Church legislation Archives - Church Executive


A Supreme Court case to watch: Trinity Lutheran Church vs. Pauley

Earlier this year, the U.S. Supreme Court agreed to consider Trinity Lutheran Church v. Pauley, a 2013 lawsuit filed by the church after the state of Missouri rejected its application for a grant to replace its preschool’s playground pebbles with repurposed rubber from old tires.

The State’s grounds for denial? The preschool was ineligible because it was run by a church, citing an 1875 Missouri constitutional amendment — known as the Blaine Amendment — prohibiting public funds from being used “in aid of any church.”

Here, David O. Middlebrook — a founding shareholder of Anthony & Middlebrook and the Church Law Group in Grapevine, TX, and Church Executive “Legal Realities” Series author — offers his take on this potentially pivotal case for churches.

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Supreme Court weighs a church’s right to advertise services

The Supreme Court on Monday (Jan. 12) considered a tiny church’s curbside sign in a case that could raise the bar on government regulation of speech, and make it easier for houses of worship to advertise their services. The Alliance Defending Freedom, the advocacy group that represents Pastor Clyde Reed and his Good News Community Church, bills the case, Reed v. Town of Gilbert, as a religious rights case. But their attorney mostly argued it on free speech grounds.

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Faith organization outraged and troubled that IRS undercover agents can pose as members of the clergy to gather information

A “New York Times” front page story shared that IRS rules allow that “an undercover employee or cooperating private individual may pose as an attorney, physician, clergyman or member of the news media.”

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Faith leaders support hike in minimum wage

Paying a full-time worker $290 a week in today’s economy is immoral, faith leaders said in a recent letter urging Congress to raise the minimum wage.

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501(c)(3) legislation alert — comment deadline is tomorrow!

Here’s your chance to help protect your church’s rights to educate the flock by holding non-partisan debates! Tell the IRS that you do NOT want proposed new 501(c)(4) regulations to be applied to 501(c)(3) churches! In a recent interview with Phoenix-based Certified Public Accountant Monica J. Stern, I learned that the IRS has released proposed […]

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