Earlier this month, the Supreme Court handed down its decision in Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue. By a 5-4 vote, it ruled that the Montana Supreme Court had violated the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment when it struck down a Montana scholarship program because that program would have allowed scholarship aid for […]
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Houses of worship play a critical role in the life of the community. As the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic progressed, many organizations suspended in-person gatherings in accordance with government mandates or recommendations to limit the spread of the virus. Now that states and local communities are planning to ease restrictions, you may be considering how and when […]
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CHILD SEXUAL ABUSE IN MINISTRY CONTEXTS By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris When in doubt, REPORT. If every allegation of child sexual abuse was simply reported by church leaders to appropriate authorities, the resulting positive impact would be immeasurable. Survivors of abuse would feel validated — by itself a significant positive outcome — pathways to […]
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By Rev. Dr. Perry J. Hopper, MBA Managing church finances can be a complex task under the best circumstances. When we consider the unprecedented times in which we are currently living as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, managing church finances can become a daunting task. Churches rely on the tithes and offerings of their […]
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By Attorney Louis R. Briska The various State Executive Orders requesting people to stay at home during the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic have been commonly referred to as “Stay-at-Home” Orders. The belief held by local, state and federal health officials is that communities can minimize the spread of the Coronavirus by having families stay […]
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By Attorney Louis R. Briska In America (Version 2.0, post COVID-19 lockdown), there may be a coming wave of plaintiff’s lawsuits when the various state stay-at-home orders and public gathering limitations are lifted and people begin frequenting businesses and churches. These lawsuits, rooted in a theory of negligence, will allege that Church XYZ did not […]
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By Gregory Love & Kimberlee Norris Given the #MeToo and #ChurchToo movements and the ongoing media headlines, many church leaders have awakened to the risk of child sexual abuse and are seeking guidance about what to do. Others are taking this opportunity to evaluate existing safety efforts to measure preparedness. Typically, the criminal background check […]
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By Rhonda C. Proctor In much the same way that you care for your vehicle to keep it running properly, the equipment in a commercial kitchen needs care and maintenance as well. Don’t worry — it doesn’t require a technical degree; it just takes some organization, a schedule and basic information about when to do […]
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By Kimberlee Norris, attorney at law The Supreme Court recently heard oral arguments in the Espinoza v. Montana Department of Revenue case, wherein several parents are challenging a state court decision canceling a tuition subsidy program because it could be used to help send kids to church-affiliated private schools. As we noted last year when the […]
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In the new year, protect your church with strategies to prevent and address these threats. By Shawn Yingling Your church is more than just a building. It’s a community of passionate, caring members who have chosen to share a common mission and message. It’s the setting of weddings, celebrations and mourning. It’s a place to […]
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