, and running things. A lot of church leaders who want a quick answ...

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Can I Get a Housing Allowance? Oct 12, 2025

The housing allowance is a great tax break that many pastors can get. It helps them save a lot of money on their housing expenditures. But there are a lot of questions: Am I authorized to get money fo...

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What Legal Papers Does a New Church Really Need? Oct 11, 2025

Starting a new church is a big step that takes a lot of vision, faith, and the desire to make a difference in your community. You need to have the necessary legal papers in place, though, to run a min...

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Is it Against the Law to Pay Church Workers Without Keeping Records? Oct 11, 2025

Paying church personnel "under the table," or off the books without letting the tax authorities know about their income, is a dangerous practice that can have major legal and financial ramifications. ...

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Can I Start a Church Without a Lawyer? Oct 11, 2025

Many people who desire to create a church wonder, "Can I do it without a lawyer?" Starting a church is joyful and hard. Some people might want to do everything themselves to save money and get things ...

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How to Start a Church Without Getting in Trouble Oct 11, 2025

It's thrilling and important to start a church, but it also comes with a lot of duties and some legal problems. A lot of novice church planters ask themselves, "How do I start a church without getting...

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